A Brief History of Clinton Pottery - Then & Now
In 1808, the Village of Clinton secured an important place in the history of American Ceramics, when John Gregory, a Connecticut potter, moved to Clinton building the first pottery west of the Hudson River Valley. This pottery was
located on a plot between Marvin and Williams Street, behind what is now Owens Pavlot Funeral Home. For over twenty years he provided sturdy earthenware vessels to the community.
Then in 1831, in a collaborative effort to change to stoneware he with Benjamin Lent & Dwight Graves produced a limited amount of wood fired pieces. These pieces were 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 Clinton Historical Society's permanent collection, including a large earthenware presentation platter considered to be the earliest known and 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 continues the Clinton pottery tradition providing sturdy, high quality pottery to the village and beyond. Jonathan was born in England in 1955 and like Gregory, he learned his trade through a formal apprenticeship. He began training the summer of 1972 under the guidance of Richard Ullman. Ullman possessed an affiliation to ceramic history as well, having personal ties to Nora Braden, a student of world renowned potter and teacher Bernard Leach. Jonathan spent nearly four years training with Ullman learning the skills that refined a natural ability and intense quality of perfectionism that has always been apparent in his work.
In 1977, after completing his apprenticeship Jonathan moved to America and the Mohawk Valley. He has produced and sold his work from five locations within the village of Clinton including College Street and Norton Ave, where he ran Knaves Acre Pottery, an homage to Richard Ullman. He ran Woodwards in the early ‘80’s on West Park Row before purchasing the property on Utica Street in 1989, where he and his children now work.
Today, Clinton Pottery produces a line of functional stoneware that celebrates both tradition and modern convenience. The rich color of the clay echoes both Gregory and Ullman. A palette of over a dozen colors is unified by a pale interior glaze, inviting people to choose their own particular color combinations. Jonathan has refined both his clay and glaze formulas over many years to produce work that is strong, colorful and safe to use every day.
located on a plot between Marvin and Williams Street, behind what is now Owens Pavlot Funeral Home. For over twenty years he provided sturdy earthenware vessels to the community.
Then in 1831, in a collaborative effort to change to stoneware he with Benjamin Lent & Dwight Graves produced a limited amount of wood fired pieces. These pieces were 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 Clinton Historical Society's permanent collection, including a large earthenware presentation platter considered to be the earliest known and 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 continues the Clinton pottery tradition providing sturdy, high quality pottery to the village and beyond. Jonathan was born in England in 1955 and like Gregory, he learned his trade through a formal apprenticeship. He began training the summer of 1972 under the guidance of Richard Ullman. Ullman possessed an affiliation to ceramic history as well, having personal ties to Nora Braden, a student of world renowned potter and teacher Bernard Leach. Jonathan spent nearly four years training with Ullman learning the skills that refined a natural ability and intense quality of perfectionism that has always been apparent in his work.
In 1977, after completing his apprenticeship Jonathan moved to America and the Mohawk Valley. He has produced and sold his work from five locations within the village of Clinton including College Street and Norton Ave, where he ran Knaves Acre Pottery, an homage to Richard Ullman. He ran Woodwards in the early ‘80’s on West Park Row before purchasing the property on Utica Street in 1989, where he and his children now work.
Today, Clinton Pottery produces a line of functional stoneware that celebrates both tradition and modern convenience. The rich color of the clay echoes both Gregory and Ullman. A palette of over a dozen colors is unified by a pale interior glaze, inviting people to choose their own particular color combinations. Jonathan has refined both his clay and glaze formulas over many years to produce work that is strong, colorful and safe to use every day.