About Norse Pottery
Norse Pottery was established in 1903 in Edgerton, Wisconsin. In 1904 Norse Pottery was acquired by A.W. Wheelock. Wheelock moved Norse to Rockford, Illinois.
Outstanding as much as it is unique, Norse Pottery gave another angle to the Arts and Crafts art pottery movement. From 1903 to 1913, artisans Thorwald P. A. Samson and Louis Ipson designed red-bodied pottery and oil-decorated ware to emulate archaeological items from ancient Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Though the Wisconsin, and later Illinois-based, company was short-lived in its production, Norse Pottery’s reputation and quality still precedes itself today.
Like the bronze vases excavated in Europe, Norse ware contains Greek
influence in its dark oils and metallic designs. The corners, crevices, and sunken lines of each piece are decorated with verdigris highlights, giving it an ancient overall composition. Marking is done with a Norse impression on the bottom, using a large “N” engulfing a horizontal “orse.”
Norse Pottery is glazed in a dull, dark metallic type glaze. Forms were made to resemble ancient Denmark, Sweden and Norway pottery. Items produced included jardineres, vases, candlesticks, bowls, ashtrays, covered jars, etc. Norse Pottery ceased production in 1913.
Below are links to two Norse Pottery Catalogs:
Catalog I
