Losanti: Mary Louise McLaughlin's Cincinnati Art Pottery
Losanti refers to the hard-paste porcelain and art pottery produced by Mary Louise McLaughlin (1847-1939) in Cincinnati, Ohio, primarily between 1898 and 1906. McLaughlin was one of the most important figures in the American art pottery movement, credited with independently developing the underglaze slip-painting technique in 1877 that Rookwood Pottery later made famous. Her Losanti ware, named from the original Latin name for Cincinnati ("Losantiville"), represents her later experimental work in producing true hard-paste porcelain with carved, incised, and applied decoration.
Identification and Marks
Losanti ware is identified by its distinctive marks:
- "Losanti" mark: Incised or carved into the base
- "MCL" monogram: McLaughlin's personal cipher, often combined with the Losanti name
- Date marks: Some pieces bear incised date numerals
- Body: True hard-paste porcelain, white and translucent, a significant technical achievement for an individual studio potter
- Decoration: Carved, pierced, and applied designs rather than the underglaze painting of her earlier Cincinnati work
McLaughlin's earlier work (1877-1883) at the Cincinnati Pottery Club used different marks and predates the Losanti period.
Styles and Characteristics
- Carved porcelain: Vessels with carved and incised floral, geometric, and organic designs
- Pierced (reticulated) work: Open-work decoration carved through the porcelain wall
- Applied decoration: Three-dimensional floral and organic elements applied to vessel surfaces
- Sea-green and blue glazes: Distinctive colored glazes over the carved white body
- Metallic effects: Some pieces feature experimental metallic or crystalline glazes
Auction Price Ranges
| Category | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Major carved porcelain vases | $5,000 - $30,000+ |
| Pierced/reticulated vessels | $3,000 - $15,000 |
| Standard Losanti vases with carving | $2,000 - $8,000 |
| Small vessels and cabinet pieces | $1,000 - $4,000 |
| Earlier McLaughlin underglaze pieces | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Experimental glaze pieces | $1,500 - $6,000 |
Condition Factors
Losanti porcelain's thin walls and delicate carved and pierced decoration make it vulnerable to damage. Chips and losses to pierced areas are the most common condition issues and significantly affect value. Because of the rarity of Losanti ware, pieces with moderate condition issues still retain considerable value, though pristine examples bring strong premiums. The white porcelain body should be bright and clean. Glazed pieces should have an even, well-fused surface without crawling or bare spots (unless part of an experimental effect). Given the extraordinary rarity of Losanti ware, professional conservation is acceptable and does not diminish value as severely as it might for more common pottery.
Collecting Tips
Losanti ware is one of the rarest and most historically significant categories of American art pottery. McLaughlin's achievement in producing true hard-paste porcelain in a studio setting was remarkable for the era and places her alongside Adelaide Alsop Robineau as a pioneer of American studio ceramics. Pieces appear very rarely at auction, primarily at specialist art pottery sales. The Cincinnati Art Museum holds important examples of her work. Collectors of American art pottery view McLaughlin's entire career arc as important, including her early Cincinnati Pottery Club work, her Ali Baba vase (a landmark piece), and her Losanti porcelain. Given the extreme rarity, any authenticated Losanti piece is considered significant. Published research by Anita Ellis and others provides the scholarly framework for understanding McLaughlin's contribution. Competition for fine examples comes from both private collectors and museums.