Quintessential Cincinnati without a heap of finely shredded cheese -- Rookwood Pottery. I focus on its workshop/storefront in OTR where the public can take tours, shop, and participate in hands-on workshops, but you can read about its long history online or in any number of books. At this point, I've participated in two workshops, guided by a Rookwood artisan, where I've glazed or "tubed" a Rookwood tile with authentic Rookwood glazes/colors. $125 for the experience and a personalised Rookwood tile. See photo of the results of my last workshop...I look forward to the next one! Sign up online. Enjoy. Bring home a piece of Cincinnati history. read more

Rookwood Pottery - Home Decor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I received a gift certificate for a Rookwood factory tour for Father's Day and took advantage of it today. Located in Cincinnati OTR district and one block off of historic Findley Market, this place is a gem. Wonderful tour followed by a 10% retail shop discount (which I took advantage of) as well as a space for a publicly available art workshop where you can get more amerced in the Rookwood process. Super cool and I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in local history, art, or art creation. read more

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Absolutely sign up for their email list so you can get a heads up on their open house/holiday weekends. They offer a lot of fun tours and classes that often include a piece of pottery. Take one of their candle classes for yourself or a gift! They also have a nice gift store that includes more than just pottery and ornaments. Definitely worth a stop when in Cincinnati or near OTR. read more

Rookwood Pottery - Home Decor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I like Rookwood pottery. But I am really disappointed in how they handled their recent Christmas ornaments. They are supposed to be handcrafted one of a kind. A card was enclosed with the ornaments that stated if it is not monogrammed with the Rookwood logo it is not Rookwood. None of the 4 large ornaments we purchased are monogrammed. I called Rookwood and the person I spoke to was flippant & said that was a mistake. The card was enclosed in error. Now I have these ornaments that are expensive that could be from anywhere. The ornaments could be mass produced from anywhere and Rookwood could have repacked in their company boxes. Rookwood needs to address this issue publicly. read more

Rookwood Pottery - Home Decor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Be warned! If you go here, you're going to want to redo your house in Rookwood Pottery items! :-) My husband set up a surprise date for us to take a tour of Rookwood. The tour was about an hour long and very informative. We enjoyed seeing behind the scenes and hearing about the processes used in their art. As you get off the elevator at the end of the tour, you step into their shop. They have an abundance of items to choose from at all price points. We purchased two tiles of iconic Cincinnati locations. I have a feeling we're going to want to add to that collection in the future! read more

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We went on the Christmas in July tour today. Very fun to see the behind the scenes process of making their famous pottery. We saw the Zinzinnati Oktoberfest mugs being made and the Western Southern tennis tournament trophy. Highly recommend a visit, very intensive tour of the production, glazing departments. Of course we had to purchase a few tiles to take home. We used to go to the restaurant in Mt Adams way back, glad to see this Cincinnati institution is doing so well. read more

Rookwood Pottery - Outside the store on Race Street, we weren't allowed to take photos inside as many preproduction items aren't made public yet - Home Decor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I have been here twice to pick up purchases made online. The first time I was in and out. The second time I browsed just a bit. The pieces on display/for sale were gorgeous. I could spend entirely too much money here. I love Rookwood. I'm thrilled they are making new, one-of-a-kind pieces. The staff here is friendly and helpful. Oh... if you stop by, you really must check out the bathrooms! read more

Rookwood Pottery - Yes, still the bathroom. - Home Decor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I need to have two tiles made and delivered to my house within three days of ordering and they were able to make it happen. I had not anticipated being able to get them here on time for a project that had a deadline. My sister showed me these tiles at the last minute, and I had to have them.! Customer service was exemplary and so helpful and I will be able to have these tiles in my new kitchen. I cannot say enough good things. read more

WOW! This place is amazing and beautiful. The pieces are beautifully done. If you're near Finley Market... it's a short walk up Race St. excellent tour on the creation of these works of art . read more

Rookwood Pottery - Home Decor Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I love art pottery and have collected it for many years. Having recently moved to Cincinnati (area) I wanted to add to my Rookwood pieces. These aren't cheap, but so worth the price. Surprised to see they have a sale at the factory every year. It started this morning, and you know I was in line. It was scheduled to open at 10, so I arrived and got in line at 9:30. Figured they let a few in at a time, but they let us all in. Today everything is 30 percent off, and tomorrow it's 50 percent off. I bought many Christmas gifts for family and a few pieces for myself. And I just might have to return tomorrow to see if there's any left at that price. I am a happy shopper today! read more

In the past month I have received e-mails from Rookwood Pottery regarding the sale of limited edition hand thrown eggs and bunnies. The e-mails noted that the items would be on sale starting at 11:00 am on two separate Saturdays. On each occasion I logged into Rookwood's website at 10:55 am in preparation for the sale only to discover the egg and bunny my wife wanted were already sold prior to the 11:00 am start time. Apparently there is some super secret process through which select individuals cane purchase items before the 11:00 am start time that Rookwood lists in their communications. Obviously Rookwood does not treat all customers the same. Talk about unethical and dishonest. This is how you lose customers. Would not recommend doing business with this company! read more

During a visit to Cincy for Blink, we needed something to do during the daylight hours. A couple members of our group suggested a tour of Rookwood Pottery. It only cost $10, was at a time that was convenient for us, and seemed interesting and local....so count me in! We got there a little early for the tour and were encouraged to peruse the shop, and help ourselves to some coffee or water and lil' cookies. Such hospitality! I was not terribly familiar with the pottery workshop and factory before the tour. I am just game for anything that sounds interesting, am easily convinced, and love learning about local history. This tour was very hands-on and was less about the history of the brand than I had expected. It was more about just the process of making the pressed items. Our guide was energetic and informative, all too happy to answer any question anyone had. At the beginning of the tour, the large group was actually split in two to make it more manageable. We stayed in the work room, and two employees showed us just how the thick-style tiles were made. Then we had the opportunity to run a piece of clay through the press and try our hand at cutting off the edges. It looks easier than it actually is, let me tell you! But don't worry if you mess up, they can just scrap and recombine the messed up, un-fired clay and re-do it the right way after you leave :-P Then, we were taken to be shown how the molds for the pieces were made. And we got a peek at the mold archives! How very cool! It sounds like they do different kinds of tours, so you could return at another date and have an entirely different tour with different highlights and information. It was fun and a great way to spend an hour in the area! If you are interested in that kind of thing, put it on your list! read more

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An awesome holiday open house today, and tomorrow. Lovely food and drink as well. Bring canned goods to be entered in a drawing. Another holiday open house. As usual, beautiful items to purchase as well as Coffee Emporium, and lots of great food This is a totally awesome event. The products here are top quality and prices are reflected of that quality read more

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A Cincinnati story that is over 100 years old - the new location on Race Street is beginning the next chapter. While now limited in selection, Rookwood still offers custom architectural installations and a selection of figurines, ornaments and gifts. I do think they could expand where they sell their products... for example, selling at the Cincinnati Zoo seems logical for all of the animal figurines and bird tiles. Most people are unaware of the downtown location, and it's quite inconspicuous (in an old food distribution building). read more

This is a great stop in for some local Cincinnati pottery - great for gifts, home decor, and even browsing the shop like a museum! True Cincinnati history and talent in a spacious show room. read more

Surprised I'm the first to review this place.... Anyways, if you have never heard of Rookwood Pottery, take a minute and read about it here: https://www.rookwood.com/history.php or just google it. So, you want to own a piece of Cincinnati artistry? Step up and feast your eyes on shelf after shelf of handmade excellence. My favs were the beer steins and the triptychs of Cincinnati landmarks. There are pieces that reflect the history of our great city and more general pieces as well. The prices might seem steep but remember these were made right down the road* in the good 'ol USA and you are helping to keep the dream of artists alive and kicking. The pottery is high quality and will last, i.e. you'll be handing these down to your grandkids (whether they like it or not!!!). Oh, and from what I've gathered from the nice guy working there, every Second Saturday they have a wine/beer and snacks for customers. Nice treat! *Wanna tour the factory/surdio? Free tours on Wednesdays at 10:30am Call 513.381.2510 for more info. read more

Even if you are not into pottery, every Cincinnatian should visit this place at least once. The Rookwood Pottery Company was started by Maria Longworth and she was not only the founder but the first female international entrepreneur in the United States. If that's not amazing, I don't know what is! They have everything from beer steins, to tiles, coasters, to really intricate artistic pieces. The staff here is passionate and excited about the history and products on the company. They also have free tours of the factory and studio where they create all of the pieces on Wednesdays at 10:30am. Check them out and pay homage to this incredibly historic business in our city! read more

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I have never been a fan of pottery, but I do have a new appreciation for these artists. Here I was thinking i was going to see a run of the mill factory, but turns out this is almost a completely hands on operation. Beth and I got tickets to a tour of Rookwood Pottery and a tasting of Findlay Market. More on the tour later, this is about Rookwood Pottery. Rookwood Pottery just shows you how a small business that has deep roots in a city always comes home. Rookwood Pottery stated off in 1880. They have been pulling in artists from around the world since the beginning to give new looks, glazes, process techniques, etc. They moved to MI in 1959, and came back to cincy in 2004. Has gone through a few hands, but the current owners purchased the rights to the name, and original molds, glaze recipes, etc. So you can purchase new pottery that looks like the stuff from the 1800's to current state. That was pretty cool. We started off in the Glaze area, Jeff described the different colors how different kilns and clay mixture can make the glaze have different colors and patterns. He also showed up some of the new colors for 2012 that he came up with. It was nice to see that they have one person solely dedicated to creating new colors and designs. Talk about amazing work. Next we walked over to the new kilns, they have both gas and electric. According to Jeff gas and electric heat differently, so the colors and cooking temp of the clay are different. He went into detail about when they use which kilns depending on what effect they are looking for. Very cool, but all i could think of was how fast can you cook a pizza in there. We walked over to the press station, this is the one process that a machine is used to create the pottery. So basically an artist makes a sample piece, they use that piece to make a rubber mold. The rubber mold is what they call an archive cause its what they used to make plaster molds for the press. The plaster molds are what are actually used in the press. An artist mix's the clay, put a certain amount on the press, press;s a button, the press comes down, smashing the clay into the creaves of the plaster mold. The press comes up, An artist removed the new piece. Then they carve it by hand and finish up the process with the kiln, glaze, etc. The show room has a nice demo of different tiles, colors, vases, etc. Some items were made from the original molds from back in the early 1900's but using new colors. They don't fake date anything so it might look like an original piece, but you got to look at the bottom to the date to know when it was made. They do custom pieces as well, when we were there they showed up sample pieces from a hotel in Chicago that they are doing, as well as some mugs for a new restaurant opening in Cincy. While we were only allowed on the first floor, we were told on the second floor they are making equipment to be able to produce full wall murals, either hand carved or stamped. The third floor is where they have there pottery wheels and where the artists can let there creative juices flowing. read more

I have purchased Cincinnati landscape tiles to decorate my home. Absolutely love the tiles and designs that they have to choose from. Have installed multiple jobs for other people using their tile and not sure what it is about the brand but it gives me a sense of community and pride to work with. Staff is always so polite and friendly makes you want to come back and get more. read more

What beautiful tile designs and the story behind its beginning was fascinating. If you go to the store Artichoke, their tile is in their entryway. read more

Absolutely love the product! Great place for gifts, home decor, inspiration, and even tile installation for your home!

We have a home that is 103 years old and we found the Rookwood Pottery love the great surprise

The rookwood has a long history, and after taking a tour, its understandable why they have such a high place in the pottery scene. They actually craft the trophies that are awarded at the Cincinnati Tennis Open, Beautiful pieces, including steins, tiles, and ornaments, so check out their website and be on the lookout for pieces all over the place. read more

Even if you are not the artsy-fartsy type, this is a can't miss. Full of interesting Cincy history and amazing pottery, Rookwood is an icon. We have a Christmas tradition where each year, our kids pick out a Rookwood ornament for the tree. Someday, our tree will be all Rookwood ornaments! What put you into bankruptcy? Overextending yourself on real estate you say....Me? Oh....Christmas ornaments. If you go, make sure you meet up with Jim the glaze guy from Oregon. Super energetic and fun, if he can't get you excited about pottery then just walk out the door and head straight for the monster truck show. Their new retail shop in the parking lot at 12th and Vine is such a nice addition and makes shopping for Rookwood so much more convenient. read more

This Cincinnati Classic has come back to life and started to procure high end pottery right here in Cincinnati. Their pottery from the past can be seen in museums for the colors, style and portraits, and now we can actually own our very own pieces. This little shop in OTR is a beautiful showcase of everything from beer steins to coasters to vases, Christmas ornaments and of course tiles. The tiles come in every pattern you could want, matched in all the glazes they carry. Even if you don't want to spend $75 for one tile, it's well worth just stopping in and seeing a Cincinnati Legend and dream. read more

We stumbled upon this place by accident. We went to the retail store on Vine St and the shopkeeper recommended that we go to the factory. We weren't able to take a tour. They do have tours at 10:30 on Wednesdays. We went in and talked to someone in Quality Control who explained that the application of glazes makes a big difference in the final product. We also spoke to Jim, the glaze guy. I can only describe him as a mad scientist hippie. Really passionate and enthusiastic guy. I admire people who love their work that you can outwardly tell and they want to share it with you. People who love their jobs are so few these days. We were there for a good 45 minutes talking glazes. I would like to see the tour if we make it back. It's always neat to see artist's at work. They also have a gift shop with tiles, beer steins and other items. The work is beautiful and I haven't seen anything like it. read more

Great place to purchase Cincinnati inspired gifts. Love the owls and pottery animals as small gifts. The folks at Rookwood are helpful and knowledgeable about the process and art. read more

Management and accounting sucks! They have no idea how to run a business and we will never buy from them again. We didn't just buy a beer stein or a vase. We bought a complete custom fireplace surround and mantle. Buyer beware...Check and recheck your order, make copies because they lose everything...Not just once or twice... three times???? NO! Four times and counting. Send them invoices then resend them again because they lose them, send pictures...no help! Show them emails they sent...They reply " I'll get back to you"...Two weeks later"I thought you were going to get back to us".....Their reply..."Uhhh, yea, give me a couple days"... Weeks go by and still nothing. What a shame because they could do so much better...They have some great artists, designers and glazers and their pottery is just beautiful. They just don't know how to run the company and from what I've been reading, this isn't anything new. read more