Stuempfle Pottery
Stuempfle Pottery is owned and operated by David Stuempfle, a
man as in tune David, originally from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, studied under Isobel Karl at the High Mowing School in New Hampshire. After a two-year apprenticeship in Tennessee with Lewis Snyder, he spent many years as a journeyman potter working in different parts of the country, including Wisconsin and Jugtown Pottery in Seagrove NC.
Seagrove being a small, rural clay-rich community, has been the home of over 100 potters, many of whom can claim a genealogy of artisans dating back to the 1700’s and the original gorgeous redware that their family produced. David’s style and feel in how he crafts his pieces have been a perfect fit for this community. A community where appreciation and taking care of the earth and natural landscape has been tradition for over 200 years. David makes his pots for Stuempfle Pottery from a mixture of local and commercially mined clays and fires them in a tunnel kiln which originally started out as an adaptation of the local groundhog kiln.
David’s main clay body includes clays that come from his land as well as elsewhere in the Seagrove
area. “Usually, I slake down the clay that I’ve dug The kiln is a tunnel-type, cross-draft kiln, approximately 30 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 7 feet tall with side-stoke ports that run the length of the kiln. He typically fires twice a year, and firings range from 100 to 150 hours. Most of his pots are loaded through the chimney, with some loaded in through the front of the firebox. Change, risk and growth are important aspects of working with clay for David and the pieces he produces for Stuempfle Pottery. “I try to use the kiln a little differently each time by trying different woods, stacking patterns, and firing schedules. Although people who use wood kilns will achieve many results that are similar to one another, I feel that each kiln is capable of producing results unique to itself. It is important to be aware and receptive to the kiln personality both during use and when evaluating the results.” David’s harmony with materials, process and mother earth are just one of the things that makes his pieces so unique. When you get to this level of awareness with all aspects of the art, the form and the way you shape and throw pots, the end result is something very special. David’s pieces have an unbelievable earthy feel and texture that fits any décor. The shop is only open by appointment or during kiln sales, so make sure you give him a call and stop into Stuempfle Pottery. You’ll be glad you did. Stuempfle Pottery 1224 Dover Church Rd, Seagrove NC 27341 Map It Phone: 910-464-2689 Back to Seagrove Area Potteries David Stuempfle Pottery Online
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with the earth and his materials as any artist you’ll find in the
pottery world today. He has lived and worked for more than 15 years in Seagrove,
a community long known for it’s evolving ceramic heritage.
and dried to make it into a
slip then screen it and add dry materials. Then it goes into plaster bats set up
onto tables to get the water out. There’s always clay in the making.”
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