A classic English-style form with great results from the wood firing process. Perfect for serving liquids at breakfast or other meals. Also, creates a beautiful backdrop for a small floral arrangement.
With the ash accumulation forming its own glaze and texture, this wood-fired pitcher is a beauty! Dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Measuring 6"l x 4.75”w x 7”h.
Please Note: What appear to be white spots on the surface are reflections from photo lighting.
Ash Glazes
Ash glazes allow us to “let the kiln be the paintbrush” by relying on the wood-firing process as the glazing agent. Most pieces dedicated to Ash glazing are placed in the kiln with little to no glaze applied to the exterior. During the firing process, the wood is stirred occasionally in the firebox to give flight to the flakes of ash that are produced during the firing. Airborne ash flakes cling to the exposed areas of the pot and accumulate over time. As the kiln reaches 2300° Fahrenheit, the accumulated ashes begin to melt and form a natural glaze. When the wood-burning kiln is heated to over 2400 degrees Fahrenheit, the wood ash liquefies and runs down the side of the pot like honey. Ash may also be layered over other glazes. For example, when Ben was in college, he was introduced to a spraying technique using an air-driven spray gun that some potters use to build up layers of glazes on the clay surface. With some experimenting, he was able to create a variety of finishes using accents of 3 to 4 different colors. A glaze made from ash can be used as a top coating to blend or bleach the underlying colors. Some finishes are a base of an iron yellow with cobalt blue or copper green covering. Other colors of orange to silver can develop from the colors overlapping. No two pieces are exactly alike. Ben frequently places these in the wood kiln to accentuate the colors.
Yellow Matte
The Yellow Matte Glaze was created with the intention of designing a smooth, “soft” surface on the pots that would be a change from the glossy finishes typical in the Owen family of glazes. From looking at surfaces created during the wood firing process, Ben wanted to recreate a similar surface but with the option to make it uniform or add an accent by spraying on the clay surface. The yellow pigment is made from iron oxide and the matte finish is created from the use of magnesium and strontium in the glaze.
Cobalt Blue
The Cobalt Blue glaze has been used by the Owen family for over four generations. Early salt glaze wares made in the late 1800s were decorated with a cobalt blue glaze over the grey salt finish. Over the past 50 years, Ben Owen Pottery has made some cobalt-glazed pieces using a uniform coating of the glaze on the surface of the pots. Today, Ben uses a glaze similar to the older, original glaze. This newer Cobalt Blue is glossy and reveals a depth to the finish. Sometimes, the Cobalt Blue is used to accentuate pieces that are fired in the wood kiln. These are called multi-layered glazes.
The Tableware Collection
You can find the traditional forms and shapes of Ben Owen Sr. pottery wares in The Tableware Collection at Ben Owen lll Pottery. This line highlights shapes and forms made in a traditional Owen style of the early 1900’s folk pottery of North Carolina as well as influences from Asia. This traditional collection has been continued by several potters who have worked at Ben Owen Pottery since the 1960’s.
The previous line was made by potter Elizabeth McAdams, who worked as a studio assistant and retail manager for Ben Owen Pottery from 2022-2025. The current line is made by potter Silas Bradley, who began work as a studio assistant in August 2025.
Ben Owen Pottery Apprentice: Silas Bradley
A native North Carolinian, Silas Bradley grew up in Clinton and discovered his passion for clay at a young age. Beginning his first apprenticeship at age 16 in Burgaw, NC, Silas immersed himself in the world of clay. This time exposed him to a wide variety of methods and techniques that sparked the development of Silas’ own voice in clay. Having worked in Texas and Montana making pots, Silas settled back in his home state to work further with the practices and traditions of Seagrove.
Silas is part of a new generation of North Carolina potters, eager to converse with longstanding traditions of craftsmanship while paving the way for new creations; with deep respect for tradition, Silas crafts pieces that evoke history and practice. Creating honest forms that are both familiar and new, Silas attempts to write a further line in the continuing story of North Carolina clay.
Now, as an apprentice at Ben Owen Pottery, Silas crafts a variety of wares for the Ben Owen Pottery Tableware Collection. In addition to crafting work for the Pottery, Silas continues to create his own ware, focusing on stoneware pieces rendered unique through the raw unpredictability of atmospheric firings.
Works are stamped with the Ben Owen Pottery circular stamp and initialed SB.