Mary Erma Duncan (the founder of Duncan Enterprises) was a VERY talented artist who enjoyed sharing her talents with everyone she met. Her love for artwork began at a very early age, as did her natural ability to share her knowledge.

She began teaching china painting classes while in her teens and her first national recognition for artwork came in the early 1900's where she premiered as an artist in many popular magazines, including the Saturday Evening Post.Ceramics sparked Erma’s artistic interest when she saw it as an economic alternative to china painting and began teaching ceramics from her home.

Ceramic glazes then on the market did not meet Erma's expectations, so she began to mix her own in a hobby room at the rear of the family garage. Not long after she realized she could barely keep up with demand and in 1946 after being encouraged by her sons Bob and Dick... Erma started the family owned Duncan Ceramic Products business.

In 1961, the business moved to Fresno, California where the company changed its name from Duncan Ceramic Products to 'Duncan Enterprises' to reflect its continued growth and diversification in the creative arts.