Preliminary identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a charming mid-century miniature art pottery bud vase featuring a lobed, pumpkin-like base and a flared, ribbed tulip-neck rim. Finished in a rich, high-gloss teal-green glaze, it represents the accessible, cheerful decorative wares that brightened American homes during and immediately after World War II.
Story
During the 1940s, Ohio's clay-rich valleys hummed with pottery production. This tiny vase was designed to hold a single, perfect wildflower clipped from a backyard victory garden, bringing affordable beauty to everyday kitchen windowsills.
Maker / Origin
Founded in 1910 in Roseville, Ohio, the Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company became one of the most beloved names in American utilitarian and decorative ceramics. Known for their functional yet whimsical designs, McCoy survived the Great Depression by pivoting from heavy stoneware to colorful, affordable art pottery that captured the hearts of working-class families.
Condition & Value
The vase shows minor glaze pops and typical manufacturing imperfections consistent with mid-century mass production. There appears to be a small spot of glaze loss or a tiny nick on the upper right rim edge; if this is a chip, it reduces the value by about 20-30%.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.