8 Best-Selling Pottery Collecting Books Millions Love

Drawing from decades of collecting American art pottery since the 1960s, Ralph and Terry Kovel have crafted a detailed guide that delves into the makers, marks, and factory histories behind this cherished craft. You’ll explore more than 215 art pottery firms, from renowned names like Rookwood and Weller to lesser-known potteries such as Avon and Radford. The book offers over 700 photographs and 1,000 illustrations, helping you identify pieces by decoration, shape, or marks, plus insights on artists and factory backgrounds. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or newly curious, this book equips you with both history and practical identification skills to deepen your appreciation and collecting expertise.

Brenda Roberts, alongside Sharon and Bob Huxford, brings decades of dedicated research into Hull pottery, transforming what might seem a niche topic into a rich historical and collectible journey. You’ll find detailed descriptions of 116 distinct lines, complete with manufacturing dates and 2005 valuation insights, supported by hundreds of full-color images that capture the craftsmanship and evolution of Hull pottery. This encyclopedia is ideal for anyone serious about identifying, dating, and valuing pieces, with its in-depth historical context helping you appreciate the artistry behind each item. If your passion lies in deepening your expertise or making informed collecting decisions, this book delivers precise reference material without unnecessary filler.

This tailored book explores proven techniques for authenticating and valuing pottery collections, focusing on your interests and background to deliver a personalized learning experience. It examines essential concepts such as identifying maker's marks, understanding pottery history, and assessing condition and rarity, all tailored to address your specific goals in pottery appraisal. By combining widely validated knowledge with insights that match your experience level, the book reveals how to discern genuine pieces from reproductions and estimate their market worth accurately. This personalized approach ensures you gain practical appreciation skills and confidence in making informed collecting decisions, enriching your journey into pottery collecting.

Bob Hanson's decades of dedicated collecting of Nelson McCoy Pottery and related lines shines through in this detailed reference guide. Alongside co-authors Craig Nissen and Margaret Hanson, he catalogs over 2,500 pieces with more than 700 color photographs, including many items never before documented. You gain access to comprehensive insights on popular sets like the Butterfly line and specialty pieces such as gold-trimmed and matte glazed art pottery, with price ranges reflecting the fluctuating market. This volume is especially useful if you want to deepen your knowledge of McCoy pottery's full range and its value today, whether you're a dealer or an avid collector.

After analyzing decades of Shawnee Pottery's impact, Pamela Duvall Curran developed a detailed encyclopedia that clarifies much of the confusion surrounding this popular American pottery brand. You gain a rich understanding of Shawnee’s key products like dinnerware and whimsical figural characters, enhanced by nearly 1300 vivid photographs and original catalogs. Curran's work highlights Shawnee’s innovative production and marketing methods that influenced the mass pottery market during 1936-1963. This book suits collectors who want precise historical context, authentic identification guides, and insight into the company’s role within the broader pottery collecting landscape.

Mike Schneider's "Ceramic Arts Studio: Identification and Price Guide" offers a focused look at a niche yet passionate corner of pottery collecting. Schneider draws on extensive research and rich visual documentation, showcasing over 250 color photographs of slipcast figurines produced by the Ceramic Arts Studio between 1942 and 1955. You’ll find detailed categorizations by figurine type—people, animals, fantasies, posy pots, and wall decorations—alongside practical advice on care, repair, and spotting reproductions. This guide serves collectors seeking both historical context and practical valuation tools, without overwhelming newcomers with extraneous information.

This tailored book offers a focused journey through building and curating your pottery collection swiftly and effectively. It combines widely appreciated pottery collecting knowledge with insights tailored specifically to your background and goals, ensuring that each step aligns with your interests. The book explores key aspects such as identifying valuable pieces, understanding pottery styles, and developing a personalized acquisition plan. By offering a daily roadmap, it keeps you engaged and progressing, making the experience manageable and rewarding. This personalized approach addresses your specific pace and objectives, so you gain practical knowledge that resonates with your collecting ambitions and elevates your appreciation for pottery artistry.

A. W. Coysh and R.K. Henrywood's Dictionary of Blue & White Printed Pottery 1780-1880 offers a meticulously detailed exploration of a pivotal era in ceramic history. Drawing on extensive research, the authors illuminate the transfer printing technique that revolutionized pottery production, backed by appendices listing makers' marks and source references. You’ll gain a precise understanding of the styles, makers, and historical context that shaped blue and white printed pottery’s popularity. This volume suits collectors and historians eager to deepen their knowledge with factual clarity rather than broad overviews. If you seek a thorough reference to identify and appreciate these ceramics, this book delivers exactly that.

Paul A. Royka draws from extensive research into New England's art pottery scene from 1872 to 1928, exploring the intricate relationship between the Arts and Crafts Movement and regional manufacturers. You’ll gain detailed insights into identifying hallmark pieces from notable potteries like Grueby and Dorchester, while understanding their historical and artistic contexts. The book’s more than 450 color photographs serve as a practical visual guide for evaluating and pricing, making it especially useful for collectors interested in American art pottery. If you’re passionate about pottery’s artistic heritage or seeking to deepen your knowledge of collectible pieces from this era, this book offers a focused, richly illustrated reference.

What sets this book apart is its focus on the early English porcelain industry before 1800, a niche often glossed over in general pottery guides. J.F. Blacker, a respected British collector, draws on his deep expertise to help you authenticate and understand unmarked old English china, tracing the histories of key factories. You’ll gain concrete skills in distinguishing genuine pieces from reproductions, with detailed explanations that make the complex history approachable. This book suits collectors serious about English ceramics history and anyone wanting solid reference material for pre-19th-century porcelain. Its chapters on factory origins and identification methods are particularly useful for those expanding or verifying their collections.