In 1876, family member Hugh C. Robertson visited the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia - an early world’s fair - and viewed pottery from China with a blood-red crackled glaze that would inspire him to create his own version. In 1867, the Robertson family founded their first company in Chelsea, Massachusetts on the corner of Marginal and Willow Streets, which subsequently became the Chelsea Keramic Art Works (CKAW) from 1872–1889, and then Chelsea Pottery U.S. (CPUS). The "Boston Daily Globe" reported on Monday, July, 30th 1894, that ""about 10 acres of land at East Dedham, was sold for $6,500 to the Chelsea Pottery Company" and the pottery company would be moving from Chelsea to Dedham, "just as soon as proper buildings can be erected and other necessary work done"."