Emerson creek pottery making Handmade Pottery Made in Bedford, VirginiA

Emerson Creek Pottery boasts beautiful ceramic pottery in clean organic designs. Created in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in the American tradition of quality ceramics. We currently feature many different lines of ceramic pottery. Including our beloved signature line, Field of Iris, a classic since 1977. Constantly evolving we add new patterns, glazes, and forms often, such as our new Onyx Black and Pearl glazes, a step back to the basics. All of our work is microwave and dishwasher safe, lead-safe cadmium-safe and ovenproof.

Emerson Creek Pottery’s ceramic pieces have been featured at Mt. Vernon, Monticello and the Smithsonian Institute. Influenced by the energy of Early American cobalt decoration, owner Jim Leavitt founded Emerson Creek Pottery in 1977. Read more about how we make our handcrafted ceramics >>

With its original log walls, original fireplace and three double barrel chimneys, the cabin which houses the Emerson Creek Pottery Outlet Store offers considerable interest to those wishing to steep themselves in the rich history of the region. Our guests enjoy the opportunity to connect with the past by experiencing the special quality of our handmade ceramic pottery, which continues a true American tradition handed down to us from Colonial times.

Our rural setting and nearby Blue Ridge Mountains have inspired many designs like Field of Iris, Summer Peaks, Dogwood and American Blue. From humble beginnings in clay and a single potter’s wheel to today, where the pottery is home to a hardworking team who create beautiful and functional work using sustainable methods and traditional techniques. All clay, glazes and design colors are made on-site with formulas developed and tested over many decades. Inspired by early American Cobalt decoration on stoneware pottery, early work featured simple designs (Lone Pine Tree, Single Iris) handpainted with a Sumi-e brush over porous glaze and stoneware. Sumi-e brush painting is a 2000 year old art form developed in Japan. Sumi-e means ‘black ink painting’. Early designs were one hue as Sumi-e implies. Over time, many colors and brush sizes have been added. Read more about the history of Emerson Creek Pottery >>

Our Passion is to Provide unique ceramics for your home

Our collectors value Emerson Creek because it is handmade in the USA. We are committed to sustainable practices in our production and packaging. The ceramics are made without toxins like lead and cadmium, meaning each piece is unique and safe for you and your family.

Handcrafted

Emerson Creek Pottery’s handmade pottery is special. Like snowflakes, no two pieces are completely identical. Our pottery is made by people who handle and shape each piece in many stages prior to the finished pottery arriving in your home. Every step, from mixing clay, forming, finishing, glazing, painting, firing, packing, and shipping, is completed by people. Each piece of our pottery goes through at least eight pairs of hands before finding its way into your hands.

Handpainted

Designs are handpainted by artists who develop brush techniques to capture complex natural objects: irises, dragonflies, mountains, fields and wildflowers. A few of our botanical designs include Red Poppy, Lavender, Pinecone, Blueberry and Cranberry. Other nature-inspired designs include Dragonfly and Blue Crab, along with subtle hues found in Go Green Earthware, Copper Clay and Tuscan Olive. All of our pottery is microwave, oven and dishwasher safe, and is lead and cadmium safe to keep your family protected. See results of chemical testing here.

Visit bedford, virginia

If you’re ever in Bedford, Virginia, we would love for you to stop by our Outlet Store location at 1068 Pottery Lane! While you’re in the area, don’t miss out on these incredible places:

For a complete list of what to do in Bedford, Virginia, visit the Visit Bedford website.

Handcrafted Ceramics
Read more about our Perfectly Imperfect Pottery