Grueby Tile Cuenca Seagull, ca. 1915

Appraised on: June 6, 2009

Appraised in: Atlantic City, New Jersey

Appraised by: Suzanne Perrault

Category: Pottery & Porcelain

Episode Info: Atlantic City, Hour 2 (#1405)

Originally Aired: February 1, 2010

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (2:24)

GUEST: I got it at a house sale in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. It seems like it's Arts & Crafts, but I don't know from what side of the ocean, so... I know nothing about it.

APPRAISER: This tile was made by the Grueby Pottery from Boston, Massachusetts.

GUEST: Well, I've seen their vases.

APPRAISER: They were well known for their vases early on, and then they started making tiles.

GUEST: Well, why is it so thick?

APPRAISER: Because this doesn't look like it was meant to be in a wall, and the sides are finished. It is thick. A lot of Arts & Crafts tiles were thick.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: This is pressed from wet clay, and so they were done particularly thick. This is probably just about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch thick. The reason it is glazed all around is because it was probably used as a trivet. Originally, it was probably sold with some kind of green felt on the bottom, and then you could set it down like this and use it as a trivet. Looking at the surface of this tile, it doesn't look like it would have been used like that much at all, because it's in beautiful condition.

GUEST: That is considered beautiful condition?

APPRAISER: Yes, ma'am. It's a little dirty, but there's no wear, really, to the top. This particular tile is one of a series of at least four.

GUEST: Oh...

APPRAISER: It probably dates to about 1915 to 1920. The marking on the back, those are the initials of the artist that would have colored in the tile.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: And it is a cuenca tile, that is your technique. That's what keeps your beautiful flat colors separated. As I said, it's a little dirty.

GUEST: What is that?

APPRAISER: Schmutz.

GUEST: (laughing) I have more of that at home.

APPRAISER: Yeah, we all do. This will come off easily. It does have at the top here a little bit of wear, a little hairline, and that is not good. You bought this at a house sale?

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: You paid...

GUEST: One dollar.

APPRAISER: At auction, I would put this tile at $700 to $1,000.

GUEST: Is that right?

APPRAISER: Yeah.

GUEST: Oh, my gosh! So, this is very bad, because I'm trying not to do house sales anymore. I've been trying to get my addiction under control. No, that was great. That's absolutely wonderful.