By 1878, its major products were Majolica, a high-relief molded earthenware which was very popular among Victorians. Many forms of vegetable and animal figures such as cabbage leaves, corn cobs, fish and fruit were modeled onto platters, jugs, vegetable dishes, etc. so that their purpose would be obvious. Majolica was followed in 1883 by more decorative pieces, such as vases, jardinieres and souvenir items.
In 1904, Hampshire introduced its "mat" glaze, a lovely green color, on its molded art pottery. Most of the Arts and Crafts period production was molded and featured the matte glazes popularized by Teco, Marblehead, early Weller and Van Briggle potteries at that time. The Hampshire pieces were very reminiscent of hand-thrown work such as Grueby, but were less expensive to produce. In addition to the Hampshire green glaze, other matte glazes which are collectible are dark blue and brown.
Hampshire Pottery Works ceased production in 1923.
The Marblehead Pottery, located in Marblehead, Massachusetts, had an interesting beginning. Dr. Herbert J. Hall began a very small pottery works at his Devereaux Mansion Sanitarium in 1904, intended as physical therapy for recovering tuberculosis patients. Considering the amount of dust and poor air quality within a pottery facility, this might seem a strange choice. Indeed, by 1915 the facility had been sold to Arthur Baggs. With a small staff of six, the Marblehead pottery continued until 1936.
The earliest items produced by the patients were simple, geometric designs. As the pieces gained some success, other designs featuring marine life (Marblehead is on the north shore of Massachusetts, with a small harbor near Boston, and with a long history of shipping) such as seahorses, seaweed and fish. As the popularity of matte glazes increased, Marblehead became best known for its shade of blue. Other glazes were gray, brown, green and pink.
All Marblehead pottery was hand-thrown, and may have applied slip, be plain or decorated. The designs were usually applied by women, who never did the hard work of throwing pots or firing them. The best known of these women was Hannah Tutt.
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