Q: I have a piece of Van Briggle pottery marked “Anna Van, Colo. Spgs.” It’s 11 inches high. When was it made and what is its value?
A: Van Briggle pottery was started by Artus Van Briggle in Colorado Springs, Colorado, after 1901. His wife, Anne, operated the pottery after he died in 1904. She died in 1929. Some people think “Anna Van” was meant to honor her. Others think it was used to identify pieces made for Van Briggle by Dryden Pottery in Ellsworth, Kansas. Van Briggle bought Dryden Pottery in 1954 and pieces marked “Anna Van” were designed and made there from 1954 to 1956, then shipped to Colorado to sell. In 1956, molds, clay, and glazes were moved to Colorado Springs, where production of “Anna Van” continued. Dryden’s glossy glazes didn’t work well on the type of clay used by Van Briggle, so Dryden’s formula for white clay was used. Van Briggle continued to make pieces marked “Anna Van” until 1968. The Van Briggle pottery closed in 2012. Your Anna Van ewer is worth about $50.
