Maria Longworth Nichols-Founder of The Rookwood Pottery

When Maria Longworth Nichols' goal of artistic yet affordable pottery combined with her husband's deep pockets, The Rookwood Pottery was born.  From its start in 1880 in an abandoned schoolhouse to its status as medal winning exhibitor at international expositions in Paris and Chicago, the Rookwood name became synonymous with excellence in art and innovation.  For Nichols, the emphasis was art not business, so she hired William Watts Taylor to manage the pottery in 1883.  Under Taylor's leadership, Rookwood achieved artistic and technical eminence, emerging as America's premiere art pottery.

Top Decorators and Gold Medals

In 1886, the company adopted the reversed R connected to a P logo as the official Rookwood pottery stamp.  Later, individual flames were added surrounding the RP to provide production dates.  More importantly, however, was the addition to the staff of decorators with national and international renown.  Japanese artist Kataro Shirayamadani joined the pottery in 1887.  In 1889, Rookwood was awarded the First Prize Gold medal at the Exhibition of American Art Industry in Philadelphia and a gold medal at the Exposition Universalle in Paris.

Matte Glazes for Changing Tastes

Rookwood continued to experiment to produce new products in line with the new aesthetic movement that emphasized simplicity in design.  In 1904, the company unveiled its new line of matte glazes that had been in the works for eight years, glazes that emphasized form rather than the surface decoration abandoned during the Arts and Crafts movement. The company flourished until the 1920's, when the world's problem became the pottery's problems.  The collapse of the stock market and the depression had a predictable effect on the pottery that produced luxury items.  By World War II, Rookwood was declared a non-essential industry, and the raw materials for pottery were diverted to the war effort.  Rookwood struggled on, finally closing its door in 1941.

Rookwood-Preeminent American Art Pottery

Arts & Crafts furnishings and accessories have been at the top of the market for almost ten years, and although prices have come down for some items, values for Rookwood Pottery continue to be strong.  Examples in the most sought after glazes by the best decorators can go for thousands and thousands.  Even the more plentiful smaller scale   production pieces in plain glazes sell for hundreds.  Rookwood made after 1886 is always marked, making it safer to both buy and sell without worry about authenticity or attribution errors.