Its easy to find North Carolina pottery. Just drive down any country road long enough and you will find a good working potter. There is no end to the imagination of these potters -- the forms, shapes (my favorites are the animals and face jugs) colors and glazes. Many are works of art, not just decoratives or tableware. My favorite kind of country auction has LOTS of authentic OLD North Carolina pottery. Most old estates collected such things, often being handed down from generation to generation. What began life as a moonshiner's jug ends up proudly displayed on a kitchen counter. An old stoneware churn might decorate a fireplace hearth. But originally, these pieces had good lives as utilitarian objects in modest farm homes dating back decades to centuries. They were often decorated but most often unsigned. But it is possible to attribute based on clay color and other distinguishing features. Researching such pieces is difficult, so I'd like to establish this blog for collectors and dealers alike to share information how to identify unsigned North Carolina potters. For example, did you know that JB Cole's pots from the 1920's can be distinguished by the light colored Mitchfield Clay he used at that time? So join me in a community of collectors who love Tarheel potters and help preserve the tradition for others! -- Cheriegal