Business Details
38 Years
experience
Your Destination for Handcrafted Pottery & Unique Crafts in Portland
Established in 1988, Maxwells Pottery is a family-owned business dedicated to curating exceptional pottery and crafts from around the globe. Our expertise spans over three decades of connecting customers with handcrafted treasures, from Maine artisans to European masterpieces. We pride ourselves on personalized service, ensuring every client finds unique pieces that reflect their style. Our commitment to quality extends beyond productswe foster relationships with customers, offering tailored recommendations and sourcing hard-to-find items. With a physical store in Portland and nationwide shipping, we blend traditional retail with modern convenience.Our team, led by Lynne and Jim O'Connor, personally selects every item, ensuring authenticity and artistry. We champion local craftsmanship while maintaining a global perspective, offering Deruta pottery from Italy and Bunzlauer pieces from Poland. Our inventory includes functional and decorative items, from soaps to handwarmer mugs, catering to diverse tastes. We prioritize customer satisfaction through transparent communication and flexible solutions, including custom orders. As a trusted community staple, we remain committed to evolving with our customers' needs while preserving our founding values.
Services
Pottery
Local Crafts
European Soaps
Handwarmer Mugs
Gift Cards
Custom Orders
Shipping Services
Artisan Products
Home Decor
Candles & Linens
Details
- Year established: 1988
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of expertise in curating global and local pottery.
- Our owners personally handpick every product for quality and artistry.
- We provide custom order assistance for hard-to-find items.
- We specialize in both functional and decorative handcrafted goods.
- Our team champions local Maine artisans alongside international collections.
Services
Pottery
We offer a curated selection of global pottery, including Deruta from Italy and Bunzlauer from Poland. Each piece is hand-painted with intricate patterns, combining functionality and artistry. Our collection caters to both everyday use and decorative purposes.
Local Crafts
We showcase works from Maine artisans, featuring glassware, candles, and shellware. These locally made products highlight regional talent and craftsmanship. Our inventory changes seasonally to reflect new creators and trends.
European Soaps
Our rainbow-colored European soaps combine luxury with practicality. Sourced from France and other European countries, these french-milled soaps provide high-quality skincare options. They make popular gifts or personal indulgences.
Handwarmer Mugs
These unique mugs feature hand-painted designs and ergonomic shapes for comfort. Available in right- and left-handed versions, they keep beverages warm while adding artistic flair to daily routines.
Custom Orders
We assist customers in locating items not shown online through personalized service. Our team provides photos of available inventory and processes payments securely for special purchases. This service ensures access to our full physical inventory.
People
Lynne O'Connor
Co-Owner
Lynne O'Connor co-owns Maxwells Pottery with her husband Jim. She personally selects inventory, ensuring quality and artistry in every product. Her 30+ years of retail experience focus on customer satisfaction and local artisan support.
Jim O'Connor
Co-Owner
Jim O'Connor co-founded Maxwells Pottery in 1988. He manages operations and inventory curation alongside Lynne. His expertise in global pottery sourcing complements the business's mission to offer diverse, high-quality products.
Questions
Do you ship outside Maine?
Yes, we offer shipping across the United States. Contact us for details on international shipping options.
Can I order items not shown online?
Yes, we provide custom order assistance. Email us or use our online form to request specific items from our physical inventory.
What local artisans do you carry?
We feature Glass Paradox, Lacey Pots, Danica Candles, Salty Beach Candles, Love Rocks, and Maine Shellware. Our selections change seasonally.
Do you accept special payment methods?
We process payments securely for custom orders. Contact us directly for payment options unavailable through our online cart system.
Are gift cards available?
Yes, we offer physical and digital gift cards for in-store or online use. Visit our website to purchase.
Reviews (6)
William Favorite
Oct 19, 2021
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It was great, but after looking directly at the address and not seeing it on google maps, I looked it up on Apple Maps where it was displayed properly. I then used that displayed location to text search on google maps where it was finally located.
Jason M.
Oct 08, 2021
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Maxwell's was one of the shops in Portland that immediately stood out to me upon first glance. It was not just the ornate signage they had out front - I actually remember going to the Maxwell's location in Freeport years back and them having a wide selection of pottery to choose from. I was already exploring most of the other shops in the area, so I figured I would take a step into Maxwell's for a little look-see. The shop itself is quite spacious - they have a lot of inventory, but due to the high ceilings the space seems very open. They have most of what one would expect from
Alexis Dedek
Jan 13, 2021
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Had the pleasure of meeting the owner while shopping. He was so personable and gave us such a warm welcome to the city. Even gave us a restaurant recommendation we plan to follow up with tomorrow! Great souvenirs found here as well!
Cory Dedek
Dec 30, 2020
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Awesome shop and the owner is very kind! He let my wife and I pick a free bar of soap since we were on our honeymoon! Highly recommend!
Montana Lee
Dec 01, 2020
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What a cute and thoughtful store! All of the items are beautiful and carefully curated; they seem to be useful and well-made too. The store is colorful and its Maine home is apparent in the item selection and decor, though it is not touristy or tacky at all. I purchased a few pretty cloth napkins and dish towels. I wish I had gotten ceramic items, too. The prices are very reasonable. Definitely pop in while visiting (or living) in Portland!
Steven G.
Jul 02, 2019
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The unique fun and classy stuff was only barely overshadowed by the incredibly helpful, pretty and spunky Annie who helped us. Lynn and Jim great job. Take a load off Annie. highly highly seriously recommend to the moon and back
Steve
Steve
