Welcome
Posted September 14th, 2008 by RichardI have discovered lots of errors in the information here. My mistakes. I am doing a complete rebuild and double checking shapes data, adding information which is missing. The current forum will be closed and a much more user friendly cone installed (posts will likely be lost). I am giving serious consideration to installing a gallery. I can't give a time frame but anyone interested can see progress at The New Roseville Pottery Information Center which may or may not work at any particular time.
Roseville Cookie Jars
Posted September 23rd, 2008 by RichardThe Roseville Pottery, of Zanesville, Ohio, prospered from its diverse manufacture of utility ware and art pottery throughout its 64 years of production from 1890 to 1954. What many are not aware of is that during the 'floral period' of the 1940's they produced a limited number of cookie jars in addition to their decorative industrial artware.
These cookie jars are admired and sought by todays collectors and decorators. What was originally intended to hold cookies and later a catch-all for receipts, keys, or money, now holds sentimental as well as monetary value. No longer kept on kitchen counters, these jars are displayed in a precautionary manner to safeguard their condition and value. Unlike many of the and somewhat whimsical designs of many manufacturers the Roseville cookie jar is said to have style and grace.
As far as I know cookie jars were only produced in the Water Lily, Magnolia, Clematis, Freesia, Zephyr Lily and Raymor patterns.
The Beginnings.
The Roseville Pottery Company was organized in 1890 in the city of Roseville, Ohio and incorporated on January 4, 1892. Initally the company produced functional earthenware at a plant which had been aquired from the J.B. Owens Company. The Roseville Pottery Company continued to grow and purchased the Midland Pottery plant in 1898. The Rosevile Pottery Company would go on to became a major force in production of American Art Pottery and remained in continuous operation until 1954 when operations ceased and the plant was sold to the Mosaic Tile Company. In a strange way things had come full circle as in 1901 Roseville Pottery purchased a plant from the Mosaic Tile Company in Zanesville. Today, Roseville Art Pottery may very well be the most widely collected of all the American Art Pottery manufacturers.
George F. Young was named first general manager of the Roseville Pottery Company. He eventually became owner of the Company by acquiring all shares of stock and led Roseville through a period of tremendous growth until he retired in 1918 when his son took over operation of the company.
In 1898 the Roseville Pottery Company moved their main offices from Roseville to Zanesville, Ohio which would become the center for production of Roseville Pottery over the next 50 plus years. They also purchased a stoneware plant previously used by Peters and Reed. After expanding and upgrading the first Art Pottery was produced at that plant. In 1901 the former Mosaic Tile Company was purchased and the plant was used for production of 'German cokingware'. By 1910 all Roseville Pottery production had been consolidated in Zanesville. There is some discussion regarding the reasons for moving but most think it was because of the quality of local clays and avaibility of labor.
In 1917 Roseville's Cooking ware plant was destroyed by a fire and the production was moved to the Linden plant. This move required expansion of the Linden plant in 1918 with the installation of a high production continuous tunnel kiln. This single plant would be the site of all Roseville Art Pottery production until the company was forced to close its doors.
