If you are considering collecting antiques, take a look at pottery. Pottery has a rich history dating back thousands of years. While you may only be able to visit ancient pottery in museums, finding a piece of pottery that you have been wanting for a long time at a fair price when you are looking through antiques and collectibles can more than make your day.
History of Pottery and Porcelain
How could ancient humans carry water or other liquids? The answer to this question depends, in part, on where the ancients lived and if there was clay locally. Societies that were not tied to the land, such as nomads, would find clay products too fragile for their lifestyle. Societies that lived where gourds and other natural vessels grew did not have a need to develop pottery.
However, societies that domesticated crops and animals would ultimately develop a way of using clay to create pottery.
The one exception to the overall development of pottery occurred in what is now the Czech Republic. Pottery animal figurines have been found that were probably made around 15,000 years before crops were domesticated.
Fast forward to today.
Antiques and Collectibles - Types of Pottery and Porcelain
Collecting pottery is not just about collecting bowls, although it could be if you enjoy bowls. You might be interested in looking at:
Under most categories, excluding steins, you could consider focusing on:
Time Period and/or Location
Another approach to collecting pottery is to look at a specific time period and location. You might enjoy:
The market also opened up to women since men were off fighting the War. Some of the successful women who lived in California during these years and created wonderful pottery include:
§ Hedi Schoop. Used her background in fashion design to create sensual figurines as well as other forms of pottery. Immigrated to the United States in the 1930s from Nazi Germany with her husband, composer Frederick Hollander.
§ Kay Finch. Known for her whimsical animal creations and amusing use of color and lines. Also a well-known Afghan hound breeder.
§ Florence Ceramics, Florence Ward. Famous for her detailed figurines of story book characters and historical people. Used shading in glazes and folds in clothing to show movement. Ward fell into ceramics after the unexpected death of one of her sons.
Pottery that was produced during this time period was required to be marked. The pieces that are particularly collectible today are the ones that are marked "Occupied Japan" or "Made in Occupied Japan."
§ Amphora. Located in what is now the Czech Republic, Amphora produced exquisite Art Nouveau forms that included jewelling, lizards, bats and mermaids.
§ Rookwood Pottery. Located in the United States, Rookwood Pottery is valued today for its innovative glazes and Art Nouveau themes.
Your choices in collecting pottery or porcelain are endless. Educate yourself. Read articles on pottery or look through reference books. Visit your local antique store or take a morning to attend an antique show or flea market. When you collect, look for value today, not in the future. Your pieces may or may not increase in value over time. If the value of your collection does appreciate, all the better for you. If the value of your collection does not appreciate, you still have pieces that will give you pleasure every time that you see them.
 | Japanese antique pottery dates back thousands and thousands of years to the Joman culture, from about 10,000 BC to about 300 BC. |
The history of pottery is a fascinating look at human ingenuity as it unfolded across millennia. |
Handmade pottery has undergone many innovations throughout history. Here are a few of the most important ones. |
Antique porcelain dolls, which have been around for nearly 200 years, will add class and civility to your antiques collection. |
Roseville Pottery, made by a storied American pottery workshop, remains highly coveted in today's antique market. |
