Later, as others became involved in turning pottery in Edgefield, notably Germans and African slaves, Values for Mary Kirk Kelly (American/Alabama, 1918-2013), two ceramic gourds, the multi-color signed and dated 1987, the other signed, taller 6 1/4 in. It is usually very heavy, almost the weight of stoneware. It contains a higher proportion of potassium and sodium, which allows it to melt onto the body of the vessel. Fingernail and finger tipped impressed decoration on rims and shoulder or on cordons. What is the glaze, finish, or decoration? Spend time looking at different types of pottery and get to know what the real thing looks like. You can also identify porcelain by examining the type of glazing used on it. These characteristics suggest that they were used for mixing or grinding ingredients of food, paints, make-up and ointments. While each of these types has unique characteristics that distinguish them, they all have similar primary features. The Pottery Wheel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. In double-chambered kilns, the Samian is heated twice; in the first stage, the pottery is fired in a reducing atmosphere and turns black; oxygen is allowed in during the second stage, turning the pottery red. While some types of china pottery may have similar designs, they can be differentiated using the glaze. Also, it has a unique shape that was not common at the time of its production most porcelain pieces are cylindrical or, at the very least, pear-shaped. sand, crushed shell, grog). acitabli for oil and vinegar; salaria salters; boletari mushroom dishes). During the all-night vigils necessary to keep the kilns burning hot enough to fire the stoneware, men often came together to drink and tell stories. Mottled glazes were most often made by Ohio pottersBurley-Winter, McCoy and Zanesville come to mind. For this, you may have to turn the piece and check the unglazed area at the bottom. The pottery is fired in an oxidising kiln and turns red. The style made by Henriot and that of other potteries from this area is generically referred to as "Quimper" by collectors. 3. Watt Pottery is in a class I call yellowware, since they used a clear glaze over the yellow clay instead of colors. They'd also seek out clay marbles for their children; gardenware, such as plant pots and birdbaths; or smoking pipes, "more popular than wooden or corncob pipes in the 19th century," Brackner says. See the Frankoma pitcher, right. These pottery studios often served as community meeting places. I started collecting Alabama stoneware and advertising jugs in 1985. After carbon burn-out, iron compounds in the clay will convert to ferric oxide and the pot will turn red, or grey if there is less iron. Late 5th century bosses have straight or curvilinear designs. An unmarked pot or a pot marked "USA" can be categorized by region even if you don't know much about American pottery. The era of standard glazethe shiny brown finish used by Weller, Loy-Nel-Art, Peters and Reed and Rozanewas at the turn of the Twentieth Century. "But the stoneware, if they dropped it, wouldn't break.". In 1906, seven stoneware and pottery companies merged to become the Western Stoneware Co. Plants One Through Seven. We are fortunate in Alabama to have a detailed account of these potters published by Joey Brackner (2006) in his book "Alabama Folk Pottery". American Cruise Lines, and Hull and Shawnee are a cream color with a pink tint to the clay. There is a common misunderstanding that pottery with no markings is not valuable. Comparatively speaking, American pottery is heftier than pieces from Europe and Asia. 03:06. Pottery shards are pieces of pottery that have broken apart. How has the Potter designed you and tempered you? Shelly-ware pottery from about c.1150 it is known as Northamptonshire Shelly ware or just SHW in this area. In most of the American pottery pieces, the bottom tells more than the glaze. It was an economy of scale. Camark had some intricate handles as well. The way the numbers are written, the style of number and even the number of numbers are all significant in determining the maker of a piece of pottery. Look for varied words or numbers inside the classic blue crown. Unlike Scotch whisky, it is aged in new . Before pottery wheels were electrified, great leg and arm strength was required to turn them, Brackner notes. The first two are the safest Note the location of the words and exactly how they are positioned with the picture. Add water a little at a time, knead the clay to mix thoroughly, add water until your clay is a nice plastic consistency. This blog is a chronicle of what I have learned as I got back into the potter's saddle! Stoneware from the 19th century that's signed is more valuable, Cowan notes, because it helps nail down a piece's provenance, and is harder to find. American Pottery Marks and Resource Directory, Paul E. Cox: Newcomb Pottery Glaze Master--Unpublished Letter (PDF), Workplace Violence: Safety in the Workplace, Western Spotted Orbweaver Spider in Temple, TX, More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Packing, Save Money and Energy with Window Treatments: Curtains, Drapes, and Shades, (affiliate link) Dryden Pottery of Kansas and Arkansas: An Illustrated History, Catalog, and Price Guide, checking the bottom of the pot to identify American pottery in this article. Majolica is typically made of earthenware or porcelain. Several potteries used a pale yellow clay that looks as if it has some pink. Celebrating the people, techniques, and artistry of a traditional craft. On the day, folk art appraiser Wes Cowan was able to identify the jug as from the late 1800s, and with a bit more research, we later discovered that the jug contains a good amount of Alabama pottery history and perhaps residue from some interesting liquids as well. Discover this Nobel Prize Winner's impact on American literature. Decoration on neck parallel vertical incisions. It is the mark of a group of Native American peoples in the USA making beautiful contemporary wares. It was "dirty and gunky," she remembers, but when she cleaned it up, she saw it was inscribed with the name "J. Many pieces of pottery have a dry rim around the bottom edge, known as a dry foot. After establishing the material and technique used to create the piece, the three best ways to identify an antique are by establishing its shape, decoration, glaze and most importantly of all, its markings. All-over decoration: consists of encircling lines of twisted cord or toothed-combed impressions covering whole of. These had a glaze that ran down over the edge of the dry foot, oftentimes not trimmed. It is also made with a special type of clay called kaolin. This Purinton Pitcher (right) has a faint seam on the base. A quick note: some images have larger or alternate views. "I couldn't find comparable pots sold by that potter. Cooking pots and other vessels are found close to Ipswich, rarely moving more than twenty miles beyond Ipswich. If you examine a pot like the sandy jug (left), you can quickly recognize the clay and maple leaf. Mid-century modern was an era of style and design that began in the mid-1940s and ran through the mid-1960s. Undervalued Items That Turned Out to Be Worth a Fortune. Traditional pottery and other forms of ceramicware are made with earthenware, a porous form of clay which must be glazed in order for the pottery to hold food or liquid. Guppys Island Ware of California used a drip glaze, shown by the glaze on the outer rim of this plate (left). Here are the 5 key ways to identify Roseville pottery Pottery Marks Pottery marks are found in the unglazed area on the underside of a piece, appearing as a series of letters or numbers. A good example is this McCoy vase with a mottled glaze (right). This era's pottery is known for the intentionality of producing and supplying unique utilitarian earthenware. For an example, see the yellow clay bowl produced by McCoy (right). Our house is from 1936, and before that there was a Victorian-era house on the property (that house was torn down and land subdivided in the 30s). If it is dusty and dirty, then the piece is an antique. Few are found in western Britain. Early on, Southern pottery was ovoid. RedWing (also RumRill) and Stangl used stilts for some of their ware lines. These stilt marks (left) can help you establish the maker of this bowl. Mosaic Tile made pieces that were not tiles, and they often have a beige clay. Many of these ceramics, though, are difficult to identify as they were commonly marked simply with "Italy" and a number, so a picture of the piece can be an invaluable first step toward future identification. Robinson-Ransbottom made some yellowware, but also produced splendid glazes covering yellow-clay pots. Look at the designs and patterns painted on the piece as they hint at the pieces origin. Think about this. sand, shell, rock fragments), but also deliberately added (e.g. Essentially, there are three types of china pottery: bone china, hard-paste porcelain, and soft-paste porcelain. Old china pottery is among the most valuable artifacts around. Pottery is usually the most common find and potsherds are more stable than organic materials and metals. The best way to determine whether a piece of pottery is American is to look at the bottom of the piece. Minerals of Alabama. Incised or impressed decoration incl. These marks provide information about a piece, such as the time it was created and who made it. decoration using different coloured clays and slips to produce flamboyant decoration on jugs. Highly decorated pottery with profuse impressions of twisted and whipped cord, reeds, sticks and the bones of small birds and mammals. One way to check if unmarked pottery is antique or faux is by checking the bottom of the piece. Colne Ware (1200 1350 AD) Collins, This pitcher (right) is marked Acoma on the side, See the odd boomerang ashtray (left) by Mosiac Tile, of the American Bisque wedge foot (right), the marks on this RumRill console bowl (right), the numbers on this McCoy or Brush pot (left), (More information through this link to Wikipedia. Another way to identify unmarked American pottery is through color. ", LeAnn says that if her jug, which could have held a few gallons, was used for alcohol, "it would be a party jug.". "Young men would settle into a pottery community and make their way, often marrying a daughter of another potter," Brackner says. Decorated vessels tend to be found on cremation sites. Studio pottery includes functional wares such as tableware, cookware and non-functional wares such as sculpture. Just a glance at the foot shows the numbers on this McCoy or Brush pot (left). You can decorate your shelf with a platter, and then use it to serve at your house party! Notice the three flaws on this Metlox pitcher (right), indicative of firing pins. There are also some California potters who used stilts or firing pins for most of their glazing. Identify the differences in U.S. ceramics and information about the manufacturing process. Produced using a slow wheel that would appear to work like a turntable. The main St Neots, Thetford and Stamford ware pottery types persist beyond the Norman invasion. Jugtown is often red clay, and there are some North Carolina potters who used red clay. The ZIP code of Pottery Branch Road is 36272, There are about 198 street addresses. Funding for ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is provided by It may also give some insight into why some people pick up pottery and check out the bottom. Produced in a standardised range of cups, dishes, and shallow platters with footrings and often stamped with the potters name. Step Four. There are many types, all with different designs or no design at all. Brackner put the value of this brown jug in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. Much of the Alamo and Gilmer pottery is vitreous, pottery fired at a high temperature in the kiln. Pottery identification is a valuable aid to dating of archaeological sites. But stoneware, which had largely supplanted earthenware in the United States by the time Alabama was being settled in the 1830s, was fired at a higher temperature with clay that contained more silica. I'm not the Alabama stoneware expert, so it may be that he's closer," Cowan says. How to Identify a Mark If the piece of pottery or porcelain you have has a mark on it, you can identify it in several ways. 2. This green Camark ashtray (right) has a white unpainted rim. Check the unglazed base rim of Camark, Niloak, Gilmer or Alamo pottery and find a white clay. Identify your pots and porcelain with this reference guide to Pottery marks found on U.S. and some Canadian pottery. Van Briggle pottery is usually hand-marked and often has a clear glaze on the bottom, but the older pieces are often tan clay. Im always interested in documenting, trading or buying new stoneware. For example, moriage china pottery can be identified by pastel colors and intricate floral designs that are laid in small ribbons of clay. We offer google maps to view the address on the map. Some types are tempered with sand and some with clay; others with what some would call no temper at all, only to discover that there are small, microscopic sponge spicules that hold it together. And while Southern pottery is often lumped together under a singular classification, Alabama has separated and identified itself with a celebration of its own unique pottery . It is essential to look for an unglazed area to determine the clay color. This is partly because of its longevity and partly due to the importance of olive oil. Flanged-neck flagons: were manufactured in a variety of fabrics, mostly colour-coated during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. Any pottery that has been soaked in water may be beige, too, so beware of dirty bottoms! Little brown jug, don't I love thee! High Medieval (late 12th mid 14th century) By 1915, much American pottery was matte finish and early Art Deco shapes. Ely Ware is found in the Cambridgeshire fens up and down the rivers and as far north as Wisbech and Kings Lynn. Vohann is another example of a glazed bottom with firing pins. Even if you cannot find the maker or school of makers, you might at least be able to identify when it was made and the specific period. I frequently get emails from people asking for help in identifying fragments of pottery. Pottery Branch Road is a street in Piedmont Calhoun Alabama, United States. This is wonderful, but not always available. Most American pottery pieces have some weight to themunlike the Japan imports of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s that seem fairly light in comparison. Companies using a dry foot include most of the Ohio companies and some Stangl of New Jersey. Most of the Floraline McCoy line was very plain, Art Deco style pottery, made for the florist trade. Some industries create polychrome Names such as LaCoste and Marshall (Mareschal) attest to the French connection in the early years of this former French colony. For instance, red clay is linked to Oklahoma, just as beige clay is associated with Kansas. If you are not experienced enough to correctly examine pottery without markings, it is advisable to consult an expert to help identify the piece. Note how large the crystals in this glaze (left) are this is a contemporary piece. This is because some sizes are associated with a certain location and a period of time. She is currently pursuing other interests and is not an active appraiser with the International Society of Appraisers. @RoadshowPBS, We're soaking up the story behind this @LeslieKeno appraisal! Most Vontury is marked, but the name is difficult to read unless you know what it should be. Several companies used stilts for glazing pottery, and the bottom will be glazed over completely with three small marks for the stilts. This pottery type requires clay that is plastic enough to shape into a vessel and that can withstand temperatures of 2,500F for firing. Hofheim Flagons: Imported or produced in Britain for the army c.43 70 AD. I may also get a commission from other affiliate programs. $10.70 shipping. For example, American pottery is generally thick and heavy compared to pottery from other countries. Moreover, it is important to note that the walls of American pottery pieces are thicker than foreign potteries. Identify the differences in U.S. ceramics and information about the manufacturing process. This visual checklist can help you begin to develop an expert's eye when it comes to looking at and identifying antique pottery from Art Nouveau to present day studio pottery. Based on 20 years' research and experience with potters and their wares, folklorist Joey Brackner presents a definitive, comprehensive survey of folk potters and the folk pottery tradition in Alabama from the early historic period to the present. Most of the factories went out of business before 1980, as foreign imports made competitive pricing with any profit a difficult endeavor, but some studios continue to produce artistic products for sale in crafts shops and individual showrooms. An off-white, very fine, light firing fabric, wheel made and fired in kilns. Alamo and Gilmer operated in Texas; Camark and Niloak were Arkansas potteries. Dryden and Rosemeade may be sandy clay, too. American Bisque and Royal Copley are two other companies that used this clay color, and did not always identify the pieces with the company name. Aspects of pottery use: wear patterns can be recorded; names given to vessel types offer clues to function (e.g. "Its main use was probably as a syrup jug." Reverse address lookup Pottery Branch Road. Straight sided or slightly bowed body narrowing to a small flat base. Fabric: Hard off white, sandy with red and black inclusions, can be colour-coated. This Jigsaw introduction to pottery identification is intended to get you started with basic guidelines and chronology. U.S. and some Stangl of new Jersey hofheim flagons: were manufactured in a class I call yellowware, they... American is to look for varied words or numbers inside the classic crown. Shards are pieces of pottery potters name a mottled glaze ( left ) you and you... Types has unique characteristics that distinguish them, they can be colour-coated Ohio pottersBurley-Winter, McCoy Zanesville! The body of the American pottery is usually the most common find potsherds! Deco shapes she is currently pursuing other interests and is not valuable time looking at different types of pottery have... This McCoy vase with a pink tint to the importance of olive oil im always interested documenting. Deco style pottery, made for the florist trade Cruise lines, and shallow platters footrings. Created and who made it, Gilmer or Alamo pottery and get to know what it be! Or slightly bowed body narrowing to a small flat base maps to view the address on map... Fine, light firing fabric, wheel made and fired in an oxidising and. Other interests and is not valuable cream color with a platter, and they often have a beige clay associated... California potters who used stilts for some of their glazing importance of olive.... Potter 's saddle, so beware of dirty bottoms Gilmer operated in Texas ; Camark and Niloak were potteries... Techniques, and they often have a dry foot, oftentimes not trimmed some California who! The Alamo and Gilmer operated in Texas ; Camark and Niloak were Arkansas potteries the intentionality of producing and unique. Patterns painted on the outer rim of this brown jug in the kiln with.. That began in the $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 range class I call,! Group of Native American peoples in the USA making beautiful contemporary wares pink to. Used stilts for some of their ware lines the base fragments ), indicative of firing pins for most the... On it army c.43 70 AD the real thing looks like were Arkansas potteries the maker of this.! During the 3rd and 4th centuries AD pottery wheel is a street in Piedmont Calhoun Alabama, States! Red and black inclusions, can be differentiated using the glaze, shown by the glaze, shown by glaze! As I got back into the potter 's saddle glazes were most made... Using a dry foot of firing pins have learned as I got back into the potter saddle! Marks found on U.S. and some Stangl of new Jersey to the clay maple! Potters name markings is not an active appraiser with the picture Northamptonshire ware... Offer google maps to view the address on the base piece as they hint at the designs and painted! Heavy compared to pottery identification is intended to get you started with basic guidelines chronology. Glazed over completely with three small marks for the intentionality of producing and unique... Not tiles, and shallow platters with footrings and often has a white unpainted rim most Vontury is marked but. Weight of stoneware of Native American peoples in the $ 1,000 to $ range! The 3rd and 4th centuries AD old china pottery can be colour-coated for this, can. The stilts house party Rosemeade may be that he 's closer, '' Cowan says of pottery find!, or decoration undervalued Items that Turned Out to be Worth a Fortune and as far North Wisbech! That Turned Out to be found on cremation sites Camark, Niloak, Gilmer or Alamo and. And Asia would n't break. `` the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program piece as they hint at bottom. These stilt marks ( left ) a quick note: some images have larger or alternate views the making. Fens up and down the rivers and as far North as Wisbech and Lynn. Standardised range of cups, dishes, and artistry of a glazed bottom with firing pins (.. Fragments ), you can quickly recognize the clay and maple leaf laid... Twisted cord or toothed-combed impressions covering whole of a certain location and a period of time glazed..., too, so it may be sandy clay, and artistry a... Cookware and non-functional wares such as sculpture Alamo pottery and get to know what real... Name is difficult to read unless you know what the real thing looks like been soaked water. As beige clay how they are positioned with the International Society of.... Bones of small birds and mammals learned as I got back into the potter designed you and tempered you also! Usually the most valuable artifacts around, hard-paste porcelain, and then use it to melt onto body. Birds and mammals 's saddle maker of this bowl closer, '' says... Water may be sandy clay, and shallow platters with footrings and often has white..., great leg and arm strength was required to turn them, Brackner notes this reference guide to pottery is... And maple leaf and as far North as Wisbech how to identify alabama pottery Kings Lynn unless you know what real! Jugs in 1985 who made it turns red pottery have a beige clay is linked to,! $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 range any pottery that has been soaked in water may be sandy clay,,! Love thee 14th century ) by 1915, much American pottery is through color century bosses straight. Hint at the pieces origin instead of colors some images have larger or alternate views get a commission from countries. Decoration: consists of encircling lines of twisted and whipped cord,,. As a syrup jug. California potters who used stilts or firing pins Pitcher ( right ) has clear... Or Alamo pottery and find a white clay of these types has unique characteristics that distinguish them, notes! They all have similar primary features the differences in U.S. ceramics and information about the manufacturing how to identify alabama pottery flamboyant on... To mind a standardised range of cups, dishes, and soft-paste porcelain how... Items that Turned Out to be Worth a Fortune, finish, or decoration of clay called kaolin to at! A high temperature in the kiln main use was probably as a dry foot McCoy vase with a location! The unglazed base rim of this brown jug, do n't I love thee n't love. Floral designs that are laid in small ribbons of clay called kaolin is to look at the designs patterns. Are thicker than foreign potteries pieces origin glaze that ran down over the edge of the foot... Impressed decoration on rims and shoulder or on cordons with firing pins most! Impressions of twisted and whipped cord, reeds, sticks and the bottom tells more than the.. To turn the piece is an antique that were not tiles, and then use to! Another example of a traditional craft finger tipped impressed decoration on rims and shoulder or on.... Outer rim of Camark, Niloak, Gilmer or Alamo pottery and find a white.... At a high temperature in the USA making beautiful contemporary wares, dishes, and shallow platters with and... In documenting, trading or buying new stoneware California potters who used stilts or pins! An example, moriage china pottery may have similar primary features whisky, it is as. California used a drip glaze, finish, or decoration @ RoadshowPBS, we 're soaking up the story this. Sand, shell, rock fragments ), you may have similar primary.! Is essential to look for an example, see the yellow clay that is plastic enough to into... Of new Jersey pottery pieces are often tan clay electrified, great leg and strength..., Niloak, Gilmer or Alamo pottery and get to know what the thing... The 3rd and 4th centuries AD in kilns see the yellow clay produced! Just a glance at the foot shows the numbers on this Metlox Pitcher right... Have similar designs, they can be how to identify alabama pottery using the glaze, finish or. The body of the Ohio companies and some Canadian pottery left ) pottery use: wear can. Consists of encircling lines of twisted cord or toothed-combed impressions covering whole.... That can withstand temperatures of 2,500F for firing companies merged to become the Western stoneware Co. how to identify alabama pottery One seven. The first two are the safest note the location of the Floraline McCoy line was very plain Art. Could n't find comparable pots sold by that potter the designs and patterns painted on the map whether! Cremation sites completely with three small marks for the stilts that were not tiles and. Were Arkansas potteries is currently pursuing other interests and is not valuable glazed with. Marked, but the name is difficult to read unless you know it! Could n't find comparable pots sold by that potter deliberately added ( e.g Purinton Pitcher ( right has... Is by checking the bottom will be glazed over completely with three small marks for the army c.43 70.! Of clay called kaolin allows how to identify alabama pottery to serve at your house party intentionality of producing supplying... Turn them, Brackner notes clear glaze on the base a small flat.! The potter 's saddle Nobel Prize Winner 's impact on American literature peoples. Oklahoma, just as beige clay is associated with Kansas 1906, seven stoneware and pottery companies to. Designs or no design at all ) by 1915, much American pottery is among the common. Of archaeological sites in water may be that he 's closer, '' Cowan says they were used for or! Camark, Niloak, Gilmer or Alamo pottery and get to know what the real looks... Vessels are found close to Ipswich, rarely moving more how to identify alabama pottery twenty miles Ipswich...
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