Food & Culture

Local Pottery That’s as Useful as It Is Gorgeous

These regionally made pottery pieces are practical, handy—and beautiful

By Gwendolyn Elliott June 12, 2019

1-lead_0

This article originally appeared in the June 2019 issue of Seattle Magazine.

This article appears in print in the June 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.

In this era of Marie Kondo and downsizing, our home decor and household tools really have their work cut out for them. Thankfully, a cohort of regional ceramic artists are producing useful objects that are also works of art, including mugs, vases, serving ware and more.

Sean Forest Roberts brings what he calls “an experimental mind-set” to his creations at Forest Ceramic Company (available at forestceramic.com and multiple retailers, including Click! Design That Fits, West Seattle, 4540 California Ave. SW; 206.328.9252), the porcelain studio he founded on Orcas Island. His dazzling marbled tumblers, bowls and plates are evocative of solar systems, sunsets and pastel-hued landscapes—perfectly practical for a garden party or any other purpose you can imagine.

You’ll find vases, planters, terrariums, mugs and more at Saltstone Ceramics (Wallingford, 2206 N 45th St.; 206.362.0836; saltstoneceramics.com), a ceramic studio, gallery and artist’s workshop started by Sarah Steininger Leroux. We love the geometric patterning on the teapots, pitchers and carafes in her “Mountain” series—they’re as Instagram-worthy and tea-party-approved as they come. 

Deborah Schwartzkopf’s Rat City Studios (by appointment; White Center, 2410 SW 106th St.; 206.653.4490; ratcitystudios.com) is home to her handsome, hardy earthenware as well as the work of a rotating group of studio assistants. We’re charmed by her Art to Table CSA, a pottery subscription service offering different styles of dinner plates (some of which you may recognize on restaurant tables around town). Schwartzkopf hosts an annual open studio and potluck each summer, with this year’s event set for June 29 (more details here). 

Perhaps the best-known local ceramic restaurant supplier is Akiko’s Pottery (by appointment; White Center, 10847 Third Ave. S; 206.763.3108; akikospottery.com)—and Akiko Graham’s output shows it (the wait list for some pieces is up to a year long; check out this article for a look at some, or visit the studio’s open house June 16). But her Japanese-inspired bowls, sushi plates and other wares are worth the wait. In this era of simplifying, it pays to heed the advice of 19th-century British designer William Morris, who once said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

Follow Us

Festive Seattle

Festive Seattle

Enjoy a sense of wonder and discovery this holiday season

For many arts organizations, holiday shows represent more than half of ticket sales for the entire season. And, as arts audiences come and go, so can the surrounding economy. Studies show that every dollar spent by patrons in the arts creates $3 of economic impact. The arts and entertainment options in and around Seattle are

The Sound of Giving

The Sound of Giving

Three nonprofit music organizations worthy of support

In the March/April issue of this magazine, I wrote an article about the problems with Seattle’s music scene and how we can fix them. There’s a lot to be desired in Seattle’s music scene — like more regular, paying gigs for musicians at local establishments and a more reasonable volume level at venues across the…

A Taste of Europe Comes to Seattle for Christmas

A Taste of Europe Comes to Seattle for Christmas

Monthlong celebration begins the day after Thanksgiving

A scene reminiscent of old Europe will be on full display at Seattle Center this holiday season when the city’s first-ever Seattle Christmas Market opens for a monthlong celebration. Inspired by historic German Christmas markets, the Seattle Christmas Market opened Nov. 24 and runs through Christmas Eve at Fisher Pavilion and South Fountain lawn at…

Editor's Note: An Experience That Lives  Forever

Editor’s Note: An Experience That Lives Forever

The world isn't always as it seems

It was Friday night after a long week. I had just arrived home. The red light was flashing on my answering machine (remember those?). I was ready for the weekend. The call crushed me. My first love, my high school sweetheart, my partner in mischief, had passed away due to complications from Multiple Sclerosis. Gwen…