Scheier: American Studio Pottery by Edwin and Mary Scheier
Scheier pottery refers to the work of Edwin (1910-2008) and Mary Scheier (1908-2007), American studio potters who created distinctive hand-thrown and decorated stoneware over a career spanning more than six decades. Their work is characterized by incised and sgraffito figural decoration — stylized human forms, faces, and abstract figures — applied with a distinctive, immediately recognizable artistic vocabulary that bridges folk art and modernism.
History
- 1937: Edwin and Mary met at the Tennessee Valley Authority craft program
- 1938-1940: Worked together in Virginia through the WPA Federal Art Project
- 1940-1950: Taught at the University of New Hampshire; established their mature style
- 1950s-1960s: Edwin focused on pottery while Mary handled much of the throwing; their collaborative process was seamless
- 1968: Moved to Oaxaca, Mexico, continuing to produce pottery
- 1978: Relocated to Green Valley, Arizona
- 2007-2008: Both died within a year of each other, ending a 70-year creative partnership
Identification
- Marks: "Scheier" incised in script on the base, sometimes with a date
- Body: Typically dark stoneware with brown, green, or blue-green glazes
- Decoration: Sgraffito technique — designs incised through a lighter slip to reveal darker clay beneath
- Motifs: Stylized human figures, faces, Adam and Eve themes, abstract forms with symbolic content
- Forms: Bowls, chargers, vases, covered jars, plates; also some sculpture
Auction Price Ranges
| Type | Description | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Small bowl | 6-8 inches, sgraffito decoration | $200 - $800 |
| Medium bowl | 10-12 inches, figural decoration | $500 - $2,000 |
| Large charger | 14+ inches, elaborate figures | $2,000 - $8,000 |
| Vase, standard | Sgraffito decoration | $400 - $1,500 |
| Large vase | 12+ inches, exceptional decoration | $2,000 - $6,000 |
| Covered jar | With lid, figural decoration | $500 - $2,500 |
| Plate | Sgraffito figures | $300 - $1,200 |
| Exceptional/museum piece | Large scale, outstanding imagery | $5,000 - $20,000+ |
| Early WPA-era piece | Pre-1945, documented | $1,000 - $5,000 |
Condition Factors
- Glaze integrity: Chips to the rim or body expose the dark clay and are very visible on lighter glazes
- Decoration quality: The strength and clarity of the sgraffito work is the primary value driver
- Size: Larger pieces with more complex compositions command higher prices
- Period: Mid-career pieces (1950s-1960s) with the most confident decoration are generally most valued
- Cracks: Firing cracks and usage cracks both diminish value; some kiln-related imperfections may be original
Collecting Tips
- The Scheiers' work is represented in major museums including the Smithsonian, the Currier Museum, and the Museum of Arts and Design
- The sgraffito figural decoration is the defining element — plain or simply glazed Scheier pieces bring substantially less
- Large chargers and bowls with complex multi-figure compositions are the most sought-after forms
- The University of New Hampshire period (1940-1968) is considered the most important era of production
- Edwin and Mary worked as an inseparable team, making attribution to one or the other generally unnecessary
- Studio pottery has seen strong auction growth, and the Scheiers are well-positioned within the American studio pottery canon
- Examine the base carefully for the incised "Scheier" signature — unsigned pieces are difficult to authenticate