Rhead's first California position was in Marin County at the Arequipa tuberculosis sanatoriumĀ“s pottery shop, <a href="http://www.arequipahistory.com/sanitarium">http://www.arequipahistory.com/sanitarium</a> where he worked with tuberculosis patients. He introduced tubelining (a technique also associated with his sister Charlotte). Rhead's methods were not regarded by the management as economic, and he left Arequipa Pottery in 1913 to start his own studio pottery in Santa Barbara. The Rhead pottery lasted until 1917 and its products are now highly valued - a Rhead vase currently holds the record as the most expensive American art pottery at auction. However, in the later part of his career Rhead moved in the direction of larger-scale, more commercial production.
Rhead's first California position was in Marin County at the Arequipa tuberculosis sanatoriumĀ“s pottery shop, <a href="http://www.arequipahistory.com/sanitarium">http://www.arequipahistory.com/sanitarium</a> where he worked with tuberculosis patients. He introduced tubelining (a technique also associated with his sister Charlotte). Rhead's methods were not regarded by the management as economic, and he left Arequipa Pottery in 1913 to start his own studio pottery in Santa Barbara. The Rhead pottery lasted until 1917 and its products are now highly valued - a Rhead vase currently holds the record as the most expensive American art pottery at auction. However, in the later part of his career Rhead moved in the direction of larger-scale, more commercial production.