Newcomb College Pottery Basics
What is Newcomb College Pottery?
Newcomb College produced art ceramics in New Orleans from 1894 through 1941.
Newcomb College began offering classes in pottery in 1894, with their first exhibit in 1896. The pottery was created by and executed by young educated ladies enrolled in the college. During their production from 1894 through 1941, over 90 different students created approximately 71,000 total pieces of pottery. In the wake of hurricane Katrina, Newcomb College was officially closed as a separate entity, and absorbed by Tulane University.
As the premiere manufacturer of art pottery in Louisiana, vintage Newcomb Pottery is highly collectible, especially to those who enjoy the arts and crafts style. The rarity of these pieces has led to high collector competition for the limited supply of examples available, driving prices of those pieces upward.
Where was Newcomb Pottery Sold?
Prior to 1902, the pottery was primarily sold haphazardly to visitors, or at exhibitions. Later, they sold through the Camp Street showroom on campus, and began shipping to outlets all across the nation. They sold well at Marshall Fields in Chicago, and by 1907 sold at outlets in San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, St. Louis, Boston, Philadelphia, Des Moines, Richmond, and Evanston. This wide distribution lasted well into the 1930's.
We highly recommend these books for collectors of Newcomb Coolege Pottery. They provide vast amounts of information about Newcomb and the other most popular America Art Pottery companies. This website may receive compensation for qualified purchases of these books.