Samuel Weller (1851-1925) founded Weller in Fultonham, Ohio in 1872, and moved to Zanesville in 1888. Like local rival Roseville, the company initially produced utilitarian wares, before moving into the rapidly growing Art pottery market. Weller bought W. A. Long’s Lonhuda Pottery in 1894. Within a year, he had learned Long’s special glazing techniques, which had been developed by ex-Rookwood decorator Laura Fry, and the partnership between Long and Weller was dissolved. The Lonhuda range, which featured hand-painted natural motifs on brown glossy background, much like Rookwood’s Standard Glazed pieces, was re-launched by Weller as Louwelsa. Although competition was strong, Weller prospered and by 1904 had become the largest art pottery in the world.
Here we examine a Cretone vase, in ivory with hand decorated leaves, flowers and four gazelle by Hester Pillsbury.
- Introduced in 1934, Cretone was one of the final ranges that required freehand artistic input.
- The sparse, stylised design is typical of the Art Deco period.
- The simple form of the pot shows the pattern off to its best.
- The gazelle is frequently found in Art Deco designs, from textiles to ceramics and glass.
- The example was decorated by Hester Pillsbury, a notable decorator and is signed with her initials.
Price guide: £400-600 ($600-800)
