Humidor

After Fulper Pottery Co.

1915-20s

7 x 7 1/2 (d) inches.

Glazed ceramic

Illegible script inscribed on base: "George E. W[illeg.] / [illeg.] / New Brunswick / N. J."

This is a curious piece of pottery. At first glance, this humidor is virtually identical to Fulper Pottery's "Keramidor," down to the shape of the knob and recessed sponge holder beneath the lid. The base, however, reveals that rather than a piece of Fulper this was handmade by a gentleman in New Brunswick, N. J., who inscribed his name (now illegible) on the base. While this might signify that this was a student work–as Rutgers had established a ceramics program in the early 20th century and copying known forms has always been an assignment–the quality of the humidor, from its modeling to its glazing and firing, suggests that it was made by a very talented amateur or a professional potter. The range of dates given for this humidor is based on the introduction of the Keramidor by Fulper (about 1915) and the waning popularity of the Arts and Crafts movement in the 1920s.