Yesterday I received an email from a potential Grueby Pottery customer who was told by an alleged "pottery expert" that the impressed Grueby stamp mark was not authentic and was a mark that was used on "fake Grueby Pottery".
I recognize that fakes and reproductions of Grueby, Roseville, Weller, Van Briggle and many other art pottery makers are becoming more and more of a concern to pottery collectors. As such, I thought it might be helpful to provide some visual ads of original Grueby pottery marks.
1. Circular Grueby Boston USA Stamp
Below is an example of the circular Grueby stamp mark. 
This is the most commonly seen Grueby pottery mark and is present on probably 70% of the pieces. In addition to the circular Grueby stamp, the second photo also has the original Grueby Pottery paper label which is not commonly seen. 
2. Impressed GRUEBY BOSTON. MASS mark
Another somewhat common Grueby mark is the impressed stamp mark. I believe the impressed Grueby Boston. Mass as shown below is a later mark used by the company. 
3. Other authentic Grueby Pottery marks
Grueby pottery also used a few variations of the stamp mark including:
- GRUEBY
- ATWOOD & GRUEBY
- GRUEBY POTTERY BOSTON USA
While I don’t have visual examples of these particular stamp marks, they are documented in The Ceramics of William H. Grueby by Susan Montgomery.
4. Unmarked examples of Grueby Pottery
It is important to note that not all Grueby was marked so it is not uncommon to find unmarked examples of Grueby.
Greg Myroth – Buying and Selling Grueby Pottery!
Hi, Greg
I was curious about the “production pottery” date that you stated in your explanation of Rookwood pottery. From what I have read, the production period at Rookwood began in 1914, not 1905, when the company began mass producing its line of “molded” mat pottery (no longer hand thrown, hand insized, or hand decorated). After 1914 Rookwood could no longer claim that its pieces were one-of-a-kind (only the signed ones were.) The non-signed pre-1914 mat pieces were that way (no signature) because these would be later used as the molds for the mass-produced, molded mat wares. But the pre-1914 mat pieces ARE one-of-a-kinds, usually hand thrown/insized and/or individually decorated/glazed. These pieces were created by the Tooheys and Coynes and Shirayamadanis, but not marked as being such. What do you think?
Hi,
I just got a piece of Weller. I don’t know much about Weller so I am hoping I can get some info. It is a low dark blue bowl with no decoration. The bowl stands on 3 raised feet that are like little points pulled up from the bottom of the bowl. There is only an impressed weller stamp on the bottom. It is very arts and crafts in design.
Does anyone know about this form?
Thanks,
Nancy
I recently purchased a Tall Grueby Vase, 18inches tall,”Stamped ”Grueby, Boston, Mass.”” There is a W in the base and mostly glazed over. Is the W the artist/finishers mark, If so who was it?? Or is it the mold type!!!
Your Grueby vase could have been decorated by Wilhelmina Post who initialed her pottery with a WP.
Greg
I HOPE YOU CAN HELP,I’M CURIOUS.I HAVE A WHITE CERAMIC BOWL.ON THE UNDERSIDE THE # IS 227 IT LOOKS
LIKE AN F ON THE LEFT & A R ON THE
RIGHT.BETWEEN THOSE LETTERS IS INTERTWINED U.S.A. CAN YOU HELP ME?
I have an architecturally significant home with a glass mosaic tile fireplace that is a priceless work of art. The hearth tile in front of the fireplace could very well be Grueby. Is there any way to identify it, short of pulling up a tile and looking for a mark underneath?
Hello. Two questions: 1. Is there any easy way to determine whether or not an unmarked piece is Grueby, and if not, are there some tell-tale signs one way or the other? 2. Did Grueby make any pots/planters that were designed to hang?
Greg,
I recently noticed a piece of Grueby on eBay with the initials MS on the bottom, just like a Grueby vase that I have. That eBay seller knew very little about Grueby, so was of very little help to me in finding out what the initials might stand for. Have you any idea?
Greg & Lana — Tell Shannon that the MS on the bottom of her Grueby Pottery piece most likely stands for -the amazing- Marie Seaman.
Hi,
I just found a very nice piece of pottery that reminds me of grueby- but the botom have a glaze and the piece is a dark blue color.
Could it be?
Thank you in advance for any info you can tell me.
Best,
Jayne
I recently purchased a Tall Grueby Vase, 18inches tall,”Stamped ”Grueby, Boston, Mass.”” There is a W in the base and mostly glazed over. Is the W the artist/finishers mark, If so who was it?? Or is it the mold type!!!
I have an architecturally significant home with a glass mosaic tile fireplace that is a priceless work of art. The hearth tile in front of the fireplace could very well be Grueby. Is there any way to identify it, short of pulling up a tile and looking for a mark underneath?
Your Grueby vase could have been decorated by Wilhelmina Post who initialed her pottery with a WP.
Greg
I HOPE YOU CAN HELP,I’M CURIOUS.I HAVE A WHITE CERAMIC BOWL.ON THE UNDERSIDE THE # IS 227 IT LOOKS
LIKE AN F ON THE LEFT & A R ON THE
RIGHT.BETWEEN THOSE LETTERS IS INTERTWINED U.S.A. CAN YOU HELP ME?
Hi,
I just got a piece of Weller. I don’t know much about Weller so I am hoping I can get some info. It is a low dark blue bowl with no decoration. The bowl stands on 3 raised feet that are like little points pulled up from the bottom of the bowl. There is only an impressed weller stamp on the bottom. It is very arts and crafts in design.
Does anyone know about this form?
Thanks,
Nancy
Hi, Greg
I was curious about the “production pottery” date that you stated in your explanation of Rookwood pottery. From what I have read, the production period at Rookwood began in 1914, not 1905, when the company began mass producing its line of “molded” mat pottery (no longer hand thrown, hand insized, or hand decorated). After 1914 Rookwood could no longer claim that its pieces were one-of-a-kind (only the signed ones were.) The non-signed pre-1914 mat pieces were that way (no signature) because these would be later used as the molds for the mass-produced, molded mat wares. But the pre-1914 mat pieces ARE one-of-a-kinds, usually hand thrown/insized and/or individually decorated/glazed. These pieces were created by the Tooheys and Coynes and Shirayamadanis, but not marked as being such. What do you think?
Hello. Two questions: 1. Is there any easy way to determine whether or not an unmarked piece is Grueby, and if not, are there some tell-tale signs one way or the other? 2. Did Grueby make any pots/planters that were designed to hang?
Greg & Lana — Tell Shannon that the MS on the bottom of her Grueby Pottery piece most likely stands for -the amazing- Marie Seaman.
Greg,
I recently noticed a piece of Grueby on eBay with the initials MS on the bottom, just like a Grueby vase that I have. That eBay seller knew very little about Grueby, so was of very little help to me in finding out what the initials might stand for. Have you any idea?
Hi,
I just found a very nice piece of pottery that reminds me of grueby- but the botom have a glaze and the piece is a dark blue color.
Could it be?
Thank you in advance for any info you can tell me.
Best,
Jayne