What am I missing? Matte green vase

This matte green vase had 35 bids and sold for over $400.00 despite having a good chunk out of the base. It is marked but the mark doesn't mean anything to me. What am I missing here? It is a generous size at 11" but would not think that enough to garner this price for a damaged vase by an unknown maker.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Gru...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

Maybe an early McCoy mark?

 

My first thought would be that somebody does know who the maker is, and bid accordingly. But since you are the one asking the question, and you don't recognize it, I'm just as baffled as you are...

 

Hi,
That was when McCoy was sold to Lancaster Colony Corp in 1974. McCoy was sold to Mt Clements Pottery in 1967 then to LCc and then to Designer Accents in 1985. They have been making repros and new pieces since then. The one shown was made after 1974. I think some people think it is an original by McCoy and worth that much. I have seen the same ones sell for 15 dollars max. People and their money are soon parted.
greg

 

That is not the McCoy mark which is L C C - it's L E E

 

Agree with Messilane. That is not a McCoy mark and certainly not a McCoy vase. The resemblance in marks is just co-incidence.
Don

 

I had a vase (photos gone in a hard drive crash) I picked up in a rummage sale for 50 cents. No marks, but it was slab built with a really unusual glaze. A dealer paid $90 for it because he knew the maker - a pottery in Ohio I'd never heard of. Odds are the buyer of that vase knew exactly who LEE was.

 

..... But I don't ..... and that bothers me. If I have any knowledge, it is in the area of arts and crafts period pottery. Makes me think it could be decorator's or workers initials for one of the known potteries. Certainly has the right look and took some talent to make.

I am almost of the mind that it is a case of auction fever. Have seen some early student/amateur pottery along similar lines bring some decent money but not usually this much given the damage. The large size does lend some credence to this idea.

 

Was won with a sniper bid, so someone scheduled a pretty high proxy. Lots of bidding -- the "LEE" must mean something.

Don't laugh, but my first thought was, "This reminds me of vase I donated to the thrift store today." Not the same signature at all ("WR"), my vase was much smaller, but same glaze and I couldn't find anything online so just donated it. I'm sure no connection, but...

 

I wouldn't get too hung up on the damage. According to the seller it does not show when the vase is displayed. It's possible it is Grueby or someone thinks its Grueby. Their decorators used cyphers like the one above although that particular cypher is not listed in Lehner's or Kovels. I'm not sure it's a very good piece - looks a little like a student work - but if it can be connected with the right manufacturer that would not necessarily matter. The market has always been strong for early matte green pieces and the color and style alone might have been enough to take a chance on.
Don