Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
Print
E-Mail
tool name
closeSunday, Nov. 30, 2008
American pottery becomes popular collectible worldwide
By Terry Maurer, Special to the Herald
KENNEWICK -- American art pottery has a strong collector following in this country and a growing interest abroad.
Auctioneer, appraiser and pottery expert David Rago says interest started to build in the 1960s. In his book, American Art Pottery (Knickerbocker Press, 1997) the frequent Antiques Roadshow guest notes that "... prior to 1960, there was really only one book available in the field, and it was published in 1893."
In today's What's It Worth, readers ask about pieces of American art pottery that were made in different eras and come from widely separated parts of the country.
Q. This pottery vase was discovered while we were clearing out closets. Marked "Van Briggle" on the bottom, it's about 10 inches high and is a dusty rose color. What should we know about it, if anything?
-- Lois in Connell
A. Yours is a piece of pottery produced in the Western United States by the Van Briggle Pottery of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Artus Van Briggle had been among the best of the artists working for the Rookwood Pottery in Ohio before health concerns caused him to move to Colorado in 1900. He and his wife Anne -- who also had been a Rookwood decorator -- opened their western firm in 1901.
After the death of her husband in 1904, Anne continued to run the pottery until she sold out in 1914. It was during Artus' brief life in Colorado and Anne's ownership of the pottery that their most creative, most collectible and today's highest-priced work was done.
This piece is in a form that had us stumped, so we contacted Brittany Stevenson of Van Briggle Pottery, which is still in business today. Stevenson is the daughter of Craig Stevenson, Van Briggle's chief designer and granddaughter of Bertha Stevenson, president of the company.
She told us this vase doesn't date back to Artus and Anne's time, but is unusual.
"I would guess that it is probably from the 1950s," she said. "The color is Persian Rose and I believe that is it a casted piece, not a hand thrown original."
Our research found the Persian Rose color was introduced in 1946 and the incised markings on the bottom were used from about then up until the 1960s, so the 1950s dating is confirmed for this piece.
Stevenson said her estimate of value would be in the $150 to $200 range.
Q. I purchased what I call my "mouse bowl" at an antique shop. I'm not sure the dealer knew who it was made by. It is unmarked, but I think it came from the Weller Pottery. What do you think?
-- Thelma in Richland
A. This is absolutely from Weller of Zanesville, Ohio. They were in business from about 1882 to 1948. Their work spanned nearly the entire history of what's considered to be the classic period of American art pottery.
A very successful and versatile company, they made items ranging from a 400-pound, 7 1/2-foot-tall vase (advertised at the time as the largest in the world) to diminutive pieces such as this 2-inch-high "cabinet vase."
Over those more than 50 years, Weller made art pottery in many styles, called "lines." This piece is from the "Burntwood" line, introduced about 1910.
Burntwood often was unmarked, so the fact there's nothing to identify this little vase as Weller except its form is not surprising. The larger pieces often were decorated with flowers and we've seen pots and vases with chickens, Roman chariots and a plate commemorating a 1910 Odd Fellows picnic.
At a recent antique show, several dealers who specialize in American art pottery examined a photo of Thelma's vase and they told us something this size with the mouse decoration currently retails for between $300 and $400.
Weller also made small Burntwood pieces in a model decorated with spiders, which are harder to find and would be valued in the $500 to $600 range.
* Terry Maurer, a Tri-Cities personal property appraiser and antique dealer, is a member of the Certified Appraisers Guild of America.
You may submit your antiques and collectible questions to What's It Worth by e-mail to whatsitworth@clearwire.net.
@Nyx.CommentBody@