The Stunning Decor Piece You Can Find At The Thrift Store That's So Affordable

Wearable fashion trends have a way of coming full circle. The same is true for home décor. Objects that were once considered tacky souvenirs sometimes become coveted decorative items years after they were originally purchased. That's the case with an affordable type of pottery you can find at thrift stores, yard sales, online auction sites, resale platforms, and people's homes: Nemadji pottery. The wares were produced by the Nemadji Tile and Pottery Company, which was founded by ceramicist Frank Johnson and businessperson Clayton J. Dodge in Minnesota sometime in the 1920s. These stunning — and now quite collectible — ceramic objects feature a distinctive swirling raw clay surface and are still surprisingly inexpensive to acquire.

Nemadji Tile and Pottery Company was named after a fictional Native American tribe, despite the majority of the designs being created by Eric Hellman, a Danish immigrant who replaced Frank Johnson in 1929. The pottery is stamped with an arrowhead design or profiles that were supposed to resemble Native American peoples in traditional attire. In fact, for much of the company's history, the wares were incorrectly marketed as authentic Native American creations. Though Nemadji Tile and Pottery Company went out of business in 2002, today, the pottery is seeing a resurgence in popularity. Collectors appreciate the interesting forms, bright colors, and swirling patterns. The earthy vases and other wares work well with Southwestern, Bohemian, and other popular interior decorating styles.

Let's say you've found what you think is a piece of Nemadji pottery during a thrifting trip. You think it will fit well with your existing home décor and you're tempted to take it home. First, you want to make sure it's the real deal. To authenticate your latest thrifting find (in this case, a piece of Nemadji pottery), look for characteristics specific to the manufacturer. The object should have an unglazed clay surface and feature swirling, marbled patterns in bright colors. The shape of the vessels mimics that of American primitive pottery, though not accurately so. Turn the pot over and look for a black arrowhead (made before 1980) or profile stamp (made after 1980) along with the company name.

Once you've got your genuine piece of Nemadji pottery home, the next step is making it work in your space. Whether it sits on a shelf or becomes a useful place to hold kitchen utensils, you can put these wares to work in any room in your house. Follow the interior design rules that designers want you to know to incorporate this affordable yet dramatic pottery into your current aesthetic. For example, with its rustic forms and matte finish, Nemadji pottery adds texture and contrast to a mostly minimalist room. Or follow the 60:30:10 color rule and use the brightly hued piece as the 10% accent color in a room full of 60% greige and 30% white. If you're lucky enough to nab a few pieces of different heights and sizes, group them together in odd numbers of three or five.