Q: I’m told this dish was a wedding gift handed down back in the 1930s. It’s in perfect condition and belonged to a family member for many years. It’s 2 inches high and 5 1/2 inches in diameter. It has this mark with letters surrounded by flames on the bottom, the Roman numeral “XIX,” and the number “1309.” Could you give me any information regarding this?

 

A: This bowl or low vase was made by Rookwood Pottery Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. The mark includes a reverse letter “R” joined to the letter “P.” A flame was added to the mark in 1886. An additional flame was added each year through 1900, making a total of 14 flames. After that, Roman numerals were used to indicate the date the item was made. Your dish was made in 1919. The number “1309” is the shape number. The bowl was made for a few years and was made in blue, yellow, brown, and green. Rookwood went bankrupt in 1941. It was bought and sold several times after that. It is still in business, now making architectural tile, art pottery and special commissions. New items and a few old items with slight redesigns are made. Value, $100 to $200.