Owens Pottery

From 1896 to 1907, Owens Pottery introduced more new lines of art pottery than any other company. Founded by John B. Owens in 1885, the company soon rose to national acclaim with help of artisans such as Frank Ferrell, John J. Herold, Herb Hugo, Karl Langenbeck, John Lessell, W. A. Long, and Albert Radford.

Owens Pottery rivaled the contemporary Rookwood, Roseville, and Weller, and may have even surpassed them in their 48 Art Nouveau lines. Unfortunately, Owens stopped art pottery production in 1907, focusing on floor and wall tiles instead.

Owens most popular art pottery lines include the Utopian (high-gloss) and the Lotus (matte) lines, which were decorated animal and floral. In 1900, Owens released the Art Nouveau Henri Deux where designs were incised in the wet clay. Other styles of note are the bronze-like Corona, the Matte Green, and the ebony black Soudanese, highlighted in lavender and pearl. Pieces without markings are difficult to identify, but popular lines were impressed with their name. The Owensart mark is found on work after 1906 with the “J” and “B” initials in a large “O,” accompanied by “Art Pottery.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Owens Pottery, founded in Roseville, Ohio, in 1885, is celebrated for its richly glazed art pottery, especially its Utopian, Art Nouveau Henri Deux, and Matte Green lines. The company gained recognition for experimenting with iridescent finishes, hand-decorated florals, and innovative glaze techniques, setting it apart during the Arts & Crafts era.
Most Owens Pottery pieces are marked with “J.B. Owens” or “Owens” impressed in block letters on the base, sometimes with a shape number. Some art lines, such as Utopian, may carry a hand-painted decorator’s mark. Because not all pieces were marked, collectors often confirm authenticity by comparing forms, glazes, and decoration to documented examples.
Condition is crucial: mint pieces command premium prices, while chips, cracks, or repairs can reduce value by 40–60%. Since Owens Pottery is more than a century old, minor factory glaze flaws are often tolerated, but structural damage significantly affects collectibility and price.
Owens Pottery is generally rarer, with fewer lines and a shorter production span, but its artistry and glaze experimentation rival its Ohio contemporaries. Collectors often prize Owens for its unique finishes and hand-decorated detail, while Roseville pottery and Weller pottery were produced in greater volume and are more well-known.
Collectors value Owens for its blend of rarity, artistic decoration, and technical innovation. Each piece reflects the creative spirit of the Arts & Crafts pottery style, and with limited production years, authentic examples remain both historically significant and investment-worthy.