Above: Not a lot is known about this Ohio potter, but a bit of detective work found the origins of this jug he made that is decorated with an incised heron. Riley Bratton remains a bit of a mystery when it comes to Ohio potters, but some of the utilitarian stoneware he produced in Muskingum County in the mid-19th century has an intriguing characteristic: incised designs that make them of considerable interest to stoneware and folk art collectors. Check out this month's column

Above: The American Bolt & Screw Case Co. of Dayton made these wooden organizational cabinets for stores across the nation. Metal screws were used as early as the 15th century in Europe, but their production was a laborious process. Blacksmiths would forge nails workers would have to file by hand, making a slot in the head and creating the threads. New machinery and manufacturing techniques in the 19th century meant fasteners could be mass produced quickly. Hardware stores at

Above: Few objects commemorate Cincinnati’s days as Porkopolis, but brothers Cornwall and Wallace Kirkpatrick poked fun at the city’s reputation. When Cincinnati became known as Porkopolis in the 19th century, the nickname was a stench on the city’s reputation. It was a justifiable insult nonetheless. Few objects commemorate Cincinnati’s days as Porkopolis, but brothers Cornwall and Wallace Kirkpatrick poked fun at the city’s reputation. From 1860 to 1896, they owned Anna Po

Above: This example of a unique form of advertising during the late 19th and early 20th centuries was once installed outside a Factory Street business in Canal Dover. Illiteracy and language barriers gave rise to trade signs in the United States during the country’s earliest days, and their use continued into the early 20th century. Patrons searching for a particular business needed look no further than the two- or three-dimensional sign depicting a trade, such as a pair of e

Above: This personal notebook chronicles the work of Simon Beuter, who cared for the German Separatists community’s expansive garden. Known as “The Gardener,” Simon Beuter played a key role in the German Separatists community at Zoar, where he not only helped feed the families of the communal settlement, but also provided produce and services to people across Ohio and beyond the state’s borders. The Zoar community, founded in 1817 by those fleeing religious persecution in the

Above: This sewing caddy, treasured by collectors across the United States, was made by David Mills Pease in Ohio during the second half of the 19th century. During the 19th century, girls were expected to learn rudimentary skills needed at a time when many families could not afford store-bought clothing. Needle, thread and cloth were at the heart of any project, but home seamstresses found ways to add a bit of polish to a sewing room through items such as figural pincushions

Above: The Columbus-based artist crafted this piece using found objects. It is signed and dated 2003. Ohio’s tradition of self-taught artists is a long one, but there are more recent names that have gained recognition as well. Levent Isik is among them. Born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1961, Isik grew up in Montreal, Canada, before moving to Ohio. He lived in Akron and Cleveland, then settled in Columbus in the late 1980s, leaving behind a job and friends. Art helped fill the voi

Above: The maker of these hearth utensils marked “Cy. Crites” and believed to be tied to the Crites family of Allen County is not completely clear. Among the most important skilled tradesmen of the 18th and 19th centuries, blacksmiths made everything from horseshoes to hinges. A smithy was vital, but his often-unmarked utilitarian products can be overlooked in the jumble of antique ironwork. Check out this month's column featuring Fascinating Objects from Our Past. Read the f

Above: The Columbus-based artist known for his landscapes painted this depiction of a wooded stream in 1927. Born near Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1864, Charles William Duvall moved to our state capital in 1889 and become known as the dean of Columbus artists. He studied landscape art for a decade under Edward Parker Hayden, a native Ohioan who moved to Massachusetts. For Duvall though, life was about home, and home was Ohio. Check out this month's column featuring Fascinating Objec

Above: East Liverpool potters made this mocha ware porcelain during the second half of the 19th century. This covered sugar sold for $550 at Garth's. Pottery and porcelain production has always been about science, and, at one time, the most advanced technology a potter possessed was a handwritten ledger of formulas and techniques. During the 19th century, East Liverpool was at the heart of America’s porcelain production. Check out this month's column featuring Fascinating Obj