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Showroom and Sturio
In 1959, Ben Owen established his own pottery
called the Old Plank Road Pottery beside his home in Westmoore that is
7 miles from Seagrove, NC. He continued the “new” tradition of making
shapes and colors inspired from research encouraged by the Busbees
early on at Jugtown. Some glazes that were used at Jugtown like Chinese
Blue had not been made after the death of Jacques Busbee in 1948.
Juliana requested that the glaze would not be produced after his death.
From different accounts and research, the recipe for the glaze was
lost. When Ben Owen began working on his own, he began recreating this
glaze in his own experimentation. The results were similar but with
it's own style. During the first year of operation, all work was
stamped Pottery by Ben Owen. In 1960 a round stamp, Ben Owen Master
Potter, was made for Ben Owen to mark his work made at the Plank Road
Pottery. A Master Potter recognition was given to him in 1928 during
the Dogwood Festival for best of show with a White Dogwood Vase that
was entered into the craft exhibit.
Ben Owen, Sr.
The Old Plank Road Pottery continued to operate
with son, Ben Jr. making some pots and assisting with the glazing and
firing of the groundhog kiln. A talented potter, Farrell Craven, who
descended from the first pottery family to settle in the area, was
hired to make some of the functional items for the pottery in the late
1960’s. Over time, Ben Sr. was not able to make as many pots as he
could due to rheumatoid arthritis. Ben Owen Sr. retired from making
pots in 1972 due to these complications with his health. Farrell Craven
passed away in the same year. Unfortunately, the hands which had
magically brought life to thousands of beautiful clay creations had to
rest.
Stamp used by Ben Owen, Sr.
Earthenware Vase with Yellow Glaze
Han Vase by Ben Owen, Sr.
Ben Sr's Groundhog Kiln
Earthenware Teapot
Blue Dogwood Vase
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