The Viking Brotherhood Cup

Susan Frackelton presented an exhibit with twelve pieces of salt-glazed art pottery at the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. Most of the pieces have applied embellishments and incising with cobalt incising. A centerpiece of the exhibit was a large drinking vessel she named The Viking Brotherhood Cup. A photo of the exhibit was published in … Read more

Pressed Stoneware Bottles

Many bottle collectors are aware of Edwin H. and C.J. Merrill and their 1847 U.S. Patent number 5,206 for a process for making pressed, molded stoneware bottles by machine. Less well known is the 1868 Merrill patent for improvements to the machine (Figure 1). The redesigned equipment improved quality and efficiency. It also enables today’s … Read more

Leonard Rohrer Pottery

Stoneware pots, jugs, butter churns and jars with a distinctive cobalt decoration are found in the Appleton area in relative abundance. They are sometimes attributed to the Menasha pottery of Carlton and Cleveland Bachelder or are simply referred to as “Appleton Valley stoneware” – pottery made by an unidentified pottery somewhere in the northeastern part … Read more

Berlin Potteries

In 1855 Alson Vail and a man named Lewis started an earthenware pottery in Berlin with a bear purchased from Mr. Cough from the Traveling Pottery to promote the new business. An 1858 Berlin City Directory lists the pottery location on Union Street near Pearl Street. It lists Alson’s brother Tracy as his partner and … Read more