"Warrented to be Ston Ware"

Courtesy, Antiques and the Arts

"Warrented to be Ston Ware" was scrawled across the side of a large piece of pottery which I had the pleasure of seeing this past weekend in Tennessee.  I had the chance to visit the Museum of East Tennessee in Knoxville where they have an exhibition entitled "Tennessee Turned: Earthenware and Stoneware Made in East Tennessee, 1800-1900." I was unable to take photos inside of the exhibition, but want to share some photos from an article by Antiques and the Arts. On many of the earthenware pieces, and some of the stoneware pieces were these amazing, gargantuan handles which I was particularly enamored with.

Courtesy, Antiques and the Arts

The manganese on the earthenware pieces was very glittery, which made me wonder whether there is a high percentage of mica in the manganese, or whether there is another mineral which creates that look. The stoneware pieces were not only beautiful, but some of them were jaw-dropping. Particularly, the water coolers fascinated me including this piece made by T.W. Craven and Co., a branch of the Cravens from North Carolina who relocated to Tennessee.

The Germanic pieces with lush decorations certainly had my eye and it was love at first sight.

These pieces reminded me a lot of New York and Connecticut pieces, so I am intrigued to learn more about the history of these potters. I was told that Carole Wahler, who curated the exhibition, is working on an exhibition companion to be published at the end of the month.  In the meantime, I might have to start writing "Warrented to be Ston Ware" on the sides of some pieces!
This is a great video from Antiques and the Arts highlighting other pieces from the exhibition. Enjoy!

Ackland Exhibition

If you have a chance before March 20th, go to the Ackland Art Museum to see the exhibition entitled "Tradition in Clay: Two Centuries of Classic North Carolina Pots." I went on Thursday to see the exhibition and also had the privilege of seeing Daniel Johnston make a presentation on his work. He showed a sneak preview of the video made during his Large Jar Project.

Daniel Johnston presenting

After the presentation I went through the exhibition and was excited to see such a range of pieces.

The openess of the exhibition space was exsquisite

I liked the layout of the exhibition. It was in two rooms, with one room being a combination of salt-glazed and alkaline-glazed wares from all across the state. I thought this was beneficial because it showed that both of these techniques were in use at the same time in different regions. The pieces in this room were mostly from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. As the exhibition progressed in this room there was a transition of glazes and forms which led into the second room showing the movement of art pottery in the twentieth-century and the rise of regions like Seagrove and the establishment of Jugtown Pottery.

All of these pieces are from the Fox family, dated range from 1840-1870. I liked the austerity of the displays with just the pieces with a muted background and open pedestals

Handle of an Enoch Craven bottle, ca. 1850

Of course I was mostly drawn to the nineteenth and early twentieth-century pieces, and spent a great deal of time looking closely at handles and decorative markings. I have an affinity for ovoid bottles, and there was no shortage of these!

Bottle from the Webster pottery, dated 1875

Side of large storage jar attributed to John Craven, ca. 1850

Interior of large storage jar attributed to John Craven. It was nice to be able to get close the pieces and see the inside of them and see the details. I may have looked a little strange kneeling so close to the pieces and hovering above the pedestals!

Bottle by William Henry Hancock, 19th century

Handle detail on Hancock bottle

In closing, if you have a chance, I highly recommend going to see the exhibition and having the chance to take a closer look at North Carolina pottery.

Top of Nicholas Fox bottle, ca. 1840