Rook My World
Rookwood pottery is one of the hottest collectibles in today's market. It's possibly the most famous after the super popular Roseville. The pieces blend in well with Mission Oak and can be either a dull matte or high glazed finish.
Like a lot of potteries, Rookwood started in Ohio around 1880.
At that time, it was a common for wealthy women to paint blank ceramics as a pastime. Rookwood founder Maria Nichols Storer enjoyed the pastime but decided she needed to tun up the heat.
Storer was especially interested in different glazes. As she experimented, she became frustrated with the firing temperatures provided by the local kiln. Dissatisfied with the limited results he was able to achieve, Storer decided to buy her own kiln.
Rookwood pottery was born.The factory continued to produce until 1960, but most of the best pieces were made up to the 1920's.
Rookwood pieces were designed, made, and hand painted by the artist. They are a favorite among collectors because they are beautiful and well marked too. The base carries factory marks, including a symbol for or the name, Rookwood, as well as a dating system.
Rookwood is beautiful, well-marked, collectible, and also frequently imitated.
So how can you protect yourself against getting "rooked" when looking at Rookwood? Most pieces are marked with a flame design over a reversed R and letter P.
You can see more detail about the illustrated piece at
Rookwood.
