Posted 7 years ago
ho2cultcha
(5051 items)
I like these little pieces and have 5 or 6 now. i think they belong in a 'kitsch' pottery category, but i think it's still valid. it has a very 1950s 99% feel to it. but also pretty.
Another Nemadji Pot | ||
| American Art Pottery222 of 368 |  |  |
According to "The Myth and Magic of Nemadji 'Indian' Pottery" by Michelle D. Lee (the definitive reference on the topic), this "Indian head" stamp was actually the last stamp used by the factory, from 1980 to 2002, when the company closed.
It was designed to replace previous (1973-1980) stamps that said such things as "Indian Pottery U.S.A.," "Nemadji Indian Pottery," "Native Minn. Clay," and "U.S.A. Indian."
The Nemadji company fought legal battles on the state level for years, for their deceptive advertising, but it wasn't until the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 was passed, that the company was forced to change tactics...and closed soon after. It's an interesting example of the effect of advertising and promotion, thoroughly documented in the book "The Myth and Magic of Nemadji 'Indian' Pottery."
The book itself is highly collectible, if you can find it! It's out of print. Softbound, 120 pages, published in 2004, price on cover $19.95. I've seen used copies selling for over $100.