Southern Potter's
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THE CROCKER BROTHERS CLAY CLAN
The Crocker family of five boys and two girls grew up directly behind Wilson's Pottery near Lula, Georgia. The proximity of the pottery led Michael, Dwayne, and Melvin to work there for various periods of time. As a result they all have become first generation potters. In the early 1970's much of the work in a pottery was still done by hand. There was clay to mix, "balls"" of clay to be wired and fixed for the potters in this case J. H., and Monteen Wilson, and their son Jimmy. There were kilns to load and un-load and firewood to stack to fire the kiln, and general work to be performed. Michael and Dwayne "played" at the wheel and learned the rudiments of turning during their time at Wilson's Pottery.
MICHAEL CROCKER, August 15, 1956
As a youngster Michael worked at Wilson's Pottery and learned the rudiments of the pottery trade. Like his brother Dwayne he too "played" at the wheel. He stayed there several years before we went into the Army. Upon returning from the Army he worked at Willson's until he got a job at Craven's Pottery where his younger brother was already employed as a turner. Michael perfected his turning skills at Craven's, and after about two to three years he went out on his own. From the beginning Michael would turn the ware, and his brother Melvin would create the faces, snakes, and etched out scenes on jugs. About two to three years ago Melvin decided to go out on his own. Michael still produces glazed utilitarian ware, and has started to make his own decorated ware. Decorated ware signed by both Michael and Melvin is very much sought after.
DWAYNE CROCKER, July 31, 1958
Dwayne left Willson's Pottery in May of 1979 at the age of twenty to do general pottery work at Craven's Pottery in Gillsville. While there he continued to "play" at the wheel until he was "discovered", at which time he became a full time production potter. He has been a production turner at Craven's for nearly twenty-three years. During his time there he estimates that he has turned two million gallons at approximately seven and one-half pounds per gallon. In 1990 Dwayne and Melvin were going to start making glazed ware to include utilitarian pottery, as well as face jugs and other whimsical ware, but Melvin, who was already working with Michael, was needed full time there, and their plans fell through. In 1999 Dwayne build a shop behind his house and started making the glazed ware he always wanted to make. He continues to make his glazed ware and sell at the house, as well as does shows. He does the Catawba Valley Pottery show in Hickory, N.C., the Mossy Creek Show in Cleveland, Georgia, and the Homer Pottery show in Homer, Georgia. While Dwayne is relatively new to glazed ware his years in the trade have made him an excellent potter to collect.
MELVIN CROCKER, July 5, 1959
Melvin like his brothers worked at Willson's Pottery, but unlike them he did not "play" on the wheel. He worked there for about five years full time until he started to work for Michael, part time at first and then full time. From the very beginning Melvin did the decorating and Michael did the turning. Melvin worked for his brother for fourteen years decorating face jugs, grape pitchers, snake jugs, and etched out scenes on jugs and churns. His work is truly the work of an artist. In 1999 he had the opportunity to go on his own, but a dilemma presented itself; he didn't know how to turn. His brother Dwayne had little experience at the decorating, so a deal was struck, and they each helped the other. Dwayne still turns vessels for his brother and they both sign these pieces. This arrangement is temporary so any pieces signed by both will be limited and collectable. Melvins's work is flawless, and anything done by him either with his brothers or by himself will enhance any collection.
Our Art Gallery also has work by Revernd Howard Finster, Inez Nathaniel Walker, William Edmondson, Thornton Dial, Missionary Mary Proctor, Miz Thang, Nancy Valelly, R A Miller, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Mose Tolliver, folk pottery and all the great outsiders new or old.
Any and all sales are final - no refunds.
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| | |  | Steve Turpin - Folk, Self-Taught, and Outsider Art - Artists - potter | |  | Tim Flinn - Folk, Self-Taught, and Outsider Art - Artists - potter | |  | Dwayne Crocker - Fighting face jugs - tobacco spit glaze...and cobolt blue glaze |
$650 | | |  | michael crocker - very fine light blue glaze anf perfect jug | 12'
$150 | | |  | cyclops - Dwayne will not do a devil buy he does a mean cyclops!! Signed and dated tabacco spit glaze. | 12"
$500 | Sold | |  | rock tooth face jug - runny glaze with a rock tooth signed by Melvin and Dwayne | 10"
$250 | | |  | Reggie Meaders - Reggie Meaders is one of the most famous Southern folk potters alive today | 12" x 7"
$1000 | | |  | Ruby Meaders - Devil jug | 10"x 7"
$550.00 | |
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