Roseville Della Robbia Pattern
The Roseville Della Robbia Pattern originated in 1906. The most collectible, famous and highly prized line in the Rozane family. Roseville Art Director Frederick Hurten Rhead designed Della Robbia and produced it in very limited quantities. Designs were hand carved into moist clay by hand or with the aid of a stencil. Background clay was cut away revealing a second color underneath (the graffito method). Other colors were applied using colored slip. In general, the more color in a Della Robbia piecs, the greater value. Motifs varied from naturalistic to stylized, floral to geometric, warriors to animals.
The line is robust with 75 different shapes including at least 12 teapots. Mark: Rosane Ware wafer seal, which may be missing. Often the carver’s initials are found on the bottom. The term “Della Robbia” is not unique to Roseville. The della Robbia family of sculptors pioneered tin glazed terra cotta ceramics in 15th- through 16th century Florence and a Della Robbia company produced Victorian art pottery in Great Britain.