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How to Collect Van Briggle Pottery

Born in 1867, Artus Van Briggle was a gifted artist who started his career in art pottery at Rookwood. After spending three years in Paris studying art, he moved to Colorado Springs in 1899 to ease his tuberculosis and start his own pottery company. Surviving only five years after that, his company still operates. Follow these steps to collect these special works.

Instructions

- 1
  Read about Artus Van Briggle's life on the Van Briggle Pottery Company website. Understanding his experiences makes you a better collector. For instance, he grew with an appreciation for nature, which features prominently in his work.
- 2
  Learn about Van Briggle's theories about art. He was influenced by the Art Nouveau movement and Ming Dynasty era pottery he saw while in Paris. His matte glazes and integration of Art Nouveau motifs were innovative at the time.
- 3
  Visit the Van Briggle Pottery Company in Colorado Springs. Though modern styles and procedures have changed since Artus's time, it gives you a greater understanding of what Van Briggle was trying to accomplish.
- 4
  View the largest Van Briggle pottery collection at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. They also have archived documents detailing the early days of the company.
- 5
  Contact art dealers in Colorado Springs or dealers who specialize in antique American art pottery. They may be able to obtain desirable pieces from 1902 to 1908, which are particularly rare and valuable.
- 6
  Watch for auctions that offer antique American art pottery. You may find a beautiful piece with minor chips or irregularities that's worth having because of its rarity.
- 7
  Tap into online resources to find Van Briggle pieces for your collection. Take them to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum to ensure they're authentic.

Antiques