Van Briggle Pottery, established in 1899, is one of the oldest active art potteries in the United States. Founded by Artus Van Briggle, of Holland Dutch descent, Van Briggle Pottery has been considered one of the great American art potteries for over a century.


     Artus came to Colorado Springs after years of training at distinguished potteries and art academies in the United States and in Europe. He and his wife Anne, also an accomplished artist, began a tradition of making fine pottery which quickly swept the western art world. Though gifted in many areas of artistic expression, it was in clay and glaze where their considerable talents flourished. Ultimately their Art Nouveau designs and satin mat glazes received the highest awards of the day. Numerous awards were conferred upon Van Briggle works by such juries as the Paris Salon, the Saint Louis Exhibition, the Lewis and Clark Centennial, and the Arts & Crafts Exhibition in Boston.

Tragically, Artus' life was cut short when, in 1904 at the age of 35, he succumbed to tuberculosis. After his death, Anne continued the work they began together - an effort which created one of America 's premier art potteries. Examples of Van Briggle pottery can be seen in permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum in New York , the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. , The British Museum in London , and at the Louvre in Paris .

   The Artistic tradition begun by Artus and Anne Van Briggle over 100 years ago continues today. Many of their designs and glaze effects created at the turn of the 20 th century are still being produced by gifted artisans who perpetuate and reinterpret the classic Van Briggle style. In addition to fine pottery the Van Briggle studios produce a complete line of decorative ceramic tile using many of Van Briggle's early 20th century designs.