Turners and Burners: The Folk Potters of North Carolina

This is an essential work on traditional North Carolina pottery. Charles Zug is a long-time student of the craft and this book reflects a tremendous depth of research and knowledge. The book's focus is on the historic development of North Carolina pottery as a folk craft, beginning with Colonial era pioneers and continuing through the early 1980s. Along the way, Zug educates the reader in techniques, materials, forms, and many of the potters themselves. "Turners and Burners" is a standard-setter and for anyone getting started in North Carolina pottery is an essential reference tool.

My wife purchases unique pottery, antiques, etc. on a regular basis. As we live on the border of North Carolina, we often were advised to get this book. I recently gave it to her as a gift, and she loved it. She has an extensive library of reference works, and considers this book "one of the best".

This book is for anyone who is interested in the history of pottery in North Carolina. The book focuses on pottery as necessary to the rural way of life. Turners and Burners makes the reader appreciate the functional designs of the early potters. It explores three rich pottery areas in the state - Catawba Valley, Seagrove area and Moravian potters. Many families in these areas are still turning out pottery. The book goes into great detail about Burlon Craig, who is considered the last folk potter in North Carolina.Sections of the book reviews glazes, kiln construction and functionality of different container designs. Also, it reviews whimsies, face jugs and ring jugs and their place in the pottery tradition of North Carolina.Turners and Burners gives the reader a great appreciation for the history of pottery in the North Carolina. It will make you want to plan a trip to Seagrove or the Catawba Valley.

Turners and Burners is a must for anyone interested in North Carolina Folk pottery. It presents the history starting with the first potters to settle in the region to the evolution of the trade that lives on today.Charles Zug does an outstanding job of presenting the culture and the mindset that guided the craft through generations of potters spanning over two centuries. And the technologies of the craft is given ample attention, through interesting descriptions, drawings, and photographs. A prime example is the discussion of how alkaline glaze kilns differed from the salt kilns in terms of design, firing methods, and durability.This is a great book, full of useful information to the researcher as well as praticing potters.