Roseville Pottery is one of the most desirable and valuable ceramic collectibles today, all thanks to its distinct nature-inspired, lively, cultural, and futuristic designs.
But have you ever wondered about the artist who painted or designed those unique patterns? If yes, this blog is just for you!
Join me to unfold the history of Roseville Pottery making and learn about all the artists and designers who breathed life into the pieces with their creative decorations and their own signatures!
Introducing Roseville Pottery Artists
After shifting its headquarters to Zanesville, Roseville Pottery Company started hiring artists to design and decorate its pottery. The first artist to join Roseville Pottery Co. was Ross C. Purdy, who designed its earliest decorative pottery line, Rozane.
In the early 1900s, John Harold started working with Roseville and designed more Rozane patterns, like Mara and Mongol. After John came the Japanese artist Gazo Fudji, the designer of the rare Fujiyama and Woodland lines.
During the 1900s and 1910s, Roseville released many iconic lines (Rhead lines) under art designer Fredrick Rhead (1904-08) and then his brother Harry Rhead (1908-18). Fredrick introduced the most valuable Roseville line, Della Robbia, apart from Olympic, Aztec, Crocus, and Cremo. Harry is known for Donatello, Mustique, Carnelian, Paleo, and Juvenile lines.
After Rhead Brothers, Roseville Pottery Co. welcomed Frank Ferrell as its next Art Director in 1918. Ferrell played a significant role in popularizing the company with many iconic lines, such as the Pinecone, Futura, Ferella, and more, until the company collapsed in 1954.
Most Popular Artists & Potters of Roseville Pottery & Their Signs
1. Ross C Purdy
Ross Purdy was the first art designer to be hired by Roseville Pottery Company in 1900. He introduced the first art pottery line, Rozane, the typical undecorated or slip-decorated pottery.
Soon, more artists were hired to hand-paint Purdy’s Rozane Ware with several floral, human, and wildlife motifs and patterns.
Roseville Rozane Ware items signed by Ross Purdy have hardly been found to date. Instead, the Rozane Ware bears the signs of decorators like W. Myers.
2. John Harold
John Harold became the Art Director of the Roseville Pottery Company in 1900. He brought his pottery artistry to life and expanded the Rozane line with many more new, minimalistic patterns.
Popular Lines & Patterns By Harold: Azurean, Rozane Mara, Rozane Mongol
3. Frederick Hurten Rhead
Frederick Rhead was the designer and art director at Roseville Pottery Company from 1904 to 1908. He experimented with Majolica glazes and designed many of Roseville’s well-known lines himself while directing many others.
Known Patterns By F. Rhead: Della Robbia, Olympic, Cremo, Crocus
4. Harry Rhead
After Fredrick Rhead, his brother, Harry Rhead, took his place at the Roseville Pottery Co. in 1908. Frederick designed the popular Roseville Donatello line, as well as the Carnelian and Pauleo lines, which can be found with his artist’s signature.
Valuable Lines & Patterns: Donatello, Pauleo, Carnelian
5. Gazo Fudji
Japanese designer Gazo Fujiyama joined Roseville Pottery in the early 1900s. He brought charismatic and distinct Japanese design elements to Roseville pottery, which made it stand out.
Usually, the lines designed by Fudji are usually unmarked or solely marked with the Rozane Ware wafer at the bottom.
Iconic Lines & Patterns: Woodland, Fujiyama/Fudi
6. Frank Ferrell
Frank Ferrell was a native Zanesville pottery designer who worked at several pottery companies before moving to Roseville Pottery Co. in 1917. He worked as an Art Director at Roseville Company for about thirty years.
With his rich experience and innovative pottery decoration ideas, he became one of its most successful and known designers.
Popular Lines & Patterns By F. Rhead: Sylvan, Vista, Dogwood, Futura, Pinecone, Dahlrose, Ferella, Wisteria (oversaw or designed Blackberry, Baneda, Rosecraft, etc.)
Other Roseville Pottery Designers & Artists’ Marks
Apart from the above designers, many other pottery artists worked with Roseville Pottery Co., whose signs and monograms are occasionally seen on Roseville pieces. These include:
A. Lewis
Allen Simpson
Arthur Williams
Anna Daltherty
A. F. Best
Anthony Dunlavy
Ben Seibel
B. Mallen
Caroline Steinle
Charles Chilcoate
Clolinda Zanetta
Claude Leffler
E. Dutro
Elizabeth Ayers
Fred Steele
George Neff
Gordon Mull
Gussie Gerwich
Harry Lazelere (Rozane Royal Grapevines)
Hattie Mitchell
Heleen Smith
Hester Pillsbury
Josephine Inlay
Lillie Mitchell
Madge Hurst
Mae Timberlake
Mignon Martineau
Minnie Mitchell
Minnie Terry
M. Myers
Sarah Timberlake
Tot Steele
Virginia Adams
William Hall
Walter Myers (Lily Pattern)
Remember, the artist monograms, as shown above, can also be found on other potteries like Rookwood and Weller potteries, as many designers worked as freelancers with multiple companies.
Just like Roseville Pottery company marks, the artists’ signatures and monograms are also great features to authenticate the piece and set the right price tag for it. So, use this guide guide to verify and appraise your product. For more help in appraising, check out my Roseville Pottery value guide!
