38 Cross Street.                Tel. 01647 440782

Taja

Cross Tree Pottery has been the workplace of Japanese-born potter Yasuharu Tajima (known as Taja) since 1983.

Taja works in slip-decorated earthenware, making unusual tableware and individual pieces.  Some work is made on the wheel and the sculptural work is hand-built from slabs of clay.  The hand-built pieces include fish, mermaids, boats and figures.  A sensitive use of colour enriches the lively forms.

Taja is a member of the Craft Potters Association, the Devon Guild of Craftsmen and is on the Crafts Council Selected Index.

Visitors to the Workshop and showroom are welcome (normally between 9.15 a.m. and 3 p.m. and sometimes at weekends).  Telephone first if you are making a special journey.

Penny Simpson welcomes you to her workshop and showroom in Moretonhampstead.  Visitors can often see pots being made and decorated by hand, then enjoy browsing in the attractive showroom.

The pots are thrown in red earthenware clay and feature lively decoration with coloured slips.  They include pots for food and drink, as Penny believes that the presentation of food is very important.  She also makes a wide range of pots for plants.  Pots for presents or special occasions can be made to commission.  Penny has also developed a range of tiles and enjoys working on commissions for kitchens and bathrooms.

Penny is a member of both the Craft Potters Association and the Devon Guild of Craftsmen.  She exhibits widely both in the U.K. and abroad.

Penny Simpson

44a Court Street.  Tel. 01647 440708

Studio Opening Times:

Mon - Fri: 9.30 - 5.30,  Saturday: 10 - 12

Will Langworthy

6 Ford Street      Tel: 01647 440993

Crystalline Glazes

 - Art Nouveau Shapes -

I specialise in crystalline glazes, which are glazes where crystals form and grow during the firing of the pot.  Despite the stunning effect of these glazes, only a handful of potters around the world work regularly with crystal glazes - few are willing to persevere with the technique which is renowned for being frustratingly unpredictable and needs special handling.

The glaze was first developed and came to be of special interest to collectors during the Art Nouveau period (c.1880 to 1905).  Some formations of crystals are much rarer than others, hence the variation in prices.

A few miles west of Moretonhampstead, just past Postbridge, is Powdermills Pottery.

The aim at Powdermills Pottery is to make useful pots from materials found on or around Dartmoor. The clay is dug from the Bovey basin and at Meeth; our glazes are made from local river gravel, wood ash and clay; pots are fired in a wood-fuelled kiln giving rustic surfaces made by ash, ember and flame.

Our shop sells pots made on site, and also the work of other local potters and craftspeople.

Powdermills is run by a husband and wife team, and although we cannot guarantee that we be making during your visit, we are always happy to show you around, and there are beautiful things for you to see and buy.

Powdermills Pottery

Powdermills, Postbridge, Devon, PL20 6SP.

Tel. 01822 880263

email: info@powdermillspottery.com