Rookwood Pottery at the Philadelphia Museum of Art: The Gerald and Virginia Gordon Collection

Hardcover and softcover
136 pages, 8 ½ x 11 7/8 in.
140 color + 17 b/w illus.
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2003
Hardcover ISBN 9780876331675
Softcover ISBN 9780876331699

The Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati, Ohio, was probably the most famous company making art pottery in the United States from the late nineteenth century into the twentieth century. Proud that the pottery was “an artist’s studio, not a factory,” Rookwood Pottery is known for achieving exceptionally fine glazes and successful experimental designs. Gerald and Virginia Gordon have created a magnificent collection fully representing all aspects of Rookwood production, which they have generously given to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With the Gordons’ gift, the museum now has one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Rookwood pottery, which is published here for the first time. Each object has been newly photographed especially for this publication and is reproduced in full color.

The story of the creation of Rookwood Pottery and its quest for artistic creativity is told by noted Rookwood scholar Nancy Owen. A statement from the donors discussing the formation of their collection, a short history of the museum’s Rookwood holdings, a complete checklist documenting all the objects, a selected bibliography, and an index of makers and decorators complete the volume.

Nancy E. Owen is a lecturer in American art and gender studies at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.