W is for Weller

In 1872 Samuel Weller of Zanesville, Ohio began Weller Pottery.  He purchased Lowhoudan Pottery in 1895 and renamed it Louwelsa, which became Weller Pottery's most popular line and ultimately included over 500 different shapes of vases and bowls.  Charles Upjohn joined as Arts Director and introduced Dickens Ware before leaving the company in 1904.  Weller hired Jacques Sicard in 1902, who developed the Sicard line which continues to be one of Weller's most sought after patterns to date. Although  Weller Sicard production ended in 1907, by 1906 there were countless hand decorated lines at Weller including Art Nouveau,  Aurelian,  Eocean, Etna, and Modeled Matte to name a few.  By the 1920's many hand decorated lines were discontinued and production shifted to commercial art pottery which included Blue Drapery, 

Hudson,  Knifewood,  LaSa,  Louella, Glendale,  and Warwick.  High quality Weller pottery was produced well into the 1930's with lines such as Bonito, Chase, Geode, Raceme, Sabrinian and Stellar.  By 1939 Weller abandoned hand decoration and produced only molded pottery.  

The Weller Pottery company ceased production altogether in early 1948. 

Happy Hunting!

Ode to November

Dull November brings the blast

then the leaves

are whirling fast.

-Sara Coleridge, 1802-1852, English author

V is for Very Vintage

Transferware is a a printing process begun in 1756 by John Sadler and Guy Green of Liverpool, England.  It was adopted by Josiah Wedgwood for the very popular cream ware.  Transferware is a process whereby a pattern is etched onto a copper plate, inked, transferred on to a tissue, which is then laid onto a bisque fired ceramic piece.  Transferware has a crisp decal-like look to it.  It was created as an economical alternative to hand painted dish ware.  Prior to its development, only the very affluent English could afford sets of exquisitely hand painted china and ceramics.

Transferware was initially produced in single colors only:

blue (many shades, including flow blue), red (called pink), black (called jet), brown (called sienna), purple (called Mulberry), and green.  Yellow was a very rare color and not often found.  The pieces can be easy enough to date with the English Registry marks dating from 1842-1883.  

Happy Hunting!

Columbus Day

Columbus Day:

a legal holiday commemorating the

first voyage and sighting of the 

New World

by Christopher Columbus in

 1492.

Interesting that the New World is now 522 years old.... Explorers traveled through unfamiliar areas with the intention of discovering and learning something new.  Might just be time again for some of that... 

Ode to Autumn

There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots

may be lighted on,

and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings,

as now in October.

-Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1804-1864, American Writer

Value

Try not to become a man 

of success,

but rather

try to become a man 

of value.

-Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, Theoretical Physicist

Unsurpassed beauty

Unsurpassed beauty...

and the value of antiques.

Happy Hunting!

Underwhelm

I love words. So, today I mull over 

Underwhelm.

It defines

failing to make a 

positive impact; 

to disappoint.

It is much more satisfying to

whelm -  

 heap up abundantly.

Feels like a good way to live!

Ode to Labor Day

Proposed by the the Central Labor Union as a 'workingman's holiday', the first official Labor Day occurred in New York City on Tuesday 5 September, 1882.  Over the years Labor Day has continued to be enjoyed by all as the official ending to the lazy days of summer.  

Despite those lazy days, it always seems to arrive too quickly....

Farewell summer 2014.

Enjoy it!

T is for trademark USA

The USA mark on the base of a piece of vintage pottery identifies it as being American made only.  Such pieces were marked accordingly by a myriad of potteries in the United States during the first half of the 20th Century.

The most popular pieces are from the McCoy Pottery Co. (Roseville, OH, 1910-1990) and the Shawnee Pottery Co. (Zanesville, OH, 1937-1961).  Identifying the piece to the pottery requires a thorough examining of the base, including glazed over stilts, yellow ware clay, and glaze versus non-glaze bottoms.  Finishes from the early 20th Century were often shiny until 1915 when matte glazes came into vogue.  Shiny glazes returned to popularity during the late 1930's through the 1960's.  

To decipher the specific manufacturer of a vintage USA marked piece, educate yourself to the identifying marks, including weight of the piece, color, glaze techniques and base finish.  

Happy Hunting!