Roseville's ceramics legacy is divided into several different "periods" of output (Early-, Middle-, and Late-) and their highly-varied design lines over many years. The company began in Roseville, Ohio, in 1890, making "utilitarian wares": crocks, flowerpots, cuspidors. In 1898, Roseville purchased a larger ceramics factory in Zanesville, Ohio (some 10 miles away), and, by 1900, had expand into a range of higher-end, hand-painted art wares. Designer Frederick Rhead joined the company as Art Director (1904-1908) and had an enormous impact on "aiming" the company in the right direction. Frederick's brother, Harry Rhead, took the reins in 1908 and created several profitable lines. Then, in 1918, Frank Ferrel became Art Director (for the next 30 years) and oversaw the explosive creation of over 100 new lines and 1000 new shapes. After World War II, as happened with many American and English ceramics makers, Roseville found it hard to compete against cheap imports, especially from Asia. Furthermore, the new Modernist Aesthetic was being well-expressed by the West Germans and the Italians (both of whom could underprice the cost of American-made ceramics). Roseville closed its doors in 1954.
Back in the early Twentieth Century, during the height of the Arts & Crafts period, Roseville produced several lines of matte green ceramics which were very popular in Craftsman interiors. Roseville—inspired by the success of high-end Arts & Crafts pottery from Grueby and Teco—went big for matte green offerings. Three such lines, all debuting in 1905, were "Roseville Matte Green," "Rozane Chloron," and "Egypto." Additionally, there were other basic shapes glazed in matte green (as well as other colors) which have been grouped and categorized as "Pre 1916."
The Roseville hanging "bowl," shown above, was made during those early Arts & Crafts years. It has a strongly stylized Art Nouveau silhouette, including impressed "whiplash chevrons" along the rim. Most unusually, the piece still includes its original chain, from which it was once hung in a handsome Arts & Crafts interior. A small potted plant—flowers, a fern, or some trailing vines—was meant to sit within the bowl. Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome piece.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.