Cowan Pottery: Cleveland Art Pottery (1912-1931)
Cowan Pottery was an American art pottery founded by R. Guy Cowan in 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio, later relocating to Rocky River, Ohio, in 1920. The pottery operated until 1931, when the Great Depression forced its closure. During its relatively brief existence, Cowan Pottery produced distinctive art pottery, figurines, and decorative objects in a style that bridged Arts and Crafts and Art Deco aesthetics. The pottery employed and influenced notable ceramic artists including Viktor Schreckengost, Waylande Gregory, Thelma Frazier Winter, and Paul Bogatay.
Identifying Cowan Pottery
Cowan pieces are marked with various stamps and impressed marks:
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Early marks (1912-1920) - "Cowan Pottery" or "Lakewood Ware" impressed in the clay.
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Later marks (1920-1931) - A distinctive circular mark reading "COWAN" surrounding a stylized seahorse or the letters "R.G. COWAN" in a circle.
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Some pieces are marked only with shape numbers or artist initials.
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Viktor Schreckengost pieces occasionally carry his incised signature in addition to the Cowan mark.
The seahorse mark is the most commonly recognized Cowan identifier and appears on the majority of pieces from the Rocky River period.
Notable Artists and Lines
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Viktor Schreckengost - Designed the celebrated "Jazz Bowl" (1931), one of the most important pieces of American Art Deco ceramics. His punch bowls depicting New York nightlife have sold for six figures at major auction houses.
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Waylande Gregory - Created large-scale figural sculptures and decorative pieces at Cowan before establishing his own studio.
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Thelma Frazier Winter - Known for figural work and decorative sculptures with a modernist sensibility.
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Standard production - Flower frogs (figural and utilitarian), bookends, vases, candlesticks, and decorative tiles in distinctive glazes.
Auction Price Ranges
| Item | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Standard production vase | $30 - $150 |
| Figural flower frog (common) | $40 - $175 |
| Figural flower frog (elaborate) | $150 - $500 |
| Bookend pair | $75 - $300 |
| Candlestick pair | $40 - $125 |
| Decorative figurine | $100 - $500 |
| Waylande Gregory piece | $500 - $5,000 |
| Viktor Schreckengost piece | $1,000 - $10,000+ |
| Jazz Bowl by Schreckengost | $100,000 - $400,000+ |
| Limited edition or experimental glaze piece | $200 - $1,500 |
Condition Factors
Cowan pottery glazes are generally durable, but chips on rims and edges are the most common damage. The figural flower frogs -- designed to sit in water -- often show mineral staining on their bases, which is cosmetic but can affect desirability.
Hairline cracks reduce value by 50% or more on standard pieces. For figural items, check for repairs to fingers, toes, and other delicate projections.
Glaze crazing is less common on Cowan than on some contemporary potteries but does occur on certain glaze colors. Experimental or unusual glaze pieces may show imperfections that were present from the factory.
Collecting Tips
Cowan Pottery offers a range of entry points, from affordable standard production vases and flower frogs to museum-quality pieces by Schreckengost and Gregory.
The figural flower frogs -- particularly the Art Deco female figures -- are among the most popular items and have a strong crossover market with Art Deco collectors. Designs include dancers, nymphs, and stylized female forms that epitomize 1920s decorative taste.
Cowan's distinctive glazes, particularly the "Lakeware" blue-green and "Oriental Red," are hallmarks that collectors prize. The pottery's relatively short production period (1912-1931) and limited output compared to larger operations like Rookwood or Roseville ensure genuine scarcity.
The Cleveland Museum of Art holds a significant collection and is an important reference resource. Study the shape numbers and glaze codes cataloged in Mark Bassett and Victoria Naumann's "Cowan Pottery and the Cleveland School" for accurate identification.