Gouda art pottery was so popular that it describes not only art pottery made in the namesake city but almost all art pottery manufactured in Holland during the 1900s. Like most ceramics manufacturers, potteries in Gouda began by producing functional wares such as pots and clay pipes in 1740. It wasn’t until around 1898 when a company called “Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland” or PZH began manufacturing pottery not just for function but art. In 1910, PZH had a breakthrough when they invented a new technique for creating matte-glazed pottery. This procedure became known as the Rhodian process, which also became synonymous with the decor style of Gouda's works.
Gouda art pottery boomed during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, and the design of the pottery reflects that. Rhodian glazings sit behind vibrant designs. Surfaces are painted with floral, natural, and landscape art, often with an entire set of pottery lines bearing one kind of artwork. Experts say that Gouda pottery is unique because the Art Nouveau and Art Deco influences blend together, unlike similar works in the same era. The artistic, natural designs are often merged with abstract forms - a stylistic pattern that sits firmly between eras.
Gouda pottery is commonly marked on the bottom by the designer that painted the artwork. Hundreds of Gouda artists came out of the Amsterdam school, and the works typically bear incised initials.