Monumental Rookwood Iris glaze vase with white Easter Lilies painted in 1910 by Carl Schmidt. Standing 20 1/2 inches tall, the vase features beautifully crafted lilies which encircle the body. Marks include the company logo, the date, shape number 907 A, an incised W for white (Iris) glaze, two illegible oval paper labels and Mr. Schmidt’s impressed monogram. Although the vase appears uncrazed, there are a few craze lines in the lower flowers, all of which appear life like and life size. This vase has a personal story. In May of 1997, I was asked to be an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow which was coming to Cincinnati in June. Randy Sandler and I agreed to participate (an arrangement which I have been involved with for over 21 years as of now) so on June 17, we became part of American television history. Late on that day, a nice fellow pulling a red wagon fitted out with a large beer cooler approached the Pottery and Porcelain table. When he opened the cooler, out came one of the most beautiful Rookwood vases I had ever seen. Yes, this very vase. I went on to appraise it for between $40,000 and $60,000 which at the time was a reasonable figure and the vase and I went on to become highlights of the Cincinnati Antiques Roadshow for 1997. Copies of local newspapers, a National PBS publication and two 1997 Antiques Roadshow tickets accompany this lot. To show the fleeting nature of one’s 15 minutes of fame, this vase appears on the cover of a paperback published a few years later dealing with Antiques Roadshow. Yes, on the very front cover and in full color. Curiously, nowhere in that book is there any mention of the vase or of me, the once famous appraiser. There are many mentions of the dazzling Keno brothers but copy about yours truly and this equally famous vase have ended up on the cutting room floor. Although I have noticeably aged in the last 23 years, this vase still shines brightly.

Nearly uncrazed