Blue Ridge Pottery
The
origins of Blue Ridge pottery reach back to 1916-17 to the small town
of Erwin, Tennessee. The town of Erwin was situated along the railroad
lines of the Clinchfield, North Carolina, and Ohio Railroads. Erwin was
a railroad stop that was close to a supply of kaolin clay and feldspar.
Erwin was also close to coal for the kilns and larkspur for the ceramic
glaze. Proximity to these key ceramic ingredients made the town of
Erwin a prime area to introduce a pottery works. In the pursuit of
industry and enterprise, the railroad lines collaborated with a
seasoned pottery manufacturer from Ohio named E. J. Owens. Together
they established a pottery factory distinguished as “Clinchfield
Chinaware.”
Clinchfield Chinaware incorporated a variety of dinnerware shapes and usually depended on decals and gold trimming for their decor. Advertising items were also big business. Generally, Clinchfield designs were precise and formal. Without a doubt, no one could’ve foreseen the design changes yet to come.
Clinchfield Chinaware incorporated a variety of dinnerware shapes and usually depended on decals and gold trimming for their decor. Advertising items were also big business. Generally, Clinchfield designs were precise and formal. Without a doubt, no one could’ve foreseen the design changes yet to come.
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Only two years later, Southern Potteries Inc. was purchased by Charles W. Foreman, and the pottery came under his leadership. Foreman would later be credited with introducing the trademark hand painting technique that would make Southern Potteries famous