McCoy pottery originated in 1899 with the J.W. McCoy Pottery Company, which evolved into the Brush-McCoy Pottery Company in 1911 after a merger. After the McCoy family sold their share, the company was renamed Brush Pottery in 1925, while a related company, Nelson McCoy Pottery, continued until 1990. Both companies started with utilitarian wares but became known for their decorative art pottery, including popular lines like cookie jars and vases.