Dedham Pottery Marks

Originally called the Chelsea Keramic Art Works (CKAW) (1872-1889), founded by James Robertson and his sons, a company focused on art pottery, and then the Chelsea Pottery US (1891-1895) where the famous Asian inspired crackle-ware was introduced.  After the move in 1895 the company was re-named the Dedham Pottery (1895-1943). Crackle-ware pieces are often decorated with rabbits, ducks, turkeys, polar bears, turtles, and other animals, plus many floral border and central motifs, poppy and lily. In the 1876, during the Philadelphia Centennial, Hugh Robertson was inspired to incorporate the Asian aesthetic into American art pottery, focusing on the brilliant “ox-blood” red or Sang-de-boeuf glaze. Hugh’s art pottery pieces were high-fired with multi colored drip, flambé, and volcanic glazes. He died in 1908 but the dinnerware continued to be produced until 1943.