Featured in this lot is a rare authentic hand decorated Rookwood Pottery vase, 1889, brown polychrome decoration with yellow flowers. Rookwood Pottery ranges in value from hundreds per piece to thousands; one rare piece sold for $350,000 at an auction! The price is often determined by the artist's cipher found on each piece, when present. These marks were used on Rookwood's desirable hand decorated wares. Three flames above the impressed reverse "RP" Rookwood logo means three years after first year of the company of 1886, artist's initials MAD are for Matthew A. Daly (1860-1937). From Ohio, Daly attended the Cincinnati School of Design from 1877 through 1880. In 1883, after a brief employment at the Matt Morgan Art Pottery Company, he came to Rookwood. He worked at Rookwood for nearly 20 years until 1903. His early work is generally indistinguishable from the other Rookwood artists with a conservative Japanesque decorative style using a limited repertory of leafy bamboo, flying butterfly, and flying swallows. It was not long before he developed his own style which led him to become one of the most respected of all Rookwood artists. He was an active landscape and portrait painter during his career at Rookwood, and for many years after as well. Matthew A. Daly's work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices up to $11,875 depending on the size and medium of the artwork. This vase is exceptional in appearance, the flowers and stems life-like, the colours are warm. Hole is drilled in the center of the base, no other marring or defects are noted, normal age related crazing noted at the base. Measures 14.5"H x 5" base, 3" mouth