How to Identify Rosemeade Pottery

Laura Taylor Hughes was a talented student from the University of North Dakota who created what has become known as Rosemeade pottery. This collectible pottery generally features animals and plants common to the state of North Dakota. The company Hughes and her husband founded used metal oxides under the fired glazes to create distinctive hues.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Note Rosemeade pottery's subject matter, including the nature pieces. Animals, birds and fish depicted in vivid colors are common in Rosemeade pieces, and this can be a first clue in identifying this pottery.
2. Study the ink stamp or impressed mark on the bottom of the pottery. Most Rosemeade pottery can be identified by the company's lettering in blue or black ink. The stamp is not present on all Rosemeade, but a piece without it must be verified by other means.
3. Verify the date of production. The company stopped production in 1961, so pieces dated after this are not Rosemeade. The company did not begin production until 1940 in Wahpeton.
4. Look for unusual glazes. Rosemeade pieces have lustrous hues with the natural color of the clay showing through.
5. Find the prairie rose sticker, which appears on many Rosemeade pieces. The sticker is in honor of North Dakota. Be careful when using this as an identifying marker, as the sticker has appeared on some non-Rosemeade pieces.
6. Notice the colorings and details. This pottery is known for its realistic colorings and accurate depictions of nature.
7. Purchase a copy of the "Collector's Encyclopedia of Rosemeade Pottery: Identification & Values" by author Darlene Hurst Dommel. Visit the Richland County Museum to view a vast collection of Rosemeade pottery (see Resources below).