2 - - Antiques & Auction News — October 21, 2022 antiquesandauctionnews.

net

The Frey Pottery: The Forgotten History Of An

American Red Earthenware Manufacturer
A Closer Look At Colorful American Art Pottery
By Justin W. Thomas Centennial Exhibition in wares made in the late 1800s
Philadelphia, which was a cat- and early 1900s, World War I
Spanning from the 1870s alyst for the art pottery move- and the Great Depression in
through the 1950s, the evolu- ment in the late 1870s and the the 1930s.
tion of American art pottery early 1880s. American potters The forms associated with
was associated with three dif- were inspired by ceramic dis- this movement range from tall
ferent movements: plays from Great Britain, vases to tiles, and the works
1) The Arts and Crafts France and the Far East, and featured original designs, sim-
Period, 1880-1910; they were introduced to new ple shapes, and experimental
2) The Art Nouveau Period, forms, techniques and glazes. glazes and painting tech-
1890-1910; Overall, art pottery was niques. This movement was
3) The Art Deco Period, produced by over 200 studios prominent with potters
1920s. and factories in America, throughout America, especial-
These movements drew although most were forced ly early on in places like An advertisement published in the Nov. 26, 1926 issue of the
inspiration from a variety of out of business due to Massachusetts and Ohio. of the Evening Star in Washington, D.C., for Woodward &
resources, such as the 1876 cheaper mass-produced These types of wares were Lothrop’s Department Store shows in the lower left lamp
even exported all over the bases made at the Vic Frey Pottery.
country. This 20th-century hand-
But not every American art thrown red earthenware vase
potter is well documented attributed to the Frey Pottery,
today, whereas the history of probably dates ca. 1920s. The
some of these businesses base is also marked with the
P.O. Box 500, have been somewhat forgot- numbers “129.”
Mount Joy, PA 17552 ten through the years, which
800-800-1833 includes wares occasionally
717-653-1833 found in the antique trade
717-653-6165 fax
717-892-6016 today impressed on the base,
“Frey.” The identity of this
e-mail: antiquesnews@engleonline.com
company has been a source of
Editor - Karl Pass, 717-278-1404 interpretation through the
e-mail: kpass@antiquesandauctionnews.net years, including associating
Advertising Sales production with red earthen-
Tim Moore, 717-492-2534 ware made by the Frey family
Circulation - Tara Herr, 717-892-6022 in Pennsylvania, while there
Circulation - Linda Deshler, Ext. 2541 has even been a theory that
A closer look at the Vic Frey Pottery part of the advertisement.
Classifieds these wares were made in
1-800-428-4211 Ext. 6022
1-800-800-1833, Fax 717-892-6022
717-492-2566 France. I have even heard that
these objects were made just
Sample copy ........................... $2.50 outside of New York City in
Doing
1 YEAR, third class ............... $28.00 New Jersey.
Our Part
1 YEAR, first class ................. $80.00 Furthermore, the Frey fam-
6 MONTHS, first class .......... $48.00 ily’s production began around
All checks must be in U.S. funds. 1810, when Henry Frey moved
Checks must be drawn on U.S. bank onto his father-in-law’s farm This 20th-century hand-
OR add $7.00 to subscription price. in a rural area of Washington thrown jar or vase decorated
Township, Pa. After Frey died with a green and yellow glaze
Antiques & Auction News is distributed at shops,
in 1821, the farm was divided attributed to the Frey Pottery
shows, markets and auctions throughout the North-
eastern United States. among his four sons. The pot- is marked on the bottom with
tery continued to be run by his the numbers “123.”
Advertising Deadlines sons, Henry Jr. and George,
and during this period the
that they were made during
the American art pottery
Every Thursday at Noon area was renamed Freytown. movement.
Issues Are Mailed One Week Prior To Publication Date After Henry Jr.’s death, George The known forms include This 20th-century hand-thrown red earthenware jar or vase
Frey maintained the pottery jars, vases, pitchers, banks with a lead glazed interior and a cobalt decorated exterior
News articles, press releases, and feature articles about antiques, antiquing, likely dates ca. 1920s. The base is stamped “Frey.” The base
collectors, collections, museums, shows, shops, auction results, historical until his death in 1846. and lamps. The glazes are usu-
sites, auctioneers, etc., are considered for publication. Photographs which The Frey Pottery ally extremely colorful and is also marked with the numbers “125.” A matching jar is
enhance the articles are welcome. Manuscripts must be accompanied by a The artware made from red often just as impressive as owned by the American Folk Art Museum.
self-addressed stamped postcard in order that the editor may notify author of earthenware marked “Frey” some of the best glazes pro- a company catalog. in Washington, D.C., that
receipt of material. Address to Editor’s attention.
obviously dates from the duced in America in the 1900s. Among what can be con- began as the capital’s first
We reserve the right to edit material submitted for publication to conform to the
editorial style of Antiques & Auction News. Reproduction of artwork, editorial or 1900s, so there is no direct Some of the pottery is also sidered the most prized glazes department store in 1887.
advertising copy is strictly prohibited without the written consent of the publisher. relationship to the wares marked on the base with a are the few known objects “Woodies,” as it was often
Joel Sater Publications reserves the right to revise or reject at their discretion made in Freytown before 1846. number, which may be related entirely decorated in cobalt, nicknamed, maintained stores
any advertisement they deem objectionable, whether in subject matter, There is also no evidence in to production or a reference such as a large, handled jar in the Midatlantic region. Its
wording, or make-up. any of the local museums that to how many objects were owned by the American Folk flagship store was a fixture of
Minimum depth R.O.P. - as many inches deep as columns wide. Antiques suggest these wares were made during a specific kiln fir- Art Museum in Manhattan, Washington, D.C.’s, downtown
& Auction News and its advertisers are not liable for composition errors or
misprints; nor is it responsible for errors in ads taken by phone. Advertisers made in the area. However, ing, although it is possible the N.Y., that was gifted to the shopping district, competing
submitting artwork and images for use in advertisements assume all liability these wares are certainly numbers may be related to a museum by Maryann and with Garfinckel’s and acquir-
in regards to trademark and copyright infringements. American made and should specific form, where other Raymond Warakomski. In fact, ing Palais Royal. The chain
F027604

Published weekly on Friday by Joel Sater Publications receive much more attention American art potters used the mere use of cobalt on red filed for bankruptcy in January
Contents Copyright 2022 C-10/21 today, especially in considera- numbers marked on the base earthenware is extremely rare. 1994 and completed liquida-
tion of the historical context that relate to an exact form in But the only evidence that tion in November 1995, with
I have found that may identify most locations sold to either
the origin of this pottery busi- J.C. Penney or May Department
antiquesandauctionnews.net

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All checks must be in U.S. funds. ness is an advertisement pub- Stores Company.
Checks must be drawn on U.S. bank lished in the Nov. 26, 1926, The advertisement
add $7.00 to subscription price. issue of the of the Evening includes a section describing
CHARGE TO: Star in Washington, D.C., for lamp bases made at the “Vic
Woodward & Lothrop’s Frey Pottery,” which ranged in
Department Store. price from $8 to $25 each. It
Woodward & Lothrop was includes an illustration of a
a store chain headquartered Continued on page 4
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This 20th-century hand-
™ Call: 1-800-800-1833, ext. 6022 PHONE: ( _______) ___________________________________ thrown red earthenware jar
š Fax this form: 717-892-6016 DATE ______________________________________________ or vase with a lead glazed
interior and a cobalt deco-
› Mail this form to address shown Where did you pick up this copy of ANTIQUES & AUCTION NEWSTM? rated exterior, probably ca.
œ www.antiquesandauctionnews.net COLLECTOR DEALER AUCTIONEER 1920s, marked on the base
“Frey,” was gifted to the
F027603

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10% DISCOUNT Receive Our Email Newsletter:
American Folk Art Museum
Have your credit card number and expiration by Maryann and Raymond This 20th-century hand-thrown green glazed red earthen-
date ready when you call! Warakomski. Photo courtesy ware pitcher and vase is attributed to the Frey Pottery and
Email Address _________________________________ C-10/21
American Folk Art Museum. marked on the bottom with the numbers “129.”
4 - - Antiques & Auction News — October 21, 2022 antiquesandauctionnews.net
Frey Pottery beautiful hand-made Vic Frey
The company that became
Pottery lamp bases - each indi-
According to the book,
Fulper Pottery was estab- “Woodward and Lothrop: A
Macauley Jackson in 1920. A
related pitcher is owned by
Continued from page 2 vidual in design and coloring.”
lished in 1814 in Flemington, Store Worthy of the Nation’s Historic Deerfield in
lamp that is similar in shape to Interestingly, Vic Frey’s prod-
N.J., by Samuel Hill (1793-1858), Capital,” “Affectionately called
Massachusetts as part of the
some existing lamps marked ucts were advertised beside
a potter originally from New Woodies’ by local
William T. Brandon Memorial
“FREY.” The lamp bases were Fulper Art Pottery, among
Brunswick, N.J. He manufac- Washingtonians, the beloved Collection of American
described as “Infinitely other high-end products.
tured a variety of utilitarian department store Woodward Redware and Ceramics.
shapes and drainpipe from and Lothrop stood at the Nevertheless, the Frey
the local red earthenware heart of downtown for over a Pottery of the 1900s
clay. However, when Hill died century. Crowds flocked to the may have been a
in 1858, Abraham Fulper (1815- flagship store on the F Streetshort-lived enter-
81) began purchasing the pot- shopping corridor to find bet- prise, and that is why so
tery from the estate, and by ter service and the season’s little is known about the
the 1860s, the company was fashions. The store and its company today, although it
known as the Fulper Pottery. employees shared in the best
appears that lamps account
moments in the lives of for many of the objects in
Washingtonians, from the existence. These wares are
elaborate holiday window dis-
relatively rare to find
plays to the Wedding Service
today, even
department that helped though during
countless brides choose their
the time they
China patterns. For weary were pro-
shoppers, the Bake Shop andduced the
seventh-floor Tea Room company must
offered city favorites such as
have had a sig-
Wellesley Fudge Cupcakes and
nificant output.
Chicken Pot Pie.” This may have
Additionally, there is a
also been a short-
A small 20th-century red earthenware vase and a matching red earthenware pitcher dis-
lived business ven-
glazed red earthenware bank with an acorn finial, both are played at the Metropolitan ture that did
This 20th-century red earthenware lamp base is
attributed to the Frey Pottery. Photo courtesy Brian Museum of Art in Manhattan,not find a
marked “Frey.” The finial on the top is also made
Trevorrow. An unmarked red earthen- N.Y., that may have been g r e a t
out of red earthenware. The known Frey lamps
ware pitcher was possibly made at the Frey Pottery, amount of
came in a variety of shapes and sizes, many of
made at the Frey Pottery. A although it lacks specific success
which are adorned in vibrant multi-colored
related pitcher is owned by information about its produc- because of
glazes. Photo courtesy private collection.
Historic Deerfield in tion, other than described as
the circum-
Massachusetts. Photo cour- being made in Pennsylvania. stances of
tesy Metropolitan Museum However, the pitcher was gift- the American economy Sources:
of Art. ed to the museum by Robert caused by WWI and eventual- Frelinghuysen, Alice
ly the Great Depression. In Cooney, Martin Eidelberg, and
some ways I also want to com- Adrienne Spinozzi. “American
pare this production to Art Pottery: The Robert A.
Pennsylvania red earthenware Ellison Jr. Collection.”
made in the 1900s by Jacob Metropolitan Museum of Art,
Medinger (1857-1932) and the 2018.
Stahl family, whereas these Lisicky, Michael.
hand-thrown wares marked “Woodward and Lothrop: A
“Frey” are accomplished and Store Worthy of the Nation’s
should be held in high regard Capital.” The History Press,
today, especially because of 2013.
The 20th-century hand-thrown green glazed handled vase the aesthetically accomplished Hollander, Stacy C. “Blue.”
marked on the base “Frey,” along with $1.00 written in pen- A 20th-century green glazed red earthenware pitcher glazes that were produced. Folk Art: Magazine of the
cil (possibly the original price), is marked on the base with marked on the base “Frey” is also marked on the base with Photos courtesy of American Folk Art Museum,
the numbers “104.” the numbers “106.” Photo courtesy Crocker Farm. author, unless noted. Fall 2004, 38-47.

Massive 1963 Belgian Dance Organ

With Robot Musicians Brings $350,550
Owner Of Florida Toy Museum Buys Organ
A trio of robot musicians with
a captivating, toe-tapping sound
led the parade of mechanical
music machines and automata at
Morphy’s $2.3 million sale of the
Henri Krijnen collection, and
according to the buyer, the
Space-Age combo’s next stop will
be a museum or related attrac-
tion in Florida.
The Sept. 9 and 10 auction
featured 541 lots of dance
organs, orchestrions, slot
machines and a myriad of other
antique coin-operated novelties
amassed over 50 years by the
late Mr. Krijnen, a Dutch
businessman who made his for-
tune in the gambling and enter-
tainment industry. The robot
dance organ, created by
Gebroeders Decap (Antwerp,
Belgium) in 1963, was known to
be one of Krijnen’s favorites. It is
one of three that were made in a
105-key configuration, and was
originally installed at the Hotel
Eemland in Soest, Netherlands.
Later in its lifetime, it was profes-
sionally restored to perfection by
AC Pilmer Automatic Music of
Ossett, England.
Members of the robot band
are programmed to play drums, a
saxophone and brass horn,
respectively, and the latter two
even stand up for their “solos.” At
one corner of the stage, a small-
er robot of similar composition
smiles and reminds patrons to
tip the performers. Against an
estimate of $100,000-$200,000,
the robot dance organ attracted
31 bids before selling for an
astonishing $350,550. The buyer
is Ozzie Bilotta, whose private
museum of vintage toys, arcade
machines and related memora-
bilia, The Bilotta Collection, will
open its doors this fall in Ponte
Vedra Beach, Fla.
“Being that the robot band
was created in 1963, right in the
heart of the classic sci-fi era, it
fits right in with the museum’s
theme of robots and space toys.
However, the band is so large,
nearly 12 feet wide, that I’m con-
sidering a few options. It might
become the visual centerpiece at
an affiliated business to be locat-
ed near the museum. It needs
plenty of room to ‘breathe.’
Hopefully, I’ll have things figured
out by the time it arrives from its
current location (in Oosterhout,
the Netherlands). I’m excited to
bring this wonderful
The Gebroeders Decap dance organ with robot musician fig-
ures, Belgium, 1963, one of only three made in 105-key con-
figuration, was purchased by Ozzie Bilotta, who is opening a
private antique toy and sci-fi collectibles museum this fall
in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. It sold for $350,550 against an
estimate of $100,000-$200,000.
fusion of art, music, engineering buyer’s premium.
and classic robot styling to the To contact Morphy’s, call toll-
United States,” commented free 877-968-8880.
Bilotta following the sale. The Image courtesy Morphy
price includes a 23-percent Auctions.

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