Hull: American Art Pottery from Crooksville, Ohio
Hull Pottery Company operated in Crooksville, Ohio from 1905 to 1986, producing a wide range of stoneware, art pottery, and kitchenware that remains popular with collectors. Founded by Addis Emmet Hull, the company is best known for its pastel-colored matte-finish art pottery lines of the 1940s and its later high-gloss wares. Hull's affordable, attractive designs made it a household staple across mid-century America.
Identification and Marks
Hull pieces are typically marked and can be dated by their markings:
- Pre-1950 marks: Impressed or ink-stamped "HULL ART" or "HULL USA" with a mold number and sometimes a size designation (e.g., "W-3-5 1/2" indicates Wildflower line, mold 3, 5.5 inches).
- Post-1950 marks: After a 1950 factory fire, Hull rebuilt and shifted to primarily high-gloss finishes. Marks from this era typically read "Hull" in script or "HULL" in block letters with "USA."
- Mold numbers: Essential for identification. Hull used letter prefixes for many lines (W for Wildflower, R for Rosella, B for Bow-Knot).
- Paper labels: Some pieces retain original foil or paper labels, which add to value.
Major Lines and Patterns
- Wildflower (W-series): Matte pastel vases and planters with embossed wildflower designs. Among the most collected Hull lines.
- Bow-Knot (B-series): Pastel pieces featuring embossed bow-knot motifs. Produced 1949--1950 in limited quantities, making it one of the most valuable Hull lines.
- Water Lily: Matte-finish vases and console sets with water lily decoration in pink/turquoise or walnut/apricot color schemes.
- Woodland: High-gloss line from the 1950s with leaf-form designs. An early post-fire pattern.
- Little Red Riding Hood: A novelty kitchenware line (cookie jars, salt and pepper shakers, creamers) produced in collaboration with Regal China, 1943--1957. Extremely popular with collectors.
- Serenade: Bird-themed art pottery from the late 1950s.
- Mirror Brown (House 'n Garden): High-gloss brown drip-glaze dinnerware and kitchenware, produced from 1960 to closure. Affordable and widely available.
Auction Price Ranges
| Item Type | Typical Range | Premium Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Wildflower vase (common) | $30 -- $100 | Large floor vase: $200 -- $500 |
| Bow-Knot wall pocket | $75 -- $200 | Bow-Knot basket: $200 -- $500 |
| Water Lily console set | $40 -- $120 | Large vase: $100 -- $250 |
| Little Red Riding Hood cookie jar | $150 -- $400 | Rare variations: $500 -- $1,200 |
| Little Red Riding Hood shakers | $40 -- $100 | Unusual forms: $150 -- $350 |
| Woodland vase | $25 -- $75 | Large pieces: $100 -- $200 |
| Mirror Brown casserole | $5 -- $20 | Complete sets: $50 -- $150 |
| Pre-fire stoneware | $20 -- $80 | Early art lines: $100 -- $300 |
Historical Timeline
Understanding Hull's production history helps date and value pieces:
- 1905--1935: Early utilitarian stoneware and semi-porcelain. Less collected but historically interesting.
- 1936--1950: The golden era of Hull art pottery. Matte-finish pastel lines (Calla Lily, Tulip, Wildflower, Bow-Knot, Water Lily) define the brand.
- 1950: A devastating factory fire destroyed the plant and many molds, marking a sharp dividing line in Hull production.
- 1952--1960: Rebuilding period. New high-gloss lines (Woodland, Parchment & Pine, Serenade) replace the pre-fire matte style.
- 1960--1985: Focus shifts to commercial kitchenware. Mirror Brown/House 'n Garden becomes Hull's bread-and-butter line.
- 1986: Factory closes permanently.
Condition Factors
- Matte finish vulnerability: Pre-1950 matte-finish pieces are prone to chipping along raised edges. Even small chips are visible on pastel surfaces and reduce value.
- Crazing: Less common in Hull than in some potteries, but present in older pieces. Minor crazing is generally acceptable.
- Color consistency: Faded or discolored pieces are less desirable. Original vivid pastel colors (pink, blue, turquoise) command premiums.
- Little Red Riding Hood paint: These pieces often show paint wear on facial features and gold trim; examples with bright, intact decoration are worth significantly more.
Collecting Tips
- The Bow-Knot line is Hull's most valuable standard art pottery due to its short production run and the 1950 fire that destroyed its molds.
- Little Red Riding Hood items have crossover appeal with cookie jar collectors and Red Riding Hood/fairy tale enthusiasts, keeping demand strong.
- Pre-fire matte Hull (1940s) is generally more valuable than post-fire glossy Hull (1950s onward), though some later lines like Serenade have their own following.
- Mirror Brown/House 'n Garden is the most affordable Hull to collect and makes a practical, usable vintage dinnerware set.
- Beware of items attributed to Hull that are actually from other Ohio potteries (McCoy, Brush, Shawnee); always check for proper Hull marks and mold numbers.