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10 Reasons I Collect Antique Pottery
- Beauty - Pottery is an art. Creating a pottery piece is labor intensive, dangerous and fairly unpredictable. (especially in the old days) A number of steps and devotion goes into its creation. In some sense I believe the potters energy is transferred to the clay he or she works. I appreciate the skill and artist vision required to produce these aesthetically pleasing pieces of art.
- Yesteryear - As a kid I would often accompany my parents to antique stores, flea markets and garage sales. I had a happy childhood. Perhaps picking through layers of dust latent items in stale smelling air takes me back to that time?
- Utility - Pottery items have purpose, even if it is only to look pretty. The majority of pottery items hold or support something else. Food is served, flowers displayed, books supported, liquid mobilized and plants grown with ceramic assistance. They are essential tools that have enabled our modern lives to become more civilized and beautiful.
- Important History - Pottery has been produced for 10′s of thousands of years. It was probably discovered by our ancestors building a fire on ground rich with clay. After discovering the rock like result in the fire pit, someone came up with a life altering idea. I believe that it is in my innate makeup to appreciate the stuff and it forms. When I buy and clean an under appreciated garage sale find, I am in essence reintroducing it into the world by assigning it its rightful importance. I become the pottery's temporary caretaker for future enthusiasts.
- Imagination - Along with the ancient history goes the more recent history of antique pottery. When I find and buy a piece, of let's say Rookwood, my imagination begins to travel back and through time. I dream of the time period in which it was created. What was America like then? Where was this made? Who specifically had there hands in its birth? Where may this piece have traveled in its eighty plus years of existence? Who and how many may have owned it. What items may have been in it or used with it? How long will this pottery item remain on earth in its current form? Etc. Etc. I've found that posing and focusing my attention on these imaginative questions is almost meditative.
- Mystery - Discovering an antique pottery piece that is pleasing to my eye is just the beginning. After getting the item home, a rewarding bit of sleuthing commences. The process of investigating marks and initials, studying forms, glazes and techniques can be not only interesting but, lends itself to enrich the other bullets on this list. For example, if I'm able to nail down that a piece of pottery was created by Niloak around 1915, I can more easily imagine prewar WWI Arkansas and the hands that may have taken part in its development. (Such as Charles Dean "Bullet" Hyten or a potter named Arthur Dovey) The more specific the details concerning the ware, the more interesting and valuable it becomes.
- Discovery - There is a certain rush of adrenaline associated with spotting a valuable piece of antique pottery on a thrift store shelf. The excitement of picking it up and hastily checking for chips while glancing over the ridiculously low price is oh so much fun. A sense of personal satisfaction comes with purchasing a two dollar piece of pottery while knowing that the item is coveted and valuable to collectors.
- Education - Antique pottery collecting has become a way for me to not only learn about the past but also remain current with technology as well. By combining my passions for pottery and computers, I've created and maintain two websites and a blog concerning the topic. (http://www.oldantiquepottery.info, http://www.artpotterymanufactures.com and blog http://www.artpotterycollectors.com)
- Hunting – Looking for places to uncover cool pieces of antique pottery is fun. It takes me to different towns, cities and out of the norm places. While in the hunt there are many different things to see, new locations to experience and unique (sometimes weird!) people to meet. It's nice to stop and smell the flowers along the journey. There is always something new in the pursuit of the old.
- Value - Antique pottery can be quite valuable. Hoarding a collection of worthy pieces is as good as having money in the bank. It's also pretty nice to get a hundred dollars on Ebay for something I bought for three bucks!
Well, there you have them. If these reasons don't suffice in answering the question why I collect antique pottery, perhaps this simple explanation will do...Maybe I'm just as quirky and unique as some of the pieces I collect!
About the Author
The author of this article manages an informational website about antique pottery, sells pottery supplies and blogs about collecting.
Rookwood Art Pottery
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 Rookwood Arts Crafts 10 Vase  US $1,025.00
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 Rookwood Arts Crafts 2 Handled Vase by Hentschel US $995.00
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 1925 XXV ROOKWOOD VASE 2897 RARE GOLD GLAZE Arts and Crafts US $785.00
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 ROOKWOOD ARTS CRAFTS JAPANESE DESIGN 11 3 8 1924 2740 US $575.00
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 Arts Craft Geometric ROOKWOOD POTTERY VASE US $550.00
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 1921 ROOKWOOD POTTERY ART DECO TILE TRIVET BEAUTY US $529.99
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 Pair of Arts Crafts Matte Blue Raven Rookwood Art Pottery Bookends US $449.00
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 Arts Crafts Rookwood Matte Green Vase US $449.00
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 Antique Arts Crafts Rookwood Lincoln Vellum Vase US $449.00
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 ROOKWOOD ART POTTERY COVERED BOX CINCINNATTI OHIO 1928 US $325.00
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 1916 Arts Crafts Rookwood Pottery Vase 75 EXCELLENT US $309.00
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 Rookwood Art Pottery Hound Bookends US $299.00
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 Rookwood Pottery 1920 Arts Crafts Dusty Rose Panel Vase MINT US $339.00
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 ROOKWOOD ARTS CRAFTS PINK VIVID DESIGN Apr 8 1926 US $288.00
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 ROOKWOOD 1958 Art Deco style Pottery Vase Green 7075 US $285.00
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 ROOKWOOD 1926 Art Pottery Vase 1655F Blue Green US $278.00
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 ROOKWOOD ARTS CRAFTS PINK GREEN VIVID DESIGN Aprox 7 1918 US $278.00
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Tags: art, auction, furniture, pottery, rookwood, rookwood art pottery, rookwood artisan craft, rookwood artists, rookwood artists marks, rookwood artists signatures