The art pottery movement began in the 1870s in America and
Britain, coinciding roughly with the beginning of the Arts and
Crafts movement, which gained momentum in the 1880s. Art pottery
was more elaborate than utilitarian pottery, and early pieces
were usually hand-decorated, signed by the artist, and produced
in limited numbers. Many companies known for their art pottery,
like Rookwood, Roseville, Frankoma, and Weller, were founded in
the American Midwest in the 1880s and 1890s. Drawing on local
deposits of clay and minerals, most of these companies started
by making simple, decorative pottery pieces or utilitarian
pieces such as flowerpots and other garden ware. What ultimately
set these companies apart were their ornamental designs.
Rookwood and other Midwestern companies took inspiration from
Asian designs and Art Nouveau styles, creating pieces that were
both functional and beautiful. They worked in a variety of
popular forms, from vases to bowls to wall sconces and
decorative tiles... Some art pottery