As with most American art pottery companies, Fulper Pottery had a wide assortment of wares, each with different shapes, glazes, sizes and values. One of the most significant productions from Fulper Pottery was its collection of lamps. They have remained the most expensive of any Fulper pottery collections over the years.
The shades were made with a heavy lead, along with either glass or clay and each Fulper lamp had incredible intricate detailing, the rarest of the designs being in 1910 when Fulper made available touring cars etched into the shades. Many collectors believe these lamps were the best Fulper productions.
What's especially remarkable about many of the lamps is that potters and artists often combined glass and ceramic during the heating and cooling processes. Because each has its own reactions to various temperatures, this was not only risky, but could have proven dangerous for anyone in the vicinity during these particular procedures.
Another interesting fact is Fulper captured a covered Medal of Honor during the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition while William Fulper II was declared Master Craftsman during the same year. The first half of this decade was especially exciting for the company. It had award winning lamp designs along with the company's namesake receiving recognition as well.
Wondering just how valuable some of these lamps are? A 1910 table lamp that is identified by several pieces of heavy leaded glass and a Japanese influenced shape and form is worth up to $28,000. Another lamp made in the same year, called the "Toadstool Boudoir" (pictured here) is distinguished by a glaze that's glossy in appearance and presents with a toadstool appearance is valued at up to $5,600. It's important to remember these lamps were made for one five year period between 1910 through 1915. For this reason, they're both rare and quite valuable. According to Miller's How to Compare and Value American Art Pottery, even those Fulper lamps with damage can sometimes still be worth $20,000 or more.
Donna McGill – Just Art Pottery
Photo courtesy of Treasure or Not? How to Compare & Value American Art Pottery, David Rago & Suzanne Perrault, (Octopus Publishing, 2001)
