How to Buy and collect Roseville Art Pottery

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

The best method to collect Roseville Pottery as with any antique or collectible is to become as informed as possible. Buy good price guides and general information books to keep informed on price as well as to become knowledgeable on fakes, market trends and things to watch for. Your local library may have some good guides. I often browse guide books in used book store and new book sellers for books that will help me advance my hobby. The information in a $20.00 book has helped me save and earn thousands. Knowledge is key.
Step 2

It is best to focus on one or two patterns you love. There is a huge variety to chose from. The most well known are the 1930s to 1950s floral lines, but there are many arts and crafts patterns, roman inspired lines, Egyptian revival patterns ect... You may also collect a type. I have a friend who only collect Roseville wall pockets.
Step 3

When determining value of a piece first know the value of the style. Sunflower, Blackberry, and Pine Cone are very popular and sell for much more than less popular patterns. Early pieces can be very pricey. Get familiar with what you like and watch prices. Ebay is a good place to see what is available and watch prices. Unless a seller has a great reputation selling pottery ebay prices are low because it it is hard to see condition and view damage or color in online photos. While you may find a good bargain on ebay, and I have, you may also get burned by undisclosed or unknown damage you would have spotted with the piece in your hand. Even professionally repaired damage (that an online seller may not know about)will greatly reduce the value. Remember price guides may be out of date and represent the value of a piece in mint condition.
Step 4

Mint condition brings the best price and often goes up much faster than second rate pieces. Obvious damage is chips. They will cut the value by half or more in most cases. Even repaired pieces will have a lower value than an never repaired nice examples. Very rare hard to find pieces won't take as much of a price drop as serious collectors want them to fill a hole in a collection. Cracks are a big problem as well. They can range from a small tight hairline to a long crack with glaze chips. Look inside and out. Cracks are often more visible inside. Look at the piece in as bright a light as possible to see defects you did not notice before. Crazing, the lines of cracking in the glaze that formed in the firing process, can lower value some also, especially if it is easily seen.
Step 5

If you want to build a nice collection with the best value color of the piece and quality and sharpness of the mold also make a difference in value to a collector. Early on a new clean mold make for better detail and sharp clear lines. Some collectors look for strong glaze color also. Each piece will vary in the glaze and shades of color. Bold colors and good visual effects are prized in most pottery.
Step 6

Become familiar with the way Roseville Pottery is marked. Guide books have photos of most of these. There are many different types of marks. Sometimes even the same year of manufacture marks pots in different ways. Roseville has pieces that are unmarked. Some were only marked with a foil sticker that may have been removed. Some are marked with a raised signature. Some have an ink signature or simple ink RV. Some pieces are impressed, others incised. Some just have a style number. Some are marked with a grease pen under the glaze. I have made money and found pieces way under priced even in antique shops when a dealer did not recognize a mark as being Roseville. I bought an unmarked sunflower bowl for $25.00 and sold it for $550.00 the same day. The dealer I bought it from even said "this sure looks like Roseville but they marked everything so I don't know who made this piece." I smiled, payed the full $25.00 asking price, and did a small dance all the way to my car.
Step 7

Watch for fakes. Roseville has been faked, but most the fakes have very poor glaze color that can be easily spotted if you are familiar with what pieces should look like. Most fakes I have seen recently are marked Roseville. The glaze stops a few inches below the inside of the rim. Proper pieces are glazed inside and out.
Step 8

Different styles in the same pattern will vary greatly in price. Large pieces like a jardiniere and pedestal, large vases, or an umbrella stand are often the most expensive. Wall pockets also command good prices. Low console bowls, ash trays and small candle sticks are the least expensive. I buy all price ranges and styles. I love the candle sticks next to a bowl in the same pattern, but be aware of price differences so you do not overpay.
Step 9

HAVE FUN. My number one rule in collecting any antique is buy what speaks to you. If you really love a piece others will probably want it as well. If it is in the line you collect but doesn't do anything for you it may not inspire anyone else so won't have the value of the most pleasing pieces. Buy what you want to live with and display proudly.

Comments

LisaBud said

on 1/14/2009 Great article on collecting Roseville pottery! Lots of valuable information for collectors as well as dealers who don't specialize in art pottery. You can always tell the best dealers by how freely they share their knowledge. Thanks!