A Beginners Guide to Evaluating and Buying Handmade Ceramics in Rochester, NY
In our (Danielle & I) home we have a generous amount of ceramic mugs, cups, bowls, and jars. Our kitchen is stocked with handmade pots, our dining room curio cabinet is loaded with mugs. Our mantle is covered with vases and our garage features shelving loaded with forms of all shapes and sizes.
Our collection of pottery contains pieces from Danielle's time in college, from friends, from students, and club members. It includes pieces from celebrated potters of yesteryear like Val Cushing, and well known ceramic artists of today like Peter Pincus. Each piece has a story, and a reason we just couldn’t pass it up.
And even with our house packed to the brim with more pots, we still yearn to collect more pieces. Why? I dunno, maybe, it's a lack of impulse control? Perhaps it’s a love for beautiful artwork, or maybe it's an appreciation for thoughtfully made sculptural and functional wares.
My guess is it’s a little bit of all of the things I listed.
Over the years we’ve become a bit more discerning about what we buy, what we trade for, and what we hang on to. While we’d love to have almost every new piece we see, the work we collected to date has helped us to learn what type of pottery we love to collect, use, and display.
This process of learning, exploring, and finding pieces we love has been one of the best parts of the collecting experience. And one we’d love to help you and our pottery club members experience. Now let’s talk about what to look for, and where to find it.
But First, Why are Handmade Pots so Alluring?
In an article entitled “Gotta Have that Cute Mug? Act Fast” by the New York Times, Hana Cohn, a consultant for non-profits and arts organizations discusses how irresistible ceramics are, because they are made through direct touch.
While other arts and crafts require direct touch, wheel-thrown and handbuilt ceramics require that direct touch throughout almost all steps of production. From wedging, to forming, to decorating, and firing, the maker is intimately involved in the creation and decision making process.
Pictured, a teapot in our personal collection, by ceramic artist and teacher Logan Wall
As an artist it's a great feeling to know the effort you put into a mug, or bowl will make a difference each and every day for some lucky buyer. As a consumer, there is an exploration of the piece, an admiration for the skill, and joy in knowing you have a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork in your possession.
Finding Ceramics That Fit Your Style
While collecting ceramics is a very individualized pursuit, there are a few things to think about when you are choosing a piece for yourself.
A few years back, during a visit to the Corn Hill Arts Festival, in Rochester, NY, I came across a ceramics booth with a variety of handmade mugs. A woman was looking at the mugs, unable to decide which one she liked better and feeling frustrated.
Sensing her frustration, I offered a tip that Danielle had been passed on to me while I was learning about clay. That tip, “Pick the mug with the handle that fits you best.” This little bit of advice proved to be helpful, she quickly realized one of the mugs she liked fit her hand best. She soon left the booth happily with her purchase.
What to Look For When Evaluating Pots
When evaluating handmade objects it's helpful to have some sense of what to look for, and the process the artist used to make the piece in question. Just a little bit of education can make the experience more enjoyable, rewarding, and fulfilling for both you and the artist you purchase from.
Part of the fun will be deciding how important each of these items are to you. Maybe you like a mug that’s just a little too big. Or maybe you like drippy fluid glazes. Ask questions and learn why you like the work you do.
List of Ways to Evaluate Pottery Pieces
Form - Form, or the shape of the piece, can come in many different shapes and sizes. Take a mug for example. It can be taller, straight sided, round, or square. It can have a pronounced foot, or a simple flat bottom.
Function - Think about the function of the pot. For example if it's a teapot does it have a spout, will it pour, does it drip?
Color & Decoration - The surface of ceramics can be decorated in glazes, underglazes, slips, and textures. Do you prefer simpler surfaces, bright colors, or more natural earth tones? How about illustrations, textures, or even gold luster? The more details the artist applied, the more work they will have put in, and the more expensive the piece may be.
Firing - There are different types of firings an artist or craftsman can use when creating pottery. More decorative firings like Raku, are just that, decorative. Great to look at, but not meant for food and typically less durable. Electric fired pots are pretty standard, and controlled. During reduction, fired pots are fired to hotter temperatures, and may feature unique surface details like flashing, ash drips and more.
Surprises - One of my favorite things about collecting ceramics are the many surprises you’ll find in the works you’ll run across. From highly detailed artist signatures (always check the bottom of the pot), to hidden illustrations in the design, surprises are great fun and an indication the artist put much time, effort, and consideration into their work.
Remember, even if the work isn’t the most functional or the most conventional, if you like it, go for it. This is just a list of things you can consider, and by no means hard rules to shop by.
Conclusion
Collecting ceramics isn’t just about amassing the most or the best mugs, teapots, or clay pitchers. When you collect you are creating a connection with an artist, and helping to create community. Buying handmade works of art should be fun, and an opportunity to connect with the artist.
Ask questions, because the more you learn about pottery, the more you’ll be able to appreciate the skill, effort, and time an artist puts into each piece. No matter what, make sure you are having fun buying, using, and gifting these one-of-a-kind handmade objects.
Article Source(s):
Covit, Dana. “Gotta Have That Cute Mug? Act Fast.” The New York Times, 10 May 2021, http://nytimes.com/2021/05/10/style/ceramics-mug.html. Accessed 27 November 2022.
