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Busbee Road Potteries in Seagrove, NC — The Places to Shop in December

By admin on 28th June, 2011 No Comments

Seagrove, NC (Vocus) December 3, 2010

Bring your gift lists and curiosity to the Busbee Road Potteries in December. Ten shops, including three museums, a jeweler, a blacksmith and a wide variety of other crafts, are found in a scenic three-mile drive, where pottery has been made continuously for over 100 years. There is something for everyone in the shops starting on Busbee Road at Pottery Highway 705 and ending at Jugtown Road. It’s all handmade in Seagrove in the heart of North Carolina.

December will be an eventful month on Busbee Road! On December 4, 2010 Jugtown Pottery and Chris Luther Pottery will host their annual Holiday Kiln Openings, and Westmoore Pottery will hold its annual Holiday Open House. The museum at Jugtown opens at 7am with warm drinks and snacks available. Come early to get your number and then walk around the shop and peak in the windows before the line forms. The door opens at 8:30am with a variety of pots selected from kiln firings throughout the year. JLK Jewelry at Jugtown will also offer a fresh selection of jewelry and other special items. Chris Luther Pottery opens at 9:00am with an assortment of pots in a variety of colors for the holiday gift giving season. Stop by Westmoore Pottery anytime from 9am to 5 pm for refreshments and special pots made for the day. Mill Creek Forge, next door to Westmoore Pottery, will have special gift items for Christmas on that day as well.

December 18, 2010 is the Ben Owen Pottery, Chinese Red Holiday Kiln Opening. Come early for the preview and refreshments from 9:00am-9:50am, the doors open for buying at 10am.

Of course, there is something all month long in each of the shops and you can spend the day stopping at each shop. Starting at Ben Owen Pottery on the corner of Pottery Highway and Busbee Road, Ben often reflects, “Each pot is a model for the next,” as his work evolves into new shapes and surface treatments. Yet, even his latest creations are strongly reminiscent of the works made by his forefathers long ago. Ben Owen Pottery offers a museum showcasing a collection representing four generations of hand-thrown pottery as well as ancient Chinese pots resembling the shapes that Ben Owen Sr. studied in the 1920s and 30s.

Next stop is Chris Luther Pottery. Chris creates contemporary art pottery and is also a generational potter coming from the Chriscoe Pottery Family of Seagrove. His work is wheel thrown and fired in high reduction atmospheres to achieve one of a kind pieces that are both decorative and functional in nature. Focusing in altered forms and American Shino glazes, you will find a variety of unique vases, teapots, bottles, alongside more traditional wares at his newly built studio. Large, dramatic vessels are also occasionally on display.

Westmoore Pottery specializes in historical pottery. Their wares are made in the old traditions, with the look and feel of pottery of the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. They are particularly interested in styles of pottery made in central North Carolina in the 1700s and early 1800s. Westmoore Pottery was the recent recipient of the Barrington Award of Excellence presented, “In grateful recognition of their dedication and devotion to preserving and perpetuating North Carolina’s rich history.”

Mill Creek Forge, owned and operated by nationally renowned blacksmith Jerry Darnell, is a short walk along the path from Westmoore Pottery. Jerry offers a variety of reproduction of 18th century, traditional styles, all crafted meticulously by hand.

Hickory Hill established in 1985, produces handmade stoneware, traditional utilitarian pottery in glazes native to the area and created in the unique Seagrove tradition.

O’Quinn Pottery was established in 1989 by Sandra O’Quinn and her husband, Glenn McNeill who started working in the pottery shop full time in 1998. Sandra and Glenn make a variety of hand turned and hand built functional pottery in vivid colors.

Cady Clay Works is owned by Johannes “John” Mellage and Beth Gore. They work with a variety of clays and glazes to create functional and decorative ware with richly layered surfaces. Each piece of Cady Clay Works pottery is entirely handmade, on the potter’s wheel by John or handbuilt from slabs by Beth.

Turn the corner onto Jugtown Road and you will find Moore Pots Pottery, owned by Larry Moore who specializes in a blend of traditional and folk art pottery including vases, candlesticks, chickens, lions and face jugs in various glazes including wood fired salt glazed pieces.

Across the street is Jugtown Pottery, a working pottery and American craft shop. Originally founded by Jacques and Julianna Busbee in 1917, the tradition is continued by Vernon, Pam and Travis Owens, Their approach is form first, a simple continuous line, a complimentary glaze and occasional decoration. Form and firing, are the essence of these handmade pieces that are either wood or gas fired. Jugtown offers a museum tracing the history of Jugtown, as well as a selection of early NC pottery. Also at Jugtown Pottery is JLK Jewelry. Turning Mud into Gemstones, Jennie Lorette Keatts creates sterling silver jewelry set with pottery stones using Jugtown’s glazes.

Visit http://www.potteryofbusbeeroad.com/ for links to the individual pottery websites. You will also find us on Facebook at Seagrove Potters of Historic Busbee Road. Come to Busbee Road, meet the artists, learn about their works and bring home something handmade in Seagrove.

Pick up the newly-designed brochure for the Busbee Road section of the Seagrove pottery area at the NC Pottery Center, all NC Welcome Centers and at any of the shops along Busbee Road.

CONTACT:

Jennie Lorette Keatts

910-464-2653

jennie(at)jlkjewelry(dot)com

Jugtown Pottery Holiday Kiln Opening

http://www.jugtownware.com and http://www.jlkjewelry.com

December 4, 2010; 8:30am-5:00pm (museum opens at 7 with refreshments)

Chris Luther Pottery Holiday Kiln Opening

http://www.chrislutherpottery.com

December 4, 2010; 9:00am-6:00pm

Westmoore Pottery Holiday Open House

http://www.westmoorepottery.com

December 4, 2010; 9:00am-5:00pm

Ben Owen Pottery Chinese Red Holiday Kiln Opening

http://www.benowenpottery.com

December 18, 2010; 10am-5pm, preview and refreshments from 9:00am-9:50am

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