Vase Lilies from the Eocean line, height 39 cm, painted by Claude Leffler.
Ceramics

Samuel Augustus Weller pottery

Vase Roses line Eocean, height 38 cm.
Vase Roses line Eocean, height 38 cm.

In 1872, when Samuel Augustus Weller (1851−1925) was 21, he founded a pottery in Fultonham, Ohio. Initially, his business consisted of a small hut where he produced pots, bowls, crockery and vases. Over time, production expanded, the factory was transferred to Zanesville, and by 1905 it was already one of the largest ceramic productions in the country. The factory began producing artistic ceramics, which continued until the 1930s. In 1893, Weller saw William Long’s “Lonhuda” series at the Chicago World’s Fair and invited him to work. Their collaboration did not last long, less than a year. After that, Weller renamed the faience line “Lonhuda” to “Louwelsa” in honor of his daughter Louise, born in 1896.

Vase Dogwood flowers Eocean line, height 32 cm.
Vase Dogwood flowers Eocean line, height 32 cm.

At an exhibition in St. Louis in 1904, Weller presented a huge display, including a vase 2.3 m high, and a working studio with an oven.

In the autumn of 1903, the Wellers pottery launched a line of Sicardo products with metallic glazes similar to those of Clément Massier, which he introduced in France in 1889 under the name Reflets Metalliques. The production process for the products of the Sicardo line, with glazes developed by Jacques Sicard (1865-1923) and Henri Gelly, was difficult and the defect rate was very high, only about 30% of the finished products were salable.

Clematis vase from the Eocean line, height 22 cm.
Clematis vase from the Eocean line, height 22 cm.

From 1895 to 1904, Charles Babcock Upjohn was Weller’s chief designer, designing the Dickensware, Eocean and Corleone lines. The style of the wares of the Dickens line, based on characters from the novels of Charles Dickens, was copied from the very successful line of ceramics produced by Dalton in England. Weller was amused by the coincidence of his name with that of Sam Weller, the servant in the Pickwick Papers. He said: “If Dickens could create a character called Sam Weller, the least I can do is reciprocate and name the line after Dickens.”

The Frou-Rousset series of ceramics, produced until 1904, is distinguished by its relief decor.

The famous American ceramist Frederick Herten Red worked at Weller Pottery in 1903-1904, designing the Jap Birdimal line.

Vase Watershed line Eocean, height 40 cm.
Vase Watershed line Eocean, height 40 cm.

Series of hand-painted art pottery produced before 1910 were expensive and brought “more prestige than profit”. Weller continued to produce art pottery after 1910, but production declined. And after the First World War, the factory switched to the production of commercial molded products with minor artistic additions.

After the death of Samuel August Weller, the production remained a family business under the control of his heirs until 1948, when the company was sold and the ceramics production was closed. Artistic pottery was produced until 1935, the last hand-painted lines being Stellar, Geode, Cretone, Raceme and Bonito.

Eocean line vase, height 27 cm,.
Eocean line vase, height 27 cm,.
Eocean line Daffodils vase, height 25 cm, painted by May Timberlake.
Eocean line Daffodils vase, height 25 cm, painted by May Timberlake.
Chrysanthemum Vase, height 33 cm, painted by Eugene Roberts.
Chrysanthemum Vase, height 33 cm, painted by Eugene Roberts.
Vase with cranes in flight, Eocean line, height 25 cm, painted by Frank Ferrell.
Vase with cranes in flight, Eocean line, height 25 cm, painted by Frank Ferrell.
Orchid vase from the Eocean line, height 40 cm, painted by Claude Leffler.
Orchid vase from the Eocean line, height 40 cm, painted by Claude Leffler.
Aquilegia vase from the Eocean line, height 37 cm, painted by Claude Leffler.
Aquilegia vase from the Eocean line, height 37 cm, painted by Claude Leffler.
Vase Lilies from the Eocean line, height 39 cm, painted by Claude Leffler.
Vase Lilies from the Eocean line, height 39 cm, painted by Claude Leffler.
Zinnia vase of the Eocean line, height 41 cm, painted by Claude Leffler.
Zinnia vase of the Eocean line, height 41 cm, painted by Claude Leffler.
Vase Rosehip line Eocean, height 17 cm, painted by William Stemm.
Vase Rosehip line Eocean, height 17 cm, painted by William Stemm.
Eocean Line Poppies Vase, height 42 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Eocean Line Poppies Vase, height 42 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Vase Irises line Eocean, height 39 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Vase Irises line Eocean, height 39 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Japanese Vase Iris line Eocean Rose, height 27 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Japanese Vase Iris line Eocean Rose, height 27 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Vase, height 27 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Vase, height 27 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Floor vase Grapes from the Eocean line, height 60 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Floor vase Grapes from the Eocean line, height 60 cm, painted by Charles Chilkoot.
Vase Orchids from the Eocean line, height 40 cm, painted by Esther Pillsbury.
Vase Orchids from the Eocean line, height 40 cm, painted by Esther Pillsbury.
Rosehip Vase, Eocean line, height 30 cm, painted by Levi J. Burgess.
Rosehip Vase, Eocean line, height 30 cm, painted by Levi J. Burgess.
Apple Blossom Vase, Eocean Line, 33 cm high, painted by Levi J. Burgess.
Apple Blossom Vase, Eocean Line, 33 cm high, painted by Levi J. Burgess.
Poppies vase, height 23 cm, painted by Levi J. Burgess.
Poppies vase, height 23 cm, painted by Levi J. Burgess.
Vase depicting a border collie, height 30 cm, painted by Elizabeth Blake.
Vase depicting a border collie, height 30 cm, painted by Elizabeth Blake.
Vase, height 19 cm, painted by Elizabeth Blake.
Vase, height 19 cm, painted by Elizabeth Blake.
Samuel Augustus Weller Ceramic vase with the image of a boxer, height 26 cm, painted by Elizabeth Blake, Weller Pottery.
Ceramic vase with the image of a boxer, height 26 cm, painted by Elizabeth Blake, Weller Pottery.
Samuel Augustus Weller Vase Kitten, height 17 cm, painted by Elizabeth Blake, Weller Pottery.
Vase Kitten, height 17 cm, painted by Elizabeth Blake, Weller Pottery.
Samuel Augustus Weller Ceramic vase Roses, height 35 cm, painted by Sarah McLaughlin, Weller Pottery, circa 1905.
Ceramic vase Roses, height 35 cm, painted by Sarah McLaughlin, Weller Pottery, circa 1905.
Samuel Augustus Weller Floor vase of the Louwelsa line with roses, height 64 cm, Weller Pottery, 1900.
Floor vase of the Louwelsa line with roses, height 64 cm, Weller Pottery, 1900.
Samuel Augustus Weller Ceramic vase, painted by Albert Haubrich, height 41 cm, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Ceramic vase, painted by Albert Haubrich, height 41 cm, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Samuel Augustus Weller Ceramic vase with metallic glaze and gilding, Weller Pottery, 1902–1907.
Ceramic vase with metallic glaze and gilding, Weller Pottery, 1902–1907.
Samuel Augustus Weller Sicard ceramic landscape vase with metallic glaze, height 39 cm, Weller Pottery, early 20th century.
Sicard ceramic landscape vase with metallic glaze, height 39 cm, Weller Pottery, early 20th century.
Samuel Augustus Weller Burgundy ceramic vase with metallic glaze, height 40 cm, Weller Pottery, circa 1905.
Burgundy ceramic vase with metallic glaze, height 40 cm, Weller Pottery, circa 1905.
Samuel Augustus Weller Large Dickensware Pictorial Vase, designer Edwin L. Pickens, 41 cm high, Weller Pottery, 1903. It is believed that 12 of these vases were exhibited by Weller Pottery at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.
Large Dickensware Pictorial Vase, designer Edwin L. Pickens, 41 cm high, Weller Pottery, 1903. It is believed that 12 of these vases were exhibited by Weller Pottery at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.
Samuel Augustus Weller Pair of vases depicting golfers, designer Levi J. Burgess, height 23 cm, Weller.
Pair of vases depicting golfers, designer Levi J. Burgess, height 23 cm, Weller.
Samuel Augustus Weller Ceramic vases, painted by Thoth Steele and Frank Ferrell, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Ceramic vases, painted by Thoth Steele and Frank Ferrell, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Samuel Augustus Weller Ceramic vase depicting wisteria, painted by May Timberlake, height 41 cm, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Ceramic vase depicting wisteria, painted by May Timberlake, height 41 cm, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Samuel Augustus Weller Vase depicting clematis, diameter 19 cm, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Vase depicting clematis, diameter 19 cm, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Samuel Augustus Weller Ceramic vase depicting an eagle, rooster and hen, height 37.5 cm, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Ceramic vase depicting an eagle, rooster and hen, height 37.5 cm, Weller Pottery, 1905.
Samuel Augustus Weller Hudson line ceramic vase depicting a caravan in the desert, height 23 cm, Weller Pottery, 1904.
Hudson line ceramic vase depicting a caravan in the desert, height 23 cm, Weller Pottery, 1904.
Samuel Augustus Weller Ceramic vase of the Aurelian line, painted by Charles J. Dibowski, height 24 cm, Weller Pottery, 1900.
Ceramic vase of the Aurelian line, painted by Charles J. Dibowski, height 24 cm, Weller Pottery, 1900.
Samuel Augustus Weller Ceramic vase from the Jap Birdimal line depicting girls in kimonos using the squeeze bag technique, height 23 cm, Weller Pottery, 1903.
Ceramic vase from the Jap Birdimal line depicting girls in kimonos using the squeeze bag technique, height 23 cm, Samuel Augustus Weller Pottery, 1903.
Experimental Crystal vase, height 19 cm, Weller Pottery, early 20th century.
Experimental Crystal vase, height 19 cm, Samuel Augustus Weller Pottery, early 20th century.