Brush Pottery: American Art Pottery from Zanesville
Brush Pottery Company operated in Zanesville, Ohio from 1925 to 1982, producing a wide range of art pottery, cookie jars, and utilitarian ware. The company descended from the Brush-McCoy Pottery Company (1911-1925), which itself grew from the earlier J.W. McCoy Pottery (1899) and George Brush's Brush Pottery (1907). Brush is best known today for its distinctive figural cookie jars, which have become a highly active collecting category.
History and Production
- 1907: George Brush establishes Brush Pottery in Zanesville, Ohio
- 1911: Brush Pottery merges with J.W. McCoy Pottery to form Brush-McCoy Pottery Company
- 1918: Nelson McCoy leaves to start his own pottery; Brush-McCoy continues
- 1925: Company reorganizes as The Brush Pottery Company, dropping the McCoy name
- 1930s-1960s: Peak production of cookie jars, planters, and decorative pottery
- 1982: Factory closes permanently
Product Lines
- Cookie jars: The most collected category; includes figural designs of animals, people, and objects
- Art pottery: Vases, jardinières, and pedestals in various glazes including onyx, majolica, and matte finishes
- Planters and flower pots: Wide variety of shapes and glazes for the florist trade
- Kitchen ware: Mixing bowls, canisters, and other utilitarian items
- Novelty items: Figural banks, wall pockets, and decorative accessories
Identifying Brush Pottery
- Marks: "Brush" or "Brush USA" impressed or stamped on the base; earlier Brush-McCoy pieces marked "Brush McCoy" or with a painter's palette symbol
- Mold numbers: Most pieces carry three or four-digit mold numbers
- Glaze characteristics: Brush used distinctive glaze combinations including drip glazes, gold trim, and high-gloss colors
- Confusion with McCoy: Brush pieces are frequently misidentified as Nelson McCoy pottery; the two companies were separate after 1918
Popular Cookie Jars
Notable and collectible Brush cookie jars include:
- Laughing Hippo (W27): One of the most popular designs
- Formal Pig (W7): Pig in top hat and bow tie
- Old Shoe (W23): House-shaped shoe design
- Cinderella Pumpkin (W32): Pumpkin coach design
- Teddy Bear (various): Multiple bear designs produced
- Cow with Cat Finial (W10): Purple and yellow cow
Auction Prices and Market Values
| Category | Typical Range | Exceptional Pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Common cookie jars | $30-$80 | $150+ for mint condition |
| Rare/unusual cookie jars | $100-$400 | $800+ for scarce designs |
| Art pottery vases (Brush-McCoy era) | $40-$200 | $500+ for large/rare |
| Planters and jardinieres | $20-$75 | $200+ for large majolica |
| Kitchen ware | $15-$50 | $100+ for rare patterns |
| Figural novelties | $25-$100 | $250+ |
Condition Factors
- Lid condition: Cookie jar lids are the most vulnerable part; chips to lid rims are common and reduce value
- Glaze crazing: Fine craze lines are typical on older pieces and generally accepted
- Cold paint: Some cookie jars had cold-painted (unfired) decoration that wears easily; surviving paint adds value
- Chips and cracks: Base chips reduce value moderately; cracks render pieces nearly unsalable
- Gold trim: Original gold decoration wears with use; intact gilding increases desirability
Collecting Tips
- Learn to distinguish Brush from McCoy pottery, as misattribution is extremely common
- Cookie jars in unusual colors or with rare decorative variations command significant premiums
- The Sanford Guide to Brush-McCoy Pottery is the essential reference for collectors
- Condition is especially important for cookie jars, as these were functional items subject to daily use
- Brush pottery remains affordable relative to other Zanesville art potteries, offering good value for new collectors