Collecting a Country Classic: Dedham Pottery

Produced from 1896 until 1943 in Dedham, Massachusetts, the dinnerware known as Dedham Pottery has an iconic country look: It is instantly recognizable by its crackle glaze and whimsical border designs. “The rabbit border design is the best known,” says collector and dealer Jim Kaufman (www.dedhampottery.com), who also mentions ducks and flowers as other popular Dedham Pottery borders.  Examples of rare Dedham Pottery designs include borders depicting lions and dolphins.

“Dedham appeals to high-end Americana collectors as well as country collectors because the pottery is very whimsical, and also because it is blue and white,” says Kaufman. He has observed that collectors fall into two camps: “There are the Dedham collectors who want everything made in the rabbit design, and then there are those who want one example of every border.” Dedham Pottery was typically made in a 6-inch-diameter bread and butter plate, an 8.5-inch-diameter breakfast plate, and a 10.5-inch-diameter dinner plate, as well as a variety of serving bowls. The pottery was popular right from the start, says Kaufman, because the crackle glaze and the hand-painted motifs gave it “an aura of Asian antiquity.”

Kaufman says the 10 most common Dedham Pottery designs (including rabbits, ducks, flowers) today typically range in price from $150 to $300 for any given piece; rare items may run as much as $3,000 to $6,000 each. “If it’s a rare border design that is superbly painted, then you get the top dollar,” says Kaufman. Hugh Robertson was the potter who originated the Dedham Pottery line of dinnerware, and he and his family continued to produce the pottery until 1943; authentic pieces carry a blue Dedham registration mark and a rabbit stamp.