Weller Pottery Sicard Line Value & Price Guide

Between 1902 and 1907, a French ceramicist named Jacques Sicard worked at the Weller Pottery in Zanesville, Ohio, creating some of the most visually stunning American art pottery ever produced. His Sicard line featured an iridescent metallic lustre glaze that shimmered with colors of gold, purple, green, and crimson, inspired by the famous lustre pottery of Clement Massier in Golfe-Juan, France, where Sicard had trained. The technique was a closely guarded secret, and when Sicard left Weller in 1907, the formula went with him. That five-year production window makes authentic Sicard pieces genuinely scarce and highly prized by collectors.

Quick Value Summary

Item: Weller Pottery - Sicard Line Year: 1902-1907 Category: Antiques and Decorative Arts Manufacturer: Weller Pottery, Zanesville, Ohio Designer: Jacques Sicard

Condition Range:

• Small pieces (under 5"), minor issues: $300 - $600

• Small pieces, excellent condition: $600 - $1,200

• Medium vases (6-10"): $1,200 - $3,500

• Large vases (10-15"): $3,500 - $7,000

• Exceptional large pieces (15"+): $7,000 - $15,000+

• Rare forms (tiles, plaques, unusual shapes): $2,000 - $10,000+

Record Sale: Exceptional large vases have brought over $15,000 at major auction. Rarity: Scarce to Rare (limited 5-year production window)

The Story

Samuel Weller founded his pottery in 1872 in Fultonham, Ohio, eventually moving to Zanesville, which became the pottery capital of America. By 1900, Weller was one of the largest art pottery producers in the world, employing over 500 workers and operating multiple factories.

Weller was always looking for new techniques to distinguish his pottery from competitors like Roseville and Rookwood. In 1901, he traveled to France and met Jacques Sicard, a ceramicist who had trained under Clement Massier, the master of metallic lustre pottery. Massier's technique involved applying metallic oxides to pottery and firing them in special kilns to produce an iridescent, rainbow-like surface. The effect was mesmerizing: colors shifted and shimmered as the viewer's angle changed, creating an almost otherworldly appearance.

Weller convinced Sicard to come to Ohio and bring his technique with him. Sicard arrived in 1902 with his assistant, Henri Gellie, and immediately began producing lustre pottery in a dedicated, isolated section of the Weller factory. Sicard was famously secretive about his methods. He worked behind locked doors, mixed his own glazes, and supervised every firing personally. Even Samuel Weller himself was not allowed to observe the complete process.

The Sicard line was immediately recognized as extraordinary. The pieces featured flowing Art Nouveau designs of flowers, leaves, stars, and organic forms, all rendered in the shimmering metallic lustre. Each piece was essentially unique, as the lustre effects varied with every firing.

In 1907, Sicard returned to France, taking his knowledge with him. Despite years of effort, Weller was never able to replicate the technique. The Sicard line remains a five-year anomaly in American pottery history: a French master creating European-influenced art in the heart of industrial Ohio.

How to Identify It

Marks and Signatures

• "Sicard" or "Weller Sicard": Many pieces are signed "Sicard" in the lustre glaze on the body of the piece. The signature can be difficult to read as it blends into the surface.

• "Weller": Some pieces have an impressed or incised "Weller" mark.

• No mark: Some authentic pieces are unmarked. Identification relies on the distinctive lustre technique.

Lustre Characteristics

• Color range: Authentic Sicard pieces shimmer with metallic purples, greens, golds, crimsons, and blues. The colors shift with the angle of light.

• Design motifs: Flowers (particularly clover, daisies, and other botanical forms), stars, leaves, and flowing organic patterns are typical.

• Surface quality: The lustre should appear to be within the glaze, not sitting on top of it. The iridescence has depth.

• Variation: No two pieces are identical due to the unpredictable nature of the lustre firing process.

Common Forms

• Vases: The most common form, ranging from 3" bud vases to 15"+ floor vases

• Bowls: Low, wide bowls with lustre on the interior and/or exterior

• Plaques and tiles: Flat decorative pieces, less common and generally more valuable

• Covered vessels: Lidded jars and covered bowls, relatively scarce

• Lamp bases: Some pieces were produced or adapted as lamp bases

Value by Condition

Small Pieces with Issues ($300 - $600)

Pieces under 5" with condition problems: chips, hairline cracks, or significant lustre loss. Even damaged Sicard pieces retain value due to the line's scarcity and the attractiveness of the lustre effect.

Small Pieces, Excellent ($600 - $1,200)

Small vases, bowls, or other forms under 5" in excellent condition. Lustre is vibrant with no significant chips, cracks, or repairs. These represent the most affordable entry point for genuine Sicard collecting.

Medium Vases ($1,200 - $3,500)

Vases in the 6-10" range with good lustre coverage and desirable form. Condition should be excellent with no chips, cracks, or restoration. Form and lustre quality both affect value within this range.

Large Vases ($3,500 - $15,000+)

Vases over 10" are scarce and command significant premiums. The combination of impressive size, excellent lustre, and perfect condition drives values well into five figures for exceptional examples. Floor vases of 15" or larger are museum-quality pieces.

Known Issues and Reproductions

• Later copies: Several potteries have attempted to replicate Sicard's lustre technique with varying degrees of success. None perfectly match the depth and complexity of genuine Sicard lustre.

• Fakes: Outright forgeries exist, sometimes using genuine unmarked Weller forms with applied metallic paint. Under magnification, the metallic paint sits on the surface rather than being integrated into the glaze.

• Restoration: Repaired chips and cracks can be hard to detect under the metallic glaze. Examine pieces under UV light, which can reveal repair materials.

• Lustre degradation: Some pieces show lustre loss from cleaning or environmental exposure. This is a condition issue, not a sign of inauthenticity.

Authentication

• UV light examination: Repairs, touch-ups, and restorations often fluoresce differently than original glaze under ultraviolet light.

• Magnification: Examine the lustre under 10x magnification. Genuine Sicard lustre has a specific crystalline quality within the glaze.

• Weight and clay body: Authentic Weller pottery has a specific clay body color and weight consistent with Zanesville production.

• Expert consultation: For pieces valued above $2,000, consultation with a specialist in American art pottery is recommended. The American Art Pottery Association can provide referrals.

Where to Sell

• Rago Arts and Auction: Specializes in American art pottery and decorative arts. Excellent venue for high-value Sicard pieces.

• Heritage Auctions: Handles American pottery in their decorative arts sales.

• Replacements, Ltd.: Major dealer in pottery and china patterns, including Weller.

• Antique shows: Major antique shows with dedicated pottery dealers.

• eBay: Active market for Weller pottery across all price points.

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