The House of Haeger, 1914-1944: The Revitalization of American Art Pottery

by Joe and Joyce Paradis

Reviewed by Ron Linde

The significance of this recent release is a chronological presentation of Haeger artware from 1911- 1944. Photographs, sketches, and catalogue pages document the early artware. The authors arbitrarily give these pieces an "E" prefix which is followed by the shape number.

In the introduction, Dr. Marion J. Nelson defines the special role of Haeger pottery in American ceramic history and focuses on the significant contributions of designer Royal Hickman.

The profiles of Haeger managers and designers are detailed by research and correspondence with family members. For example, Edmund Haeger invited Native American potter Maria Martinez to make pottery at the 1934 Chicago World's Fair. The details of this information as well as an extensive account of the lives of Royal Hickman and Martin Stangl at Haeger Potteries are enlightening.

While the text is often informative and interesting, many of the photo captions are not complete. The authors need to be consistent in labeling the sizes and prices of items throughout the text. Also which pieces of early Haeger pottery are marked and how they are marked is not clear in the text or captions.

The photography is generally excellent, but a few photographs have busy, colorful, or dark backgrounds that distract from the pottery examples. Also the inclusion of certain photographs seems unnecessary. In the beginning section entitled Authors' Note are many examples of designer pieces to be included in a second Haeger book. Also fifty photographs and illustrations of Fulper pottery are inserted among similar Haeger examples. For people who buy the book for photographs and prices and not the text, these photos are confusing as they are poorly captioned.

Haeger Potteries recently reissued over 100 pairs of stylized greyhounds like the early examples (Figure Q page 32). This is not noted in the book. At a recommended book price of $350 for the early pieces, a buyer would be wise to examine the greyhounds carefully. The newer pieces are the same size and are produced with solid black and tan glazes. They should be marked on the bottom with an inkstamp and production date.

While this book could be improved, you will still want to buy this Schiffer book for the interesting profiles of the Haeger managers and designers, the 175 examples from Haeger ads and catalogues, and the 350 color photographs of exceptional early Haeger artware.

• • •    The Reviewer:

Ron Linde joined the Red Wing Collectors Society in 1981 and is a Life Member of the American Art Pottery Association. He was president of the Minnesota Art Pottery Association for five years.

For twenty-five years Ron has collected Midwestern stoneware, RumRill, Red Wing, Haeger, and other art pottery. He has conducted educational seminars at the past ten RWCS conventions and has written several articles about his research and interviews. The displays of his collection have won nine awards at the RWCS national meetings.

In addition to the RWCS, AAPA, and MAPA, Ron is a member of the Uhl Collectors Society, the Haeger Pottery Collectors Association, Collectors of Illinois Pottery and Stoneware, and the North Dakota Pottery Collectors.

Ron is an ophthalmologist who practices in Northfield, Minnesota.

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