carrie or peter jacobson on tue 7 sep 99
Greetings Clayarters:
A number of years ago, we lived in western Maine, near the N.H. border, in
the North Conway area. We moved away, but have so far managed to hold onto
our 150-year-old house, in a tiny village there in the middle of nowhere.
So I was surprised to see, in the back of this month's Ceramics Monthly, a
pottery for sale, with the same middle-of-nowhere telephone prefix as at
our house. When I went up last week, I checked it out.
Please understand, I am not trying to sell anything here, I am not saying
this is a good deal, I am not saying it is the right business for potters.
I am only saying that I went to see the place, and am giving you all a
description.
I believe the ad lists the place at $219,000. It is outside Norway, Maine,
and I believe comes with multiple acres. Some of it looks as though it is
apple orchards, and there is, indeed a great view of Mount Washington.
It is a high production plant (at least in my potter's eyes), specializing
in utilitarian, ram-pressed pieces. They make apple bakers for L.L. Bean
and Plow & Hearth, and also make very nice carafes that fit in your average
drip-coffee maker. The place has a nice showroom, a spacious series of work
areas, and a large attached home. It employs four or five people, who
press, trim, glaze, fire and pack. There are six or eight electric kilns.
The work is nicely made, colorful, lively, and my guess is, there is profit
in it. There is, alas, not much art, which is the primary reason the owner,
a single father in probably his early 50s, is getting out. He is too busy
making objects, he says, to make art. He seemed simply tired.
For the right person, it might be a good venture. It is a lovely area of
Maine.
Carrie
Carrie Jacobson
Pawcatuck, CT
mailto:jacobson@brainiac.com
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