Roseville Art Pottery’s Frank Ferrel

It's always interesting to know a back story or two about the American art pottery companies that are still so sought-after by today's pottery collectors.  One of Roseville Pottery's art directors was Frank Ferrel, who came aboard in 1918 and made his mark on Roseville pottery until the plant's closing in 1954.  Ferrel took over Harry Rhead's responsibilities (who, by the way, was Frederick Rhead's brother) and played a role in all the lines Roseville Pottery released during this time period, including later floral patterns such as Bittersweet, White Rose and of course, Zephyr Lily, which was one of the last lines released by Roseville Art Pottery prior to its 1954 closing.   In Weller, Roseville and related Zanesville Art Pottery and Tiles, written by Betty Ward and Nancy Schiffer, it's said Ferrel's personal favorite Roseville line was Pine Cone; it comes as no surprise, that he preferred the greens and browns that were prevalent in many of the Roseville art pottery collections during these years.  The Pine Cone line had been rejected nearly twenty five years earlier by Peters and Reed, so having it as part of Roseville Pottery's offerings was probably near and dear to Ferrel's heart.

In Ferrel's later years at Roseville he was well known for his productions that included embossed designs, but required no traditional freehand efforts by artists.  It's said to have been less time consuming and even less expensive than incorporating true freehand artistic touches, but it was also incredibly difficult to turn a profit using this method, partly because of the dual glaze dippings this method required.  This, too, was prior to World War II, so one can imagine how impossible it would have been to even attempt the embossed designs during and following the war, when there was never enough of anything.  Another interesting bit of information – next time you come across a Roseville Pottery jardinière, basket or Roseville vase, you can thank Frank Ferrel.

Be sure to take a look at Just Art Pottery's inventory of the Pine Cone Collection and others that Frank Ferrel influenced during his time with Roseville Art Pottery.

Donna McGill – Just Art Pottery