Tennessee Potteries, Pots and Potters: 1790s to 1950

Smith, Samuel; Rogers, Stephen

Published as Research Series No. 18 of the Division of Archeology, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, this report is divided into two volumes and three parts: Part One, "Things Relevant to an Archeological Survey of Pottery Making in Tennessee"; Part Two, "Tennessee Pottery Sites;" and Part Three, "Tennessee Pottery Makers." From the preface: "Recognition of the need for a devoted study concerning Tennessee-made pottery first occurred to the writers in the 1970s. At the time, published information was limited to a brief but informative discussion of traditional pottery making in Middle Tennessee (Webb 1971), short discussions of the Decker (Burbage 1971; Miller 1971) and Cain (Napps 1973:7-8) families of potters in East Tennessee, and notes concerning a Nashville museum exhibit that included some regional pottery (Beasley 1971:42-45). Two seasons of research, the second an attempted statewide survey of pottery production sites, ended with a publication concerning the results (Smith and Rogers 1979). While the completion of this work engendered a certain level of satisfaction, we soon found ourselves feeling like the early folklorist Allen Eaton, who having examined pottery making as one the “Handicrafts of the Southern Highlands” wrote: “In the limitations of this study it has not been possible to pursue the many fascinating leads which the region and neighboring country hold for the student of clay products, but if one is encouraged to follow out his own lines of research it can be safely predicted that he will find in the Highland states one of the most noteworthy chapters in American ceramics” (Eaton 1937:219). Within no more than a year after finishing what seemed a final report it became apparent that we had only scratched the surface of what could still be learned. Almost simultaneously an interest in Tennessee-made pottery on the part of others began to evolve into a dedicated form of antique collecting. We soon heard from a variety of people, including pottery collectors and potter descendants, about things we had failed to learn, understand, or find. Some forms of research, including occasional archival searches and limited archaeological excavation at a few sites, were continued by one or both authors over the next seventeen years, but there were few sustained efforts of any duration. This began to change in late 1996, when we attended the opening of an exhibition of East Tennessee made pottery at the East Tennessee Historical Society Museum in Knoxville. Seeing so many Tennessee pots in one place, including some with the marks of makers unknown to us, was a forceful inspiration. From that point forward we began to spend as much time as other commitments would allow toward the goal of better understanding and putting into one last published form all that we could regarding what had continued to be a truly fascinating subject. This publication is the result of that renewed effort. It is dedicated to the myriad of people who have helped and tried to inspire us over the years towards its completion." Funding was provided in part through a fiscal year 2014 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Division of Archeology, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (project number TN-11-039) administered by the Tennessee State Historic Preservation Office (grant number 47-11-31949) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Tennessee Potteries, Pots and Potters: 1790s to 1950

Collections