Turners & Burners: The Folk Potters of North CarolinaThis richly illustrated portrait of North Carolina's pottery traditions tells the story of the generations of "turners and burners" whose creations are much admired for their strength and beauty. Perhaps no other state possesses such an active and extensive ceramic heritage, and one that is entirely continuous. This book is an attempt to understand both the past and the present, the now largely vanished world of the folk potter and the continuing achievements of his descendants. It is a tribute that is long overdue. From the middle of the eighteenth century through the second quarter of the twentieth century, folk potters in North Carolina produced thousands of pieces of earthenware and stoneware -- sturdy, simple, indispensable forms like jars and jugs, milk crocks and butter churns, pitchers and dishes, ring jugs and flowerpots. Their wares were familiar and everyday, not innovative or unusual, because they were shaped through generations of use for specific functions. The utilitarian forms were so commonplace and embedded in daily life that few individuals documented the craft. Turners and Burners is the first book to chronicle these pottery traditions, with close attention to distinct regional and temporal patterns and the major families involved. It explores in detail the traditional technologies used, from the foot-powered treadle wheel to the wood-fired groundhog kiln. Terry Zug became interested in North Carolina pottery in 1969 shortly after moving to Chapel Hill. In 1974 he began documenting the craft and traveled throughout the state recording the reminiscences of potters, former potters, and members of potters' families who recalled the old craft in remarkable detail. He systematically photographed and cataloged old pots, located early shop sites, and carefully recorded the remaining waster dumps of broken shards and decaying equipment. His primary source, however, was the potters themselves. Their tape-recorded interviews provide an insider's view of their world and reveal the powerful underlying logic and autonomy of their craft. |
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Turners and Burners: The Folk Potters of North Carolina Charles G. Zug, III No preview available - 1990 |
Common terms and phrases
Albany slip alkaline glaze Alkaline-glazed stoneware appear Auman Bivins bottom brick Buncombe County Burl Burl's Burlon Craig burn Burrison Busbee Catawba County Catawba Valley ceramic Chatham County chimney Chrisco churns clay body color Courtesy craft Craven Daniel Seagle decoration dishes early earthenware eastern Piedmont Edgefield Edgefield District Enoch Reinhardt Figure fire firebox flowerpots forms gallon glass groundhog kiln handles Hartsoe headblock Henry Hilton Ibid Interview iron Javan Brown Jim Lynn John Jugtown Pottery Lead-glazed earthenware Lincoln County milk crocks mill Moore County Moravian Moravian Potters Museum nineteenth century North Carolina potters Owen Penland pieces pitcher plate preserve jar produced Propst Randolph County Ray Kennedy region salt glaze Salt-glazed stoneware Seagrove South southern Stamped stoneware jug Talman Cole Teague tery tion tradition treadle wheel turn turner Uncle Seth utilitarian wagon walls wares William wood