RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc: Ask the Appraiser

So glad I recently saw this column in our local paper. I have been wondering about this vase for years. I’m embarrassed to say; I can’t even tell you what it is made of. It looks like glass to me. Since my grandmother died in the 1980s it has been packed away. That is until about a year ago. We had a new roof installed on our house, so we had to empty our attic, and there it was. I really like it. I looked for a name or a mark but found nothing. It stands just a bit over 8 inches and really looks beautiful when the light shines through it. We were told by our friend that it was made by Tiffany, so that is the reason I believe it is glass. Please inform me if our friend is correct and what it’s worth.

Lydia S. Chestnut Ridge

Not produced by Tiffany Studios and not made of glass. Your friend is incorrect. However, your magnificent vase was designed and decorated by the French ceramicist Jacques Sicard (1865-1923) and dates from 1905. It was sold through the Weller American Art Pottery Company, in Zanesville, Ohio. Please take a careful inspection along the lower portion of the side. This vase is signed, however faintly, at that particular location. This vase features a beautiful iridescent glaze, with a flowing floral motif, typical of Art Nouveau style. It is a nice example of Weller Pottery’s line of Sicard, introduced in 1902 and discontinued sometime around 1907. Sicard’s tantalizing metallic majolica pottery was produced only for a short time and was very popular, yet quite expensive at the time. Jacques Sicard came to the United States by invitation of Sam Weller to create pottery at his factory. He only stayed for about five years. He refused to sell his special glaze formula to Sam Weller, which is the basis for your particular vase, when he left to return to France. Sicard refused, even though Sam Weller was willing to pay a substantial sum of money for it. Obviously, it is named after the pattern’s creator, who worked in secret for more than two years to invent this metallic luster glaze pottery. Now that I have properly identified this vase for you, let’s talk about its value. As I frequently mention in this article, the market for American Art Pottery has declined in value for the last 15 years. However, as with any antique or collectible, there are exceptions. This vase is one of those exceptions. The reason is because it is not the typical run of the mill type of pottery that is frequently encountered. Remember, you thought it was glass. It is very difficult and time consuming to be able to make the clay glaze appear as glass. Your vase has all the bells and whistles. It is a signed piece, with a beautiful aesthetic shape and the right special glaze. Which is absolutely gorgeous! Assuming your example has remained in excellent condition, meaning no chips or cracks, the current value of this vase is $3,000 USD. The fact your vase is actually signed allows it greater value than the unsigned pieces. Please continue to take good care of this special vase.

  Jacques Sicard, RZM, RZM Antiques, Weller American Art Pottery Company, Weller Pottery