Hello, as a novice collector, I have been doing historical research on various chinaware manufacturers and wanted to share a tid bit of history on Art Deco.
Accordingly Art Deco is a mid 1910 - 1920's pattern that characterized geometric lines and angular shapes, zigs and zags, lively colors that were bright and bold. It is stated that the name selected at an international expositiion that was held in in Paris. As we know that Paris is a lively and romantic country.
Moytt, Sons & Company manufactured a large amount of traditional ceramics and are also famous for their bright and colorful hand painted vases and jugs designed during the Art Deoc period. The Art Deco items are high market collectibles. The orange and brown colors are dominant colors used for decorating. To many poeple the items looked crude in design and childish in their style.
Myott Art Deco designs are anonymous. Their designers are undidentified and a fire in 1949 reportedly destroyed the company's records and design books; making it difficult to reconstruct, the time period and amount of Myott's art Deco produced, especially since the pieces are not signed or dated.
Condition of the pieces is one of the most important concerns when buying ceramics. Items which are damaged or restored are ususally cheaper than the perfect pieces and do not hold their appreciation as well as perfect peices do. Small factory flaws, age crazing, or a little wear are acceptable to most collectors and are not ususally considered to be damage.
The value of Myott ceramics is very dependent upon the condition and the shape of them. With Myott the decoration has a tendency to wear and flake off easily, and this reduces the value. Brightly painted, geometric pieces in good condition are the most desirable and valuable. The most common Myott jugs are the pinch jugs. They are heavly crimped to form the spout. Pieces in bright reads, blues oranges and blacks are the most popular.
Keep in mind that it may be unwise to miss a very rare or unusual piece because of a little damage or restoration. Very rare peices cand still retain a hight value even with damage or restoration. You can always sell it when you come across that perfect piece.
