1/2 Gallon Stoneware Jug/Crock GEO W. JENKS Groceries Shoes & Notions Your Money Back if Not Satisfied Faith, - S.D. sold for $1,000 in September 2009

What a deal! This Aadvark whimsy (2.5″ x 5″) and marked with WC (a W on one foot and a C on the other) sold for just $80 in July 2009.

Winfred ‘Wimpy’ Cole (1932-1997), was the son of Arthur Ray (AR) Cole (1892-1974) who founded his own pottery shop in 1926 and from the 1940’s on as A. R. Cole Pottery. Wimpy, along with his siblings, including living potters Celia and Neolia, worked at the shop, later being simply named ‘Cole Pottery’. Wimpy was not able to turn large pottery due to problems with his sands. He made up for that with the creative and memorable whimsicals. Many whimsicals were multicolored, like rainbows. There was a smattering of larger animals that tobacco spit glazed with black decoration.

Wow!  Just goes to show … no matter how tight the economy is, collectors will still pay dearly for rare pieces.  This Rare Red Wing 5 Gallon hand turned salt-glazed beehive jug has a flower design and is marked Minnesota Stoneware Co. Red Wing.  The mark dates from 1883 - 1906.

The bottom is unmarked. This jug sold for $15,000 in May 2009 on ebay.

American artist Clyde Burt (1922-1981) was born in Melrose, Ohio.  His studio art pottery is highly sought and there are even pieces in the Smithsonian American Art Museum.     Clyde Burt is considered an important pioneer of American Studio ceramics.  He won the Art Institute of Chicago Designer-Craftsman Award in 1957.

His mark is a very simple capital CB in a circle.  An example is shown below:

Zsolnay Factory started in 1853 by Miklós Zsolnay who established the first manufacture of ceramics for his son Ignác. In 1863 Ignac’s younger brother, Vilmos took over as manager.  The factory’s first major success was reached at the 1873 World Exhibition in Vienna, where Zsolnay received many orders from England, France, Russia, and America.

The success achieved during the 1878 World Exhibition in Paris was tremendous. The jury praised the Zsolnay collection as being unique and gave it the gold medal.  The next steps in this series of successes were Melbourne in 1880, Brussels (1888), Chicago (1893) and Antwerp (1894). At the exhibition organized in 1896, on the occasion of the millenium of the Hungarian Kingdom, the factory introduced its most beautiful pieces, made of eosin. The emperor awarded the Franz Joseph Order to Vilmos Zsolnay, and the city of Pécs gave him the title of Honorary Town Citizen.

After Vilmos Zsolnay’s death, in 1900, his son Miklós took over management and adopted the new Art Nouveau style. In the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and in other neighboring countries, no competitors could be found for the frost-resistant Zsolnay building decorations. Vilmos Zsolnay’s great merit was his invention of several new technologies for the production of ceramics. In the course of his experiments, he developed a base material and glazes that yielded a quality equal to porcelain painting, but which at the same time allowed a much richer use of colours. His technique of firing glazes at high temperatures remains unique even today.  Today, the Zsolnay porcelain Factory holds on to its great traditions, while at the same time stressing the importance of a continuous renewal.

This mark dates from the ~1905 and is the round raised Five Steeple Zsolnay mark and impressed 8049 form number under glaze.

Zsolnay Factory started in 1853 by Miklós Zsolnay who established the first manufacture of ceramics for his son Ignác. In 1863 Ignac’s younger brother, Vilmos took over as manager.  The factory’s first major success was reached at the 1873 World Exhibition in Vienna, where Zsolnay received many orders from England, France, Russia, and America.

The success achieved during the 1878 World Exhibition in Paris was tremendous. The jury praised the Zsolnay collection as being unique and gave it the gold medal.  The next steps in this series of successes were Melbourne in 1880, Brussels (1888), Chicago (1893) and Antwerp (1894). At the exhibition organized in 1896, on the occasion of the millenium of the Hungarian Kingdom, the factory introduced its most beautiful pieces, made of eosin. The emperor awarded the Franz Joseph Order to Vilmos Zsolnay, and the city of Pécs gave him the title of Honorary Town Citizen.

After Vilmos Zsolnay’s death, in 1900, his son Miklós took over management and adopted the new Art Nouveau style. In the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and in other neighboring countries, no competitors could be found for the frost-resistant Zsolnay building decorations. Vilmos Zsolnay’s great merit was his invention of several new technologies for the production of ceramics. In the course of his experiments, he developed a base material and glazes that yielded a quality equal to porcelain painting, but which at the same time allowed a much richer use of colours. His technique of firing glazes at high temperatures remains unique even today.  Today, the Zsolnay porcelain Factory holds on to its great traditions, while at the same time stressing the importance of a continuous renewal.

This Angel Compote measures 11″ wide x 5.5″ high.  With a chip it sold for $2,300 on eBay in April 2009.

Grueby Pottery is most widely known for the leathery matte green glaze.  But Grueby also made pieces in an Oatmeal glaze.

This 8″ tall vase is marked, with a white glaze base. The estimated value is $1300-$1500.

I think Hull Pottery as a collectibile is a sleeper right now.  You can pick up Hull pottery at great prices and I believe the quality is every bit as good as Roseville but right now you can pick up Hull pieces for a song.

Addis Emmet Hull was born in 1862 in Morgan County, Ohio.  His first job was as a travelling salesman.  In his travels he saw a growing demand for stoneware.  In 1901, he founded The Globe Stoneware Company.  It was said that the company had developed a grade of stoneware that was highest quality in the Ohio Valley.  In 1904 Addis sold Globe Pottery.  He founded AE Hull Pottery in 1905 and expanded in 1907 when he purchased Acme Pottery.  (Clearly the buyer of Globe Pottery didn’t ask for a non-compete)

Hull made a lot of pottery.  By the 1920’s hull employed 160 people and produced 7.8M pieces of utilitarian pottery and art ware per year.  Addis died in 1930, and his son Addid Jr. became manager until 1937, when he left to manage the Shawnee Pottery Company.  Gerald F. Watts took over management.

In 1943 the famous Red Riding Hood cookie jar was released.

Based on the success of Red Riding Hood, Hull released a number of novelty shapes. The blanks were produced by Hull and sent to the Regal China and Novelty Co in Chicago to be painted.

During WWII, US demand for German and Japanese pottery waned and Americans looked for domestically produced products. “Buy American” was the national outcry. Hull answered the demand with pastel tinted art pottery in vases, baskets, ewers, rose bowls and console bowls.

In June 1950, there was a massive flood in the Muskingum, Perry, and Morgan COunties. A pottery kiln exploded when covered by water and the Hull pottery company burned to the ground. On January 1, 1952, James Brannon Hull opened a new factory - changing the name from AE Hull Pottery Company to “Hull Pottery Company”. Unfortunately, the lovely pastel matte finish could not be made with the new equipment. The company reworked some of the older patterns using gloss finish. The Woodland molds were turned around from the originals and continued in high gloss. Hull created new patterns before 1960 and using the duo tone finish.

Eventually, Hull discontinued art pottery, turning to produce dinnerware and more utilitarian wares. All production ceased in 1986.