Early American salt glazed pottery (Monmouth's Western Stoneware is salt glazed pottery) is the most widely collected of all American pottery. Henry Joe, Emeritus Professor of Art from Knox College and himself an accomplished potter, will be speaking on “The Art of Early American Salt Glazed Pottery” on Wednesday, October 10th at the 10:00 AM meeting of OFTA (Old Friends Talk Arts) at the Buchanan Center for the Arts in downtown Monmouth.
Professor Joe feels that the focus of interest in salt glazed work is often on classification, dating, type, and price rather than the artistic quality of the pieces and he will redress some of this imbalance by focusing on the aspects of beauty embodied within this popular type of pottery.
Salt glazed pottery is made by introducing salt fumes during the firing of stone or earthenware. It produces a highly durable and chip resistant product (which may be why it is known as stoneware.). The process was apparently first used in Germany in the 1400’s and was introduced into America by the early 1700’s. Potteries spread westward with the settlers and Monmouth’s own Weir Pottery became Western Stoneware in 1906. By the beginning of the 20th century stoneware was the most dominant houseware used in the USA.
OFTA meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM and anyone with free mid-morning time is welcome to stop in at the Buchanan Center for the Arts and enjoy a cup of coffee, snacks, and free wheeling talk about the arts. There is no admission charge.
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