RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc Presents: Ask the Appraiser

Good morning, Jon. I am anxious to find out about this vase. It has been in our family forever. It originally belonged to my grandmother’s mother! I can remember this vase at my grandmother’s home in South Carolina in the 1940s. There are several markings on the bottom which we have photographed for you to inspect. It measures 7-1/4 inches tall. We can’t find a single bit of information relative to this vase. One more item of information. About 4 years ago we called an auction about a painting we also had in our family. When the fellow from this auction house came to our house, he didn’t want the painting but wanted to purchase this vase. The individual was not able to identify this vase either. But he really wanted to purchase it. My daughter refused his offers. I’m wondering if we should have sold it back then. My daughter looked everywhere but found no information about it. If you require better pictures I can have more sent to you. Thank you for your time and effort helping us. My daughter and I look forward to reading your column every week. I’m betting you will be able to tell us what we have here.

Lydia 

 Your photographs are excellent. The photos are so good that I can tell you a great deal about this wonderful vase, including the name of the particular artist that created it. Here we go! The vase was made at the Newcomb Pottery College, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Newcomb College Pottery was a brand of American Arts & Crafts pottery produced from 1895-1940. This company grew out of the pottery program at H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College; the women’s college now associated with Tulane University in Louisiana. Newcomb college had been founded to instruct young southern women in liberal arts. This school opened in 1886 and the production of art pottery, on a for profit basis began in 1895. All the designs and styles were done by women. Unlike the women who created and carved the designs for the pottery, the actual potters were all men. It was believed that a male potter was needed to work the clay, throw the pots and fire the kiln. When this Pottery works was first established, any woman who studied art at Newcomb College was allowed to sell the wares that she had decorated. Over the ensuing years, the pottery works employed dozens of women. Unfortunately, space in this column does not permit me to explain the elaborate marking system of codes Newcomb used to identify each piece. Relative to your particular vase, it is hand decorated with a moon and hanging moss design in a matte glaze finish. Based on the incised marks to the base of this vase, I can inform you that the artist who created this magnificent vase was Anna Francis Simpson, it is shape number 315 and was produced in 1927. Simpson was one of the more important potters at Newcomb College. It is this appraiser’s opinion that Newcomb Pottery is among the finest of all American Art Pottery ever made. It is highly collectible and sought after by major pottery collectors. So important, that the Smithsonian Institution has several Newcomb pieces on display. Assuming the vase in question has remained in excellent condition, meaning, no chips, cracks or restoration, a current retail value for this vase is $3,500 USD. Perhaps this was the reason the gentlemen from the auction house wanted to purchase this vase. Please continue to take very good care of this beautiful vase.