Rookwood Pottery: Cincinnati’s Legacy in Art Pottery

Founded in 1880 by Maria Longworth Nichols-Storer in Cincinnati, Ohio — Rookwood Pottery is one of the most influential companies in American Pottery.

With a passion for ceramics, Maria combined her pottery skills with financial backing from her father to establish Rookwood Pottery — named after her family estate perched atop Mt. Adams in Cincinnati.

As the company grew, they moved from a schoolhouse to a large facility in the city’s historic Over-The-Rhine (OTR) neighborhood. Their evolving craftsmanship earned them a gold medal at the 1889 Paris Exposition – establishing their innovative identity.

Despite facing numerous challenges over the years, from bankruptcy to relocation in Mississippi, Rookwood Pottery remains a proud and enduring part of Cincinnati’s history.

Today, the company continues to operate in OTR, upholding its legacy just steps from the original studio.

Evolution Of Style

Rookwood Pottery owes much of their early success to Laura A. Fry, a decorator who helped define their signature style.

In 1883, Fry introduced an airbrushing technique that created a smooth, blended base where images were then hand-drawn onto the pottery. The result, often featuring nature motifs against warm tones, became known as the iconic Standard glaze found in many of Rookwood’s early pieces.

As the twentieth century approached, they expanded toward bright glazes and drew inspiration from traditional Asian porcelain. This shift led to the development of notable glaze lines, including Iris and Vellum.

At its peak, Rookwood Pottery had more than 500 different glazes available at once.

Base Markings

With over a hundred artists reported to have worked at Rookwood Pottery, the base markings provide a record of the company’s history, helping trace each piece’s origin, creator, and time period.

The commonly seen “RP” logo underwent numerous iterations before becoming the standardized monogram in 1886.

The lettered marks are used to identify the type of clay used in production. These marks include “O” for olive, “P” for soft porcelain, “R” for red, “S” for sage green, “G” for ginger, “W” for white, and “Y” for yellow clay – each offering insight into the material composition.

Additional markings include “S,” which denotes a piece made without a sketch; “Y,” used for items produced by the architectural department; “V,” indicating a special Vellum finish; and “Z,” signifying a matte glaze.

The Artists

Most of the early Rookwood pieces were designed by founder Maria Longworth Nichols-Storer herself.

As the company grew, they began hiring individual artists and encouraged creative freedom, which attracted talent from across the country.

Matthew Daly was one of the first two artists hired at Rookwood Pottery. Trained at the Cincinnati School of Design, his early works featured the recognizable Standard Glaze. Over time, he developed a distinctive style that set apart his work from other artists, often featuring decorative elements inspired by traditional Japanese design.

Sara Sax, born and raised in Cincinnati, began working for Rookwood in 1896, during its formative years. Renowned for her distinctive peacock and flower motifs, she was highly skilled in a variety of glazing techniques, making her one of the most influential female artists in Rookwood’s early history.

Kataro Shirayamadani, a Japanese artist, began his time at Rookwood in 1887. Formerly a china painter in Boston, he had no prior experience with underglaze techniques. During his time at Rookwood, he not only mastered these methods but also designed many of the company’s signature shapes and brought a unique touch to his hand-painted vases.

Albert Valentien, hired alongside Matthew Daly, studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy. As Rookwood’s chief decorator, he specialized in motifs often influenced by Japanese design. Valentien became known as one of the most accomplished artists to have worked at Rookwood Pottery.