Dedham Pottery
The Dedham Pottery manufactured over fifty patterns of tableware – almost all having horticultural or zoological based designs – in East Dedham, Massachusetts, during the period 1895 to 1943. It was the successor to the Chelsea Pottery (1891 to 1895) and operated by the Robertson family of potters. Dedham ware is noted for its unusual designs in cobalt and white and for its crackle pattern – sometimes in the form of a spider web.
The pottery’s Rabbit pattern, designed by Joseph Linden Smith, was its most popular, so much so that the pottery made the Rabbit its trademark. Lois Lehner quotes a letter from J. Milton Robinson stating that at first drawing uniform Rabbits was so difficult for the pottery’s decorators that the ware was produced with the Rabbits in relief and simply painted over. This process, however, made the ware difficult to extract from the mold and the breakage was so considerable that the practice was eventually discontinued. However by that time the decorators had become used to the design and could produce uniform work independently. (“Lehner’s Encyclopedia of U. S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain & Clay”, Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky 1988.)
Among Dedham’s horticultural patterns are Azalea, Clover, Day Lily, Horse Chestnut (and Clustered Horsechestnut & Branch), Iris, Magnolia, Mushroom, Oriental Poppy, Pansey, Pond Lily, Snow Trees, Walnut on a Leaf and Water Lily. In addition to it’s famous rabbbits (in one and two ear versions), the animal kingdom contributed patterns for Tufted Duck, Elephant, Elephant & Baby, Double Turtle, Polar Bear, Owl, Duck, Lobster & Crab, Chick, Scottie Dogs (Pair), Swan and Turkey. Other patterns included Lunar Moth, Goat & Cherub, Butterfly & Flower, Moth & Flower, Pineapple, Grape and Bird in the Potted Orange Tree.