handpainted cigar & matches design, 7" tall, signed, scarce, excellent.Owens Pottery was founded by J.B. Owens in 1885. Owens began producing art pottery in 1896 with the introduction of the Owens Utopian line. Many of the now famous names in the American art pottery history were at some point associated with Owens Pottery. These names include W. A. Long, Frank Ferrell, Karl Langenbeck, John J. Herold, Herb Hugo, Albert Radford, and John Lessell. During its art pottery days between 1896 and 1907, Owens Pottery produced over 48 distinct art pottery lines. It is widely believed that Owens pottery introduced more new lines during this period than any of the firm's competitors. Owens most popular art pottery lines include Utopian, Lightweight, Lotus, Henri Deux, and Matte Green. Art pottery produced by Owens won national acclaim and many national awards. The highest quality Owens rivals the art pottery produced by competing firms including Rookwood, Roseville, and Weller. Many, to this date, believe Owens Pottery remains undervalued in comparison to its better known competitors. Owens pottery ceased art pottery production in 1907. Sources indicate Owens may have continued production on his own for another few years. After stopping art pottery production, Owens focused on producing tiles as the J.B Owens Floor & Wall Tile Co. Owens went out of business around 1929 ..