Newcomb Pottery Clay Bodies and Glaze Marks

We had a question from a reader regarding the meaning of the various letter marks (B's and C's) not related to registration numbers or date marks found on the bottoms of some transitional period (1910-1915) examples of Newcomb Pottery. Examples of these bottom marks from two Newcomb vases are shown in the photos. 

Accordingly the Walter Bob's research, which is fully documented in Jessie Poesch's Newcomb Pottery & Crafts, the B or B in a circle mark represents a buff clay body with a semi-matte glaze. This mark was typically used between 1910 and 1912.  Between 1913 and 1915 the clay body and glaze mark was changed to a C or C within a circle. 

Between 1895 and 1907, there were several other letter designations used by Newcomb Pottery to identify clay bodies.  Poesch's Newcomb Pottery & Crafts book provides a full description of the years of use for each of these clay bodies and glaze marks on Newcomb Pottery. 

Just Art Pottery

Investing in Newcomb Pottery

With the recent record breaking prices and with prime examples routinely selling well into the five figure range, Newcomb pottery ranks among the most sought-after, investment quality art pottery ever produced.  A recent article in Antique Trader reflected on the record setting prices and the long standing investment potential for Newcomb pottery. 

The article quotes David Rago as stating, "For many decades Newcomb pottery has been considered a "blue chip" art pottery." David further indicated in PBS's  Antiques Roadshow that "the only way Newcomb ware would prove to be a bad investment is either if you were to sell a piece at the wrong time or overpaid for a bad example when you first bought it." Rago goes on to say "Truly, of over 200 period makers of American art pottery, this can be said only of Newcomb pottery".

Below are some tips for investing in Newcomb pottery:

1. Buy the highest quality piece you can afford.
2. Buy examples in mint condition without damage or repair whenever possible.
3. The early high-glazed pieces are considered by most pottery collectors to be the most sought-after.  However, prices for high glazed examples of Newcomb are often well into five figure range and beyond the average collectors/investors price range.
4. The matte glaze pieces offer a lower price point and solid investment potential and as Rago indicated "the best of either high-glaze or matte Newcomb has been appreciating for nearly 40 years".

Look here for information and photos of Newcomb pottery marks.

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Greg Myroth

Dating Newcomb Pottery, Photos

As a followup to yesterday's Newcomb Pottery post, the photos below provide visual examples of various date marks.

BY39 corresponds with a Newcomb pottery production date of 1907.

ES26 corresponds with a Newcomb pottery date of production of 1912.

HA80 corresponds with a date of production of 1914.

IC25 corresponds with a date of production of 1916.

KY61 corresponds with a date of production of 1920.

SA67 corresponds with a Newcomb pottery date of production of 1929.

Below is an example of the rarely seen Newcomb Pottery paper label.  The NL85 date code indicates a 1923 date of production.

Shop for Newcomb Pottery

Greg Myroth

Newcomb College Pottery Marks

Newcomb pottery produced between 1901 to 1942 was marked with its own unique registration mark which provides easy dating of the pottery.  The unique registration system was fully deciphered by Walter Bob after over 2 years of extensive research.  The Newcomb dating system in its entirely can be seen in Newcomb Pottery & Crafts An Educational Enterprise for Women 1895-1940 by Jessie Poesch with Sally Main.

The registration mark on each piece of Newcomb pottery consists of a letter, or letter combination, and number (between 1 and 100).  For each letter designation 100 numbered pieces were produced.  Once you know the production year for the registration marks, it becomes quite easy to date Newcomb pottery.   The registration numbers can be found either stamped, incised, or painted on the bottom of the pottery. 

The following table summarizes the registration numbers by year for Newcomb pottery.

• 1901 - A through F  (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter)
• 1902 -G through W (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter)
• 1903 - X through Z then AA, BB, etc. to NN (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter and letter combination)
• 1904 - OO through ZZ then AA, AB, etc. through AE (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1905 - AF through AU (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1906 - AV through AZ then BA through BL (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1907 - BM through CC (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1908 - CD through CT (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1909 - CU through DL (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1910 - DM through ED (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1911- EF through EW (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1912 - EX through FP (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1913 - FQ through GI (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1914 -GJ through HA (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1915 - HB through HT (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1916 - HS through IM (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1917 - IN through JF (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1918 - JG through JX (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1919 - JY through KQ (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1920 - KR through LI (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1921 - LJ through MC (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1922 - MD through MW (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1923 - MX through NQ (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1924 - NR through OJ (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1925 - OK through PD (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1926 - PE through PX (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1927 - PY through QP (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1928 - QR through RI (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1929 - RJ through SA (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1930 - SB through SR (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1931 - ST through TK (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1932 - TL through UC (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1933 - UD through UT (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1934 - UV through VM (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1935 - VN through WE (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1936 - WF through WV (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1937 - WX through XP (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1938 - XQ through YG (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1939 - YH through YX (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1940 - YZ through ZQ (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter combination)
• 1941 - ZR through ZY (1-100 numbered pieces for each letter)

Greg Myroth - Buying and Selling Newcomb Pottery