Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Handcrafted Ceramics Since 1917 in Seagrove, NC
Jugtown Pottery, established in 1917, is a historic American craft pottery rooted in the traditions of Seagrove, North Carolina. Founded by Jacques and Juliana Busbee, our legacy began with the revival of traditional salt-glazed pottery and has evolved through generations of skilled artisans. We specialize in handcrafted ceramics that blend utilitarian forms with artistic innovation, using techniques passed down through decades. Our team, including Vernon Owens, Pam Owens, and their family, continues to honor the Busbees' vision while innovating with glazes and forms.We operate a working pottery studio, museum, and retail space, offering educational experiences and preserving North Carolina's ceramic heritage. Our commitment to quality and tradition has earned recognition, including national heritage awards and inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. We serve collectors, enthusiasts, and visitors seeking authentic handmade pottery, combining historical reverence with contemporary artistry.
Services
Pottery Sales
Custom Glazes
Workshops
Gift Registries
Shipping Services
Details
- Year established: 1917
Highlights and features
- We offer over a century of expertise in traditional pottery techniques.
- Our family-led team includes National Heritage Fellowship recipients.
- We develop unique glazes like Weathered Bronze and Frogskin in-house.
- We maintain historical authenticity while innovating with modern forms.
- We provide educational workshops and apprenticeships in ceramic arts.
Associations and certifications
- National Endowment for the Arts
- North Carolina Arts Council
What people say
Historical authenticity
Unique glazes
Family craftsmanship
Educational value
Exceptional artistry
Services
Salt Glaze Pottery
Our salt-glazed pottery uses traditional methods where salt is introduced into the kiln during firing. This creates a distinctive orange-peel texture and warm gray-brown tones. The process enhances the natural clay colors through chemical reactions with salt vapors. Each piece reflects centuries-old techniques while maintaining functional beauty for collectors and everyday use.
Custom Glaze Development
We create unique glazes like Weathered Bronze and Frogskin through extensive experimentation. Our team combines local clays, copper oxides, and wood ash to produce reactive surfaces affected by kiln atmosphere. These glazes offer subtle variations in color and texture, ensuring no two pieces are identical while maintaining historical authenticity in contemporary forms.
Historical Preservation
Jugtown Pottery preserves North Carolina's ceramic traditions through museum exhibits and apprenticeships. Our museum showcases early 20th-century techniques and artifacts. We document historical processes while training new generations in wheel-throwing, glazing, and kiln operation to maintain continuity between past and present pottery practices.
Educational Workshops
We offer hands-on workshops covering pottery wheel techniques, glaze application, and historical methods. Participants learn from master potters with decades of experience. Programs include short demonstrations for visitors and extended apprenticeships for serious students seeking professional development in traditional ceramic arts.
Custom Commission Work
We create bespoke pottery pieces for collectors and special projects. Our artisans replicate historical forms or develop unique designs based on client specifications. This service includes collaborative design consultations and multiple firing tests to ensure satisfaction with glaze combinations and functional requirements.
People
Vernon Owens
Master Potter
Recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship, Vernon has shaped Jugtown Pottery since 1960. He preserves traditional techniques while innovating forms. His work combines Moore County heritage with artistic evolution, maintaining the Busbees' original vision through four generations.
Pam Owens
Potter & Co-Owner
A former apprentice turned master potter, Pam specializes in figural work and glaze development. She co-founded the Jugtown Museum and maintains educational programs. Her expertise bridges historical methods with contemporary ceramic practices through publications and workshops.
Travis Owens
Lead Potter
Third-generation potter Travis creates traditional and modern forms. He leads workshops nationwide and holds a degree in Art and Design from NC State University. His work maintains family techniques while exploring new aesthetic possibilities in functional ceramics.
Bayle Owens
Sculptural Artist
Bayle specializes in animal sculptures and slip decoration. She combines functional pottery with artistic elements inspired by local wildlife. Her work reflects generations of family knowledge while introducing contemporary decorative techniques to the Jugtown tradition.
Bobby Owens
Clay Specialist
Bobby manages clay processing and kiln operations. With decades of experience, he ensures material consistency and firing quality. His expertise in clay preparation maintains the unique characteristics essential to Jugtown's distinctive pottery outcomes.
Questions
What makes Jugtown Pottery unique?
Our pottery combines 100+ years of North Carolina tradition with innovative glazes like Frogskin and Weathered Bronze, all crafted using hand-thrown techniques passed through generations.
Can I visit the pottery studio?
Yes! Visit our Seagrove location Tuesday-Saturday 8:30-5:00 to tour the working studio, museum, and purchase directly from our sales cabin.
Do you offer custom pottery pieces?
We accept special orders for custom pieces. Contact us directly to discuss design specifications and production timelines with our master potters.
How are your glazes developed?
Our glazes result from decades of experimentation using local clays, copper oxides, and wood ash. Each firing produces unique variations through chemical reactions in our gas and wood kilns.
Is shipping available for purchased items?
Yes, we ship nationwide. Note seasonal shipping breaks and allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Fragile items receive special packaging to ensure safe arrival.
Do you provide pottery workshops?
We offer educational workshops covering wheel-throwing, glazing, and historical techniques. Programs range from single-day demonstrations to multi-week apprenticeships with master artisans.
Reviews (7)
Laurie Abela
Nov 16, 2021
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A wonderful shop! Gorgeous pottery, and a fabulous assortment of additional handmade items in metal, wood and more. There's also a museum on site. Well worth a visit!
Ed Doyle
Aug 24, 2021
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Very friendly owner! The local made pottery and dishes are wonderful, different, and very home friendly ! A must visit !
Jann Boggs
Jul 16, 2021
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Part of my potter tour guided by a great friend. Enjoyed browsing...it was air conditioned! Had some crafts by other local folks. Beautiful pottery.
Catherine Clark
Mar 22, 2021
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Love the pottery, from practical everyday pieces to gorgeous art. These talented potters bring it all!
Sara Gress
Nov 14, 2020
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Great pottery, great customer service. One of North Carolina's oldest potteries. The quality of the work is phenomenal and the experience is top notch!
RobertsMom Nc
Oct 15, 2020
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What can I say, JugTown is an institution. Well deserved. Wonderful items for sale. Cozy on a cold day.
Ed Ager
Dec 14, 2019
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Jugtown Pottery is on the list of "must see" places. We have gone there for 30 years. The history and the people must be experienced. Of all of the potteries in that area Jugtown and Owens Pottery are required visiting. They both have museums which outline the history of the pottery in that area. 150 years of pottery history in one location. Many one of a kind pieces are available as well. I can not say enough about this families history and influence.
