Vintage Williamsburg Pottery Flower Frog – North Carolina Art Pottery
A distinctive example of mid-century American art pottery, this Williamsburg Hand-Made Pottery flower frog combines a one-piece construction with a colourful flowing glaze. Dating probably to the 1950s–1970s, the piece is particularly interesting because of the documented connection between Williamsburg-marked pottery and North Carolina's Cole family pottery tradition.
Williamsburg Pottery was established by James E. “Jimmy” Maloney in 1938 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.
Interestingly, pottery bearing the “Williamsburg Hand-Made Pottery” 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 C. C. Cole, 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.
The flower frog is cleverly constructed in one piece, 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.
The piece is decorated with a particularly attractive flowing glaze in shades of mustard yellow, lavender-purple, cream and brown, with the colours blending freely across the surface and continuing around the exterior. The exposed underside reveals the warm reddish-orange clay body.
This is not salt-glazed pottery, 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.
The underside retains the grey printed “Williamsburg Hand-Made Pottery” mark.
Measurements
Diameter: 4 3/4 inches
Height: 1 1/2 inches
Condition
Very 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.
A 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.