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How to Identify Rumrill Pottery

The first decades of the 20th century marked a heyday for American pottery manufacturers, due to the continued popularity of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. In the early 1930s, an entrepreneur named George Rumrill partnered with Ohio ceramics giant Red Wing to produce a highly decorative line of art pottery under the name "RumRill." According to RumRill expert Francesca Fisher, after this partnership dissolved in 1938, RumRill continued to be produced by companies such as Shawnee Pottery, Florence Pottery and Gonder Ceramic Arts. RumRill continued to be produced until the death of George Rumrill in 1943.

Things You'll Need

Reference books
Soft cleaning cloth
Magnifying glass
Flashlight

Instructions

Identifying RumRill Pottery
- 1
  
  American art pottery was famous for its highly colored and glazed surfaces.
  
  Turn the piece over to see if there are any marks on the base. Rub this area gently with a soft cloth to remove any shelf dust or debris which may obscure the mark.
- 2
  Use a magnifying glass and, if necessary a flashlight in order to see the mark; genuine RumRill pieces will have the "RumRill" name, as well as a mold number.
- 3
  Look carefully at the construction of the piece; according to experts from the Red Wing Collectors Society, RumRill pieces made by Red Wing Pottery were often cataloged as "Classic Group," "Fluted Group" and "Fern Group," and featured a mix of blended glazes. Referring to reference books, photographs and collectors' websites may help in identifying the make and style of your RumRill piece.

Antiques