Rookwood Pottery Matte Green Glaze

This Z-Line Rookwood inkwell by Anna Marie Valentien with the firm’s modeled matte glaze in soft green features a swirling lid with a maiden’s head. Made in the sinuous Art Nouveau style, it is impressed with the manufacturer’s mark, date, and number to the underside ‘Flame mark III 407Z X102 3X’ with incised signature ‘A.M.V.’

Anna Marie Valentien (Mrs. Albert R. Valentien)*
born Cincinnati, Ohio February 27, 1862 ?; died San Diego, California August 25, 1947. Anna’s parents emigrated from Germany in 1848, settling in Cincinnati. Initially studying at the McMichen University School of Design, Anna later worked with the woodcarver Benn Pitman. In 1884, she accepted a position with the Rookwood Pottery and there she met Albert Valentien whom she married in 1887. While working for Rookwood, she continued her studies at the Cincinnati Art Academy where her instructors included Frank Duveneck. She also studied sculpture under Louis T. Rebizzo.