About Roseville Pottery
The Roseville Pottery Company was founded in 1890. Roseville initially produced simple utilitarian ware such as flower pots, stoneware, umbrella stands, cuspidors, and limited painted ware. In 1900, Roseville Rozane became the first high quality art pottery line produced by Roseville.
In 1904, Frederick Rhead became art director for Roseville pottery. Rhead was responsible for the production of scarce art pottery lines such as Fudji, Crystalis, Della Robbia and Aztec.
In the early teens as demand for the more expensive, hand-crafted art pottery declined Roseville pottery shifted production to more commercially produced pottery. Roseville's ability to nimbly adapt to market conditions was one of the potteries' greatest attributes as Roseville was continually able to produce the most popular patterns and styles compared to their immediate competitors.
In 1919, Frank Ferrel succeeded Harry Rhead (Frederick's brother) as art director for Roseville pottery. Frank Frerrel and George Krause combined to produce many of today's most popular Rosevilly pottery patterns including
Dahlrose, Rosecraft, Hexagon, Ferella.Sunflower, Blackberry, Cherry Blossom and Wisteria.
Roseville pottery introduced Pinecone in 1935. Pinecone became the most successful and highest volume pattern produced during the existence of Roseville pottery. The pattern includes over 75 different shapes in blue, brown, and green.
World War II necessitated another production change for Roseville pottery. During this time period, Roseville introduced such patterns as Fuchsia, Cosmos, Columbine, White Rose, Bittersweet and Zephyr Lily. While these patterns were still the best quality art pottery in the market at this time, it was not enough to save the company. Roseville Pottery ceased operations in 1954.
Throughout Roseville's days of production, its versatility and innovativeness served to keep the company at the forefront of the various decorating styles and buying public trends. Even to this day, Roseville pottery still represents the most widely known and most collectible art pottery ever produced.
Roseville Pottery Marks
The Roseville Pottery Company used many different marks during its existence. The earliest marks used by Roseville pottery were the die-impressed Rozane marks and the wafer marks (Photo 1) associated with the various Rozane patterns. In 1923, Rosevilly pottery started using the blue ink stamp Rv mark that is often seen on patterns such as Roseville Carnelian I, Rosecraft Panel, Rosecraft Vintage, etc. (Photo 2).
Roseville pottery patterns produced between 1927 and 1935 were marked with only paper or foil labels and sometimes with the corresponding shape number and size. Roseville patterns with paper or foil labels include such notable lines as Baneda, Blackberry, Cherry Blossom, Falline, Falline, Futura, Jonquil, Monticello and Sunflower. (Photo 3).
In 1936, Roseville pottery started using the die-impressed trademark Roseville and the corresponding shape number and size in script. Beginning in 1940, Roseville pottery started marking pieces with the more commonly seen, raised Roseville USA along with the corresponding shape number and size. (Photos 4 and 5).
Rosevilly pottery patterns such as Pinecone that was produced over a long period of time often confuse new Roseville pottery collectors, due to the variety of marks used during the pattern's years of production. For example, is possible to find Roseville Pinecone either unmarked; marked with the die-impressed trademark Roseville with the shape number and size; or marked with the raised Roseville USA along with the shape number and size.
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