TECO Pottery ovoid vase with two rounded buttressed handles.
Rare matte blue glaze. Photos 1 – 3 were taken in the middle of the day and photos 7 – 8 were taken later in the day.
MINT as made condition. No cracks, chips, repairs, etc. Shallow underglaze indentation to shoulder on one side (in the making), a few small dark spots, and a tiny glazed over bump on the neck (in the making). Refer to Photos 6 and 8. These in no way detract from the presence of this piece.
Please refer to photos for details.
9″ tall x 5″ wide.
Average auction price at Rago for this form is $1,660.
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On Sep-07-12 at 21:08:46 PDT, seller added the following information:
I bought this piece from Treadway Toomey who are experts in Arts & Crafts and American Art Pottery. They are located in Chicago and sell a lot of Teco Pottery. This piece is not marked, but was guaranteed by Treadway to be genuine Teco. I have included a short article from a Chicago paper on Teco Pottery. Please note the last paragraph where he states that sometimes genuine Teco was not marked.
Teco is art pottery that was made in Terra Cotta (now Crystal Lake), Illinois, from the late 1800s to the early 1920s. The name comes from the first syllables of “terra” and “cotta.” The company that produced Teco pottery, Gates Potteries, was an offshoot of the American Terra Cotta and Ceramic Company, owned by William Gates, which manufactured building materials such as bricks and drain tiles. Gates developed the ancient-looking, waxy green matte glaze that distinguishes most Teco pottery (other colors are brown, yellow, blue, pink, maroon, and buff); he and his design staff created most of the shapes. He also hired architects associated with Frank Lloyd Wright and the Chicago School to design some pieces. Most are vases in one of three defined forms: geometric, organic, or architectural.
John Toomey, owner of John Toomey Gallery (818 North Blvd., Oak Park, IL), has handled many Teco pieces over the years, and says they come up for auction fairly often. “Teco was designed by different architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Hugh Garden, and George Grant Elmslie,” he notes. “The great pieces-the organic and architectural forms-are rare. The classical forms, which were inexpensive to begin with, are more common and don’t bring as much.
It’s not always possible for nonprofessionals to tell faux Teco from the real thing, so consult an expert if you’re really curious. “I’ve seen fake Teco signatures and I’ve seen unsigned ones that are Teco, too,” Toomey says. “It goes for a wide range of prices, anywhere from $300 to $100,000, depending on form, designer, and condition.”
On Sep-07-12 at 21:13:43 PDT, seller added the following information:
Hello.
How do you know that this vase is antique “Teco” pottery, as I do not see a “Teco” stamp in the photos, especially on the bottom of the vase.
Thank you.
Thanks for asking. I bought this from Treadway. They are a very reputable dealer. This is the exact form and dimensions of a marked vase. I have shown a link below.
http://ragoarts.com/lot/547062
There are some reproduction Teco vases that are being made, but this form is not one of them. See the attached website for the available Teco reproduction shapes.
http://prairie-arts.com/Teco_shapes.html
The vast majority of Teco is marked, but sometimes they are not. I have some links below to some Teco Pieces that were not marked. Some of them sold for a substantial amount.
http://www.ragoarts.com/lot/77346
http://ragoarts.com/lot/30147
http://ragoarts.com/lot/33543
http://www.treadwaygallery.com/lotInfo.php?i=31509
http://www.treadwaygallery.com/lotInfo.php?i=25593
http://www.treadwaygallery.com/lotInfo.php?i=23348
Please let me know if you have any other questions.