RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc Presents: Ask the Appraiser

Hi Jon. I’ve had this thing in my kitchen cabinet for many, many years. I even forgot that I had it. Just had new cabinets installed so there it was. Quite simply, what is it? I can be that frank about it. It was my mother’s. Where she got it, I have no idea. Is it a part for something bigger? Can’t wait to learn what this thing is.

Mitchell

Your “thing” is what is commonly known as a wall pocket. Ceramic wall pockets are decorative objects dating to the Victorian era that were produced to store household items and keepsakes. Today, various styles of new and vintage wall pockets hang in kitchens to store everyday objects, in fact they are the perfect size to store an iPhone! The early wall pockets of the 1920s came from Europe or were produced in America by some of the major ceramic companies. Then in the 1950s the Japanese exporters flooded American shops with large numbers of wall pockets, along with many other small ceramics. Repeated subject matter includes cornucopias, seashells, flowers such as yours, and fans. Antique French fan wall pockets in Faience (fine glazed pottery) can be quite valuable. Some prized antique Japanese wall pockets were made in lusterware or majolica. Your particular wall pocket was made by the Roseville Art Pottery Company in Zanesville, Ohio, circa 1930. This pattern of pottery depicts a large blossom of sunflower extending from long green stems which are encircling the shape. You will find the background in mottled earth tones in terra cotta across the top and a mottled dark green grass encompassing at least two thirds of your wall pocket. It would have been marked with a black paper label, but as time has gone by, the labels on most of these have worn off, thus many are found unmarked. Okay, let’s talk about money. Two factors allow your wall pocket to have value. The first is the pattern. Sunflower is a more desirable pattern to Roseville pottery collectors. It ranks number two in desirability to collectors of Roseville pottery. Next, again in your favor, is the condition. After examining each photograph, I can see this item is in excellent condition. No chips, cracks or damage. Therefore, it gives me pleasure to inform you that the “thing” from “many, many years” in your kitchen cabinet is worth $500 USD. Hope this helps pay for the new cabinets.