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September Issue
2009
North Carolina
Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, Features Pottery of Fayetteville
and Webster Tradition
The North Carolina Pottery
Center in Seagrove, NC, is presenting two new exhibits including:
Historical Pottery of Fayetteville in Galleries I &
II, and a selection of works by local potters, David and Deborah
Garner, from Turn and Burn Pottery featuring "Webster Tradition"
pottery, in Gallery III. Both exhibitions will be on view through
Oct. 31, 2009.
The North Carolina Pottery Center in partnership with the Fayetteville
Transportation and Local History Museum are presenting this exhibition
featuring historical pottery of Fayetteville (NC). Fayetteville
has a limited but unique pottery tradition, as the Coastal Plain
was not the best area for establishing a pottery manufacturing
operation. The Piedmont and Mountain regions were the favored
sites for North Carolina's strong pottery production. The City
of Fayetteville, with its early colonial beginnings, can claim
only three known pottery manufacturers.
Gurdon Robins, a native of Hartford, CT, in partnership with his brother-in-law Timothy Savage, established a general store in Fayetteville in 1816. A decision was made to begin manufacturing their own pottery rather than importing it. Edward Webster, a skilled potter from Hartford, was recruited in 1819 to construct a kiln and direct the pottery operation. He was later joined by his brothers Chester and Timothy. The Webster brothers most likely received their training as potters in the business of Goodwin & Webster in Hartford, and brought to Fayetteville the Connecticut tradition. Although Gurdon Robins' business failed in 1823, it has the distinction of being the first structured salt-glaze stoneware operation in North Carolina. Edward Webster engaged in his own pottery manufacturing business in Fayetteville, which remained in operation until at least 1838.
The exhibit will feature examples of pottery produced by Goodwin & Webster in Hartford that reflect that strong Connecticut tradition of stoneware which was brought to Fayetteville by the Websters. These pieces of pottery can be compared to those produced by the Websters in Fayetteville, and later in Randolph County. For many years unmarked pottery produced by the Websters with incised birds, fish, floral, and other decorations were attributed to the unknown "Bird and Fish" potter. Patrons will have the ability to view an impressive collection of this work. Also, information will be available on ordering Quincy Scarborough's recently published book, North Carolina Decorated Stoneware: the Webster School of Folk Potters.
The only other pottery operation in Fayetteville was established in 1880 by Edgar Allan Poe (not the Poet). The pottery operation was a sideline to his main business which involved the manufacturing of bricks and other building supplies. Poe was not a potter and had to recruit two experienced turners from Moore County; Manley W. Owen and William H. Hancock. For a period of almost 20 years, Poe Pottery produced a wide range of utilitarian pottery. The exhibit features many unique pieces of stamped Poe Pottery which reflect the Moore County tradition. This pottery can be compared with pottery produced by Owen and Hancock while they were engaged in business for themselves.
David and his wife Deborah Garner opened their shop Turn and Burn Pottery just off the main street of Seagrove in 1985. David, who has been making pots since 1970, is the main thrower and Deborah is the decorator.
When asked about the reproduction Webster ware the two are making, David offered the following, "I was fascinated with old salt glaze and 'decorated' salt glaze from that time period really jumped out at me. After we first started reproducing them I discovered the link between my Craven and the Webster ancestors. The process is pretty much like any other pottery. Deborah incises the designs into leather hard pots. Cobalt is applied to most of the carvings. We fire them to cone 10 with wood and at white heat add salt to create the glaze".
Reproduction works of Webster ware from Turn and Burn Pottery will be available for sale during this exhibition.
This exhibition has been made possible by the generosity, of private collectors willing to share both their knowledge and rare examples of North Carolina pottery.
Exhibitions are made possible through the generosity of our membership, the North Carolina Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Covington Foundation, and the Cooke Foundation.
The mission of the North Carolina Pottery Center is to promote public awareness of and appreciation for the history, heritage, and ongoing tradition of pottery making in North Carolina.
For further information
check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Center at
Contact 336/873-8430 or visit (www.ncpotterycenter.com).
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