Learn the fascinating story behind the gorgeously swirled colors of collectible Nemadji pottery vases and more.
In my travels, I often come across small pottery vases with marbleized decorations in warm, earthy colors. Known as "Nemadji Indian pottery," the bright, swirling designs of this distinctive pottery were created with a single goal in mind: to catch a tourist's eye. These deceptively marketed goods played on an implied link to Native American handicraft and served as generic “Indian pottery” sold everywhere from the Grand Canyon to the Alamo and beyond during the 20th century.
SHOP: Vintage Nemadji pottery vase from Hello Georgie Vintage, $38
How old is Nemadji pottery?
Nemadji Tile & Pottery Co. of Moose Lake, Minnesota, began producing their swirled pottery in 1929. A distinctive product and clever marketing were the roots of their success. The name “Nemadji” is an Ojibwe word meaning “left-handed” from the Indigenous language, but was easily misunderstood to be the name of a tribe.
In the information sheet that accompanied their pots, Nemadji stressed that their wares were made with the same clays and shapes used by Native Americans. The connection of this marbled style of decoration with Native American production was more assumption than fact, but Nemadji encouraged the idea. In reality, Eric Hellman, a Nemadji employee and Danish immigrant, came up with the idea to decorate the vases using simple house paint.
SHOP: Vintage Nemadji pottery on Etsy
How to date Nemadji pottery
To determine the approximate date of a piece of Nemadji pottery, take a look at the underside of the pottery. These pieces are usually inscribed with the words "Nemadji Pottery" and some pieces may have a silhouette of a Native American, though some of the earlier pieces feature an arrowhead surrounded by the words. Because they are generally acknowledged to be among the first pieces of Nemadji pottery manufactured, these pieces with an arrowhead on them are often considered more valuable.
Though early pots were hand-thrown, most Nemadji pottery was molded from either a colored or white clay, fired and left in a bisque (unglazed) state. Different colored paints were floated on top of a vat of water and a small bit of vinegar was added to help separate the paints. Using a technique similar to marbling paper, the fired vase was hand-dipped into the water and swirled in the floating colors. The pieces did not have to be refired and dried quickly, creating uniquely decorated pots every time.
SHOP: Large Nemadji pottery vase from Reconstitutions, $64
Where to buy Nemadji pottery
Nemadji was certainly not the first manufacturer who decorated pottery with a marbled effect. English agateware, mochaware, European ceramics in the 19th century, and some Japanese ceramics as far back as the 16th century all used swirled clays or glazes to approximate the rich veining of marble. In the late 1920s, firms such as Niloak of Arkansas and Desert Sands Pottery of Nevada made vessels of colored clays swirled together to create a marbled effect. Popular for more than 70 years, Nemadji finally ceased production in 2001. Today their pottery is plentiful and relatively inexpensive, making it easy for collectors to make groups of earthy brown, sunset red, or sky blue Nemadji pottery vases. You can buy Nemadji pottery from many independent sellers right here on Etsy.
Shop Nemadji pottery
SHOP (clockwise from top left): Marbled Nemadji pottery pot from PhospheneGoods, $45; vintage clay Nemadji pottery vase from Mid the Pines, $65; green Nemadji pottery bowl from Lovely Finds By Cathy, $20; vintage Nemadji spout water vase from Brass Cat Vintage, $18
Looking for more vintage pieces full of history and style? Shop French flea market finds from Oh La La Camille, vintage jewelry from BLACKFEMME, and vintage handmade Mexican fashions from The Vintage Jesus.