Hobbies And Interests
Beginnings
Rookwood Pottery's founder, Maria Longworth Nichols, first painted blank china pieces as a hobby, which led her to seek training in pottery design at the Cincinnati School of Design. Her idea for going into the pottery business stemmed from a visit to the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876, where she viewed, and fell for the many varieties of exotic designer pottery from Europe, China and Japan.
Early Company History
Nichols founded Rookwood Pottery in 1880, naming it after the family's country estate. She opened the business in an old schoolhouse purchased by her father in Cincinnati, Ohio. From the company's inception, Nichols sought out the best artistic talent she could find for her new business, and the first artist she hired was Henry Farny, who specialized in American Indian subjects. She hired artists who appreciated the Japanese style of pottery design, along with those whose works were influenced by European style.
Rookwood's Manager
In 1883, Nichols hired William Watts Taylor as general manager of the company. He was responsible for bringing in chemists who would develop one-of-a-kind glazes that Rookwood became famous for, like their distinctive Standard glaze, which is a deep yellow, orange and red over dark brown. Taylor would later run the business himself, after Nichols was married, until his death in 1913.
Famous Artists
Nichols and Taylor brought the famous Japanese artist, Kataro Shirayamadani, into the company in the mid 1880s and he remained at Rookwood until his death at 93 years of age in 1948. Many top artists graced the company grounds, both at the old schoolhouse and at the new building, built in 1891, and many brought new design ideas to the company. See Resources for more on the artists.
Famous Marks
Rookwood used the R-P monogram beginning in 1886. A flame mark was added to date each year of production around the monogram. Body marks were usually included, indicating the type or color of clay that was used, the special shape of the piece, the type of glaze used and the artist's mark. There was also an "X" mark used for imperfect pieces that were sold at reduced prices. For more information on marks, see Resources.
Rookwood's End
Rookwood Pottery suffered during the Great Depression, as its luxury items were no longer affordable for most people. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1941. Several new owners purchased the company over the years and attempted to resurrect it, but failed. Rookwood Pottery closed permanently in 1960.