This lamp found us, instead of us finding the lamp. It had resided in Okla. City for several years. We have no recollection of having seen another, or any vintage brochure featuring such a design. Mid-July, we visited Colorado Springs, and once again called upon the expertise of Fred Wills, who was a potter at […]
Archives for 2013
First 953 Designs from 1900-1912
June 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Collectors have been very cooperative in sending photos of their early pieces, with photos of the bottom markings. This has been a very, very slow process of attempting to develop a web page for each of the 953 designs. At some future point, I hope to have this project completed with photos for all to […]
Indian Chief Expression – 1 of 3
May 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Terra Cotta or Bisque Paperweight with Design from Indian Chief Vase, dated 1913 This paperweight is made from one of the three facial expressions on the Indian Chief Vase, discussed in the previous post. Has anyone seen one of these plaques/paperweights with images of the other two facial expressions from the vase? Has an example […]
Ambrose Schlegel credited with Indian Chief Vase
May 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
American Indian Chief Vase with Three Expressions Does anyone possess one of these vases dated prior to 1914? Copied from the Van Briggle Pottery files, with permission while researching our book, is a letter dated 1967 regarding the origin of this design. The owner of the pottery from 1920 to 1969 was J. H. Lewis, […]
Origin of the “Monkey Mug”
April 10, 2013 by 2 Comments
The inspiration to model the “Monkey Mug” came from one Van Briggle collector’s trip to Mexico City in the spring of 1974. While visiting the Museum of Anthropology, Robert Wyman Newton was impressed with the use animals in the pre-Colombian artifacts, and in particular, a vase carved in the shape of a monkey. Mr. Newton […]
Design #809 by Mae Cook in 1910
February 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
One of six designs by Mae Cook for Van Briggle Pottery from 1909 – 1910. This tray is listed in the Catalogue of Van Briggle Designs, by Robert Wyman Newton, as an ashtray without known dimensions. This example is in the early Mulberry color, and dimensions are 4 x 6 inches, with a pipe and […]