Antiques & Collecting: Weller Pottery

Weller Pottery, operating in Zanesville, Ohio, from 1872 to 1948, was at one point the world’s largest pottery. Some of its most famous artists came from around the world.

French designer Jacques Sicard created the iridescent glazed Sicardo line, which includes some of Weller’s most desirable pieces.

Frederick Hurten Rhead, born to a family of ceramicists in England, worked for Weller and several other American art potteries before designing Fiesta dinnerware for the Homer Laughlin China Co.

John Lessell, who was from the pottery-making city of Mettlach, Germany, served as the art director of Weller from 1920 to 1924 and designed two pottery lines with metallic glaze.

Weller had many other foreign-born designers. One was Francesco DeDonatis, who was born in Teramo, Italy, a region with a long history of colorful majolica.

He designed the DeDonatis pottery line for Weller, which is decorated with stylized flower and plant motifs in bright colors.

This DeDonatis vase is blue and white, a classic color scheme for various ceramics. It sold for $128 at Revere Auctions.

Although DeDonatis was the designer, he did not decorate this vase. It is signed with the mark of Weller artist Charles Fouts.

I have some “blood chits” from World War II and some Japanese money from the same era. I would like to know where to dispose of these items. Perhaps an auction house for military items or a personal collector.

Blood chits were issued to military pilots and air crews in case they were downed in combat. They had messages in the local languages identifying the fliers and promising rewards to whoever assisted them.

They were often part of an evasion kit that might also include phrase books, maps, currency, or items to barter.

Blood chits from World War II were made of materials like silk, leather and cotton. Some were made as patches sewn onto uniforms, like the ones used by the American Volunteer Group, also known as the Flying Tigers, in China from 1941-1942.

Today, World War II blood chits are popular among collectors of military memorabilia. They tend to sell for about $50 to $200, depending on the material, condition, design and number of languages. Some rare styles in excellent condition can sell for thousands of dollars.

Many major auction houses hold militaria auctions, and there are dealers and shows specializing in military collectibles. As for your Japanese money, we recommend contacting a reputable local coin dealer.

Tip: Do not put water in a pottery container with an unglazed interior. The water will be absorbed and eventually stain the container.

Current Prices

Quilt, patchwork, alternating blocks, eight-point stars, maroon, blue, cream, cotton, late 1800s, 70×53 inches, $375.

Bottle, medicine, apothecary, cover, Baroque style, lobed, gilt brass setting, twist columns, scrolls, Continental, 20th century, 13×8 inches, $385.

Toy, truck, dump, chain lift, dark blue, red wheels, white rims, pressed steel, Buddy L, 1920s, 9×25 inches, $595.