A Brief History of Clinton Pottery - Then and Now
In 1808 the Village of Clinton secured an important place in the history of American Ceramics when John Gregory moved from Connecticut and built the first pottery west of the Hudson River Valley on a plot between Marvin and Williams Street. For over twenty years he provided sturdy earthenware vessels to the community, then in 1831 in a collaborative change to stoneware, produced a limited amount of wood fired pieces decorated in the typical blue and white manner of the mid-19th Century bearing the stamp of Clinton Pottery. Today these rare and seldom found pieces are among the most sought after examples of early New York State pottery. Slip decorated examples attributed to Gregory can be seen locally in the Historical Society's permanent collection including a large presentation platter considered to be the earliest known dated slipware made in New York.
The present Clinton Pottery is located at 66 Utica Street, half a mile from the original location. Owner Jonathan Woodward, was born in England in1955. Like Gregory, he learnt his trade through a formal apprenticeship, which he began full time the summer of 1972 in Sussex, England with Richard Ullman. Considered a simple country potter by the locals, Ullman could have boasted of his own ceramic history, having personal ties to Nora Braden linking directly to Bernard Leach. Jonathan spent nearly four years training with him, learning the skills that refined a natural ability as well as an intense quality of perfectionism that has always been apparent in his work.
In 1977, after completing his education, Jonathan came to New York producing and selling his work from five different locations within Clinton including College Street, Norton Avenue and West Park Row before purchasing the property on Utica Street in 1989. Since then, many additions and improvements have been completed, including major renovations to the structure of the barn and workshop area in 1999 and the completion of a new showroom in 2005.
Today Clinton Pottery produces a full line of functional tableware that celebrates both tradition and modern convenience. The rich color of the clay echoes both Gregory and Ullman. A palette of a dozen colors is unified by a pale neutral liner glaze, inviting and supporting the personal combining of multiple hues. Stoneware clocks, manufactured using a wheel-generated process developed by Jonathan and patented in the late 80’s, are unique to the Pottery. His ornamental raku is fired using traditional reduction techniques in an outdoor kiln shed in addition to three indoor kilns used for the main line.
All glazes are lead-free and mixed on site using formulas refined over many years. Clinton Pottery stoneware is oven and microwave safe, fired in eco-friendly electric kilns to a temperature that makes the ware non-absorbent and easy to clean either by hand or dishwasher.
