Art Pottery Of Zanesville, Ohio

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Weller Pottery

Sam Weller opened his pottery factory in Zanesville in 1882, after humble beginnings ten years earlier in the nearby small village of Fultonham. At first, Weller had concentrated on making everyday pottery items such as bowls and other household items. By 1890 Weller was producing art pottery, and beginning to recruit artists of note to produce designs and special glazes.

Weller produced many different lines of art pottery, changing over the decades to adapt to new trends in art and popular preference. Thus, some Weller lines are considered Art Nouveau, some are from the Arts and Crafts movement and others are Art Deco.

Weller Pottery shut down in 1948. Although it hasn't been made for more than 60 years, Weller Pottery is still selling well and is highly sought after in the collectible market

The Roseville Pottery Company was founded in 1890. Like Weller, Roseville Pottery also started out making practical, serviceable household items, but moved on to the production of art pottery

Roseville's directors were inventive and followed trends in art and style, they too used innovative designs and developed unique glazing techniques to become the best-known and most highly desired Art Pottery ever made. Times change, though, and despite all its know-how and adaptability, the company closed its doors in 1954

A Family Connection

One of the artists who worked for Weller Pottery was my own grandfather. He was said to have been involved in creating some of the glazes for which Weller Pottery was famous. He also made pottery and paintings of his own at home.We cherish those pieces that survived over the years and still remain in the family. (My grandfather's story and photos of the heirlooms he created will be featured in an upcoming lens)

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Plans are being made for the 47th annual Crooksville/Roseville Pottery Festival in 2012. The dates will be announced as soon as planning is finalized. Crooksville and Roseville are two small towns located a short drive south of Zanesville, Ohio.They share in the area's great pottery-making heritage. The festival is hosted by each town in turn, on an rotating annual basis. The first Crooksville/Roseville Pottery Festival was held in 1966; and the annual event has been going strong ever since. The festival celebrates the area's history of pottery-making, and draws vendors, festival-goers, buyers and sellers of Weller, Roseville, McCoy, and other collectible local pottery ware from all over the country.

You'll find the standard festival fare-- parades, bands, crowning of the Pottery Queen and court, car shows, a 5k run, food, arts and crafts booths, amusement park rides, and of course, the main attraction--pottery booths and displays with continuous sales throughout the festival. There's also the Ohio Ceramic Center, a pottery museum, located between the towns of Roseville and Crooksville.