Nemadji is old, colorful, rustic, charming, American and affordable. Its time has come.

I have received several requests lately from people curious to know more about an unusual American pottery marked “Nemadji.” If ever a collectible’s time has come, it is this one, so now is as good a time as any to answer these questions.

Nemadji is a crude, rough, unglazed pottery decorated in random swirls of earth-tone colors. Although in name and design, Nemadji appears to be of ancient Native American origin, it is not.

Nemadji started out in 1923 as a ceramic tile company in Moose Lake, a town in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota at the rural junction of State Hwy 73 and Interstate 35.

The name comes from a word in the native Ojibway Indian language meaning “lefthanded,” and it was how the tribe dubbed a local river in Holyoke, Mn., now called the Nemadji River.

The tile company was successful at first, landing contracts for government buildings and other office buildings. Then came the stock market crash of 1929.

In that year the company was purchased by Eric Hellman, who decided to capitalize on the Nemadji name by introducing a line of Native American style pottery to sell to the tourist trade.

There was never any attempt to deceive the public. Items were sold with a piece of paper explaining the name, and that the pottery was of a kind the Ojibway might have made out of the clay of the Nedjami River.

Priced just right for those hard times, the pottery was a success, and before long became available in catalogs and specialty stores around the country. The company was moved to Kettle River, MN, in 1972. It was sold again in 1980, and, along the way, the tile business was discontinued. During the winter of 2001-2002, it closed its doors for good.

So, why has Nemadji pottery’s time come now? Well, how’s this–it’s handmade in America, interesting, charming and decorative; many pieces are 50 to 75 years old, and there will be no more made; it’s still readily available, and easy to collect.
Also, just as in those hard times back then, Nemadji is still very inexpensive. A check of past eBay sales and other sites finds Nemadji pieces mostly in the $15-65 range, with many bargains under $25.

Nemadji pieces go well with Americana, Southwest, rustic, or primitive décor, or in any rooms dominated by wood and stone. They also work well in beach houses, sun rooms or in garden rooms alongside brick and terra cotta.

To learn more, look for The Myth and Magic of Nemadji Pottery by Michelle D. Lee.

Make this winter the time that you finally get a handle on all your stuff. For five straight Tuesday evenings, Feb. 17 to March 17, I will be holding antique classes at the Wetlands Institute on Stone Harbor Boulevard. Participants can bring in as many items as they want for appraisal.

The fee for all five classes is $130 (Wetlands members get a discount). Sign up for all five, and you get a complimentary copy of my book. Plus, the fee could be tax deductible. It’s the smart way to learn the value of your things. And what a deal! Call the Institute at 609-368-1211 for more info.

—Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of The August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton.