Arequipa Pottery was an early 20th century Arts and Crafts ceramic manufacturer whose pottery is currently valued at anything from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. It was based on a sanatorium for women suffering from the early stages of tuberculosis. The sanitarium used pottery as a therapeutic craft that could also generate income and combat idleness as the women struggled to recover from their illness.
Arequipa’s ceramic production was overseen by a number of well-known potters, including Frederick Hurten Rhead, Albert Solon, and Fred Wilde. Each of these men introduced their own style elements to the artisans. The most enduring of these styles were the Rhead decorations, which usually took the form of ivy leaves and stylized vines.
Most pieces were marked when completed, usually with a variation of a graphic involving a tree and/or vase, and the words “Arequipa California.” Here are some of the variations you might find of that style of markup:
Pennsylvania
The simplest mark of the Arequipa Ceramics are the initials A and P. They usually intersect, with the curve of the P attached to the crossbar of the A.
circle mark
A more complicated mark is the circular mark. This features two circles, one inside the other, creating a ring shape. The words “Arequipa” and “California” appear on the outer ring. The inner circle features a graphic of a tree and a ceramic vase in the grass.
This mark has a variation that can be found without the circles being drawn. This style of markup opts for periods to separate words, which are still written in a ring shape.
paper label
There are still paper labels from the Arequipa Ceramics on some pieces. These labels feature a detailed tree on top of a decorated ceramic vase and are bisected with a diagonal banner announcing “Arequipa California.” These tags are rare to find due to their fragile nature, but they do not add any value to the piece.
three vases
This mark shows three vases with handles in a single row. Above the vases is the word “Arequipa” and below is “California”.
unmarked
There are some known pieces without any notable markings present. These pieces are more difficult to authenticate.
If you think you may have a piece of pottery from Arequipa, it could be worth over $1,000. Look for a professional appraiser from an appraiser who specializes in ceramics and pottery.