{"product_id":"vintage-williamsburg-pottery-flower-frog","title":"Vintage Williamsburg Pottery Flower Frog – North Carolina Art Pottery","description":"\u003cp\u003eA distinctive example of mid-century American art pottery, this \u003cb\u003eWilliamsburg Hand-Made Pottery flower frog \u003c\/b\u003ecombines a one-piece construction with a colourful flowing glaze. Dating probably to the \u003cb\u003e1950s–1970s\u003c\/b\u003e, the piece is particularly interesting because of the documented connection between Williamsburg-marked pottery and North Carolina's Cole family pottery tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilliamsburg Pottery was established by \u003cb\u003eJames E. “Jimmy” Maloney in 1938\u003c\/b\u003e near Williamsburg, Virginia. Beginning as a small pottery operation producing wares inspired by early American ceramics, it grew considerably during the postwar period and eventually became a well-known Virginia roadside destination for pottery, crafts and other goods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, pottery bearing the \u003cb\u003e“Williamsburg Hand-Made Pottery”\u003c\/b\u003e mark was not necessarily made at the Virginia pottery itself. The North Carolina Pottery Center has documented multicoloured glazed pottery bearing the Williamsburg Hand-Made Pottery mark and attributed examples to \u003cb\u003eC. C. Cole\u003c\/b\u003e, a member of the well-known Cole family of North Carolina potters. The flowing multicoloured glaze and reddish clay body of this piece are also consistent with the North Carolina art pottery tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flower frog is cleverly constructed \u003cb\u003ein one piece\u003c\/b\u003e, although at first glance the raised centre appears to be a separate insert. A large central opening is surrounded by six smaller holes for positioning flower stems, while the recessed area beneath and around the raised section serves as a reservoir for water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece is decorated with a particularly attractive flowing glaze in shades of \u003cb\u003emustard yellow, lavender-purple, cream and brown\u003c\/b\u003e, with the colours blending freely across the surface and continuing around the exterior. The exposed underside reveals the warm reddish-orange clay body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is \u003cb\u003enot salt-glazed pottery\u003c\/b\u003e, despite Williamsburg Pottery's association with traditional salt-glazed stoneware. Instead, it has a glossy, variegated multicoloured glaze with considerable variation created during firing. Fine craze lines are visible on the upper glazed surface in the well-lit enlarged photographs, but are considerably less noticeable under normal viewing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe underside retains the grey printed \u003cb\u003e“Williamsburg Hand-Made Pottery”\u003c\/b\u003e mark.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMeasurements\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiameter: 4 3\/4 inches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight: 1 1\/2 inches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery good condition. As mentioned, there are a few fine craze lines to the glaze on the top, but no cracks, chips or other notable wear. Please refer to the photos for condition and detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very appealing piece of mid-century American art pottery, combining an unusual one-piece flower frog form with a wonderful period glaze. It can still be used as originally intended for a low floral arrangement or displayed simply as a decorative pottery piece.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Poppy's Vintage Clothing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47960356913257,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/1559\/files\/Williamsburg-Pottery-Flower-Frog.jpg?v=1787925060","url":"https:\/\/www.poppysvintageclothing.com\/products\/vintage-williamsburg-pottery-flower-frog","provider":"Poppy's Vintage Clothing","version":"1.0","type":"link"}