Carstens-tönnieshof Manipulated Mid-Century Modern Blue Gold Textured Sgraffitto

The Louisville Pottery company used a variety of stamps and sold to touristy shops with marks including Cherokee, Great Smokey Mountains, Daniel Boone, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky Hand Made and more. Most of them are small pitchers and vases in traditional forms. But, then there are occasional exceptions and over time we have all learned that major designers including Frederic Hurten Rhead (over at Selden Bybee) were working in the area. Research is ongoing to identify the examples designed and/or influenced by well known artists or simply a great relatively unknown designer or two deserving of recognition for their work. The JB Speed Art Museum cataloged a slightly smaller gloss green example Accession number 2007.10.9 with the Cherokee Pottery...

Rookwood pottery was established based upon Arts and Crafts ideals positing the celebration and elevation of pottery as an art form. Both professional and amateur decorators and potters were instrumental in the success of what became an art industry and the nations first Internationally recognized art pottery. It is marked 1885, 61 and W. Rookwood's font, Form # 61 and the use of W to indicate white clay are well known to Rookwood collectors and have been identified in most publications concerning the pottery dating back to Peck's books. Sometimes we just can't figure out who decorated them. Many of the decorators were married society ladies and some used their spouse's initials or names on pots. I have been unable to identify what appears to be M AED in under-glaze initials. Nor does the pencil notation which appears M.E. Foster (or Foote) turn up in my review of the literature, including The Ladies God Bless 'em. The quality of the decoration is high and represents the interest in Japonisme and Aesthetic Movement art. The four cobalt lined vertical panels recall vertical Japanese woodblock prints and the gold tracery and rim is surprisingly present with only modest wear to the high points and minor bleed through of the under-glaze around the lip. (shown). It is important to note that unless or until the decorator is identified, it is impossible to assert that the decoration is by a Rookwood artist. Many amateur ladies and gentlemen, particularly members of the Cincinnati Pottery...

Beautiful Sixties vase from the quality items maker Carstens Keramik.

Large Mid-Century Ceramic Vase from Carstens Tönnieshof, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969 official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs, designer recor...