Volkmar: American Art Pottery by Charles Volkmar

Charles Volkmar (1841-1914) was a pioneering American art potter and painter who operated several pottery enterprises in the New York metropolitan area from the 1870s through the early 1900s. Trained as a painter in Paris, Volkmar turned to ceramics after studying at the Haviland factory in Limoges, France. His potteries, including the Greenpoint, New York, studio (1879-1880s), Volkmar Pottery in Tremont (1880s-1890s), Volkmar & Cory in Corona, Queens (1895-1896), and the Charles Volkmar Pottery/Volkmar Kilns in Metuchen, New Jersey (1903-1914), produced distinctive art pottery that combined his painting skills with ceramic technique.

Identification & Marks

Volkmar pieces carry various marks depending on the period. Early pieces may show "VOLKMAR" impressed or incised, sometimes with a "V" monogram. The Volkmar & Cory period pieces bear a "V&C" mark. Later Metuchen pieces often carry "VOLKMAR" or "VOLKMAR KILNS" marks. Some pieces feature an impressed or painted "V" in a shield or diamond device. The clay bodies vary from red earthenware to stoneware depending on the period. Volkmar's distinctive blue and white underglaze-painted plaques and tiles are among his most recognizable products.

Types & Styles

• Underglaze-Painted Plaques: Landscape and scenic plaques painted in blue, green, and polychrome on white grounds, reminiscent of Delft and Barbotine styles
• Tiles: Decorative tiles with painted landscape scenes, often installed in fireplace surrounds
• Art Pottery Vases: Thrown forms with matte and glossy glazes in greens, blues, browns, and ochres
• Persian-Style Wares: Pieces inspired by Persian ceramics, featuring turquoise and cobalt glazes
• Stoneware: Later production pieces in simple forms with Arts and Crafts-style glazes

Auction Price Ranges

Condition Factors

Plaques and tiles should be examined for glaze crazing, chips at corners, and any paint flaking on underglaze decoration. Vases in matte glazes should show even, unblemished surfaces. Chips to rims and bases reduce value significantly. The earthenware body is relatively soft and susceptible to damage. Glaze color and quality vary considerably; pieces with rich, well-controlled glazes command premiums over examples with thin or uneven application. Restoration should be examined under UV light, as the dark clays can make visual detection difficult.

Collecting Tips

Volkmar occupies an important position in the history of American art pottery as one of the earliest studio potters working in the French-influenced tradition. His underglaze-painted plaques are his most distinctive and sought-after works, combining his painting training with ceramic skill. Pieces from the early Greenpoint period are the rarest. The Volkmar & Cory collaboration pieces are also scarce. Later Metuchen production is more commonly found and generally more affordable. Volkmar's work is of interest to collectors focused on the origins of the American art pottery movement and the French-American ceramic connection. Documentation is limited, so provenance and original labels add considerable value. Museum collections at the Brooklyn Museum and Newark Museum include Volkmar examples for reference.