Salt glazed pottery is a type of handmade stoneware that is crafted in Maine. One of the largest producers of the beautiful, durable stone ware is Monroe Salt works which is located in the rambling low hills near Penobscot Bay. This stoneware is considered to be both practical and a work of art.
Salt glazing is an ancient technique that was developed in Germany in the fifteenth century. The pottery made at Monroe Salt works is based on this age old practice that starts with baking raw clay in an oven over a period of twenty hours. When the temperature builds to 2300 F employees throw handfuls of salt into the raging fire. When it hits the flame it is vaporized and the vapor imprints itself onto the pottery surfaces to create a glaze.
This salting process also affects the color of each piece. The hue of the final vessel is determined by where it was set in the kiln. The more salt vapor that hits the piece the more likely it is to have a glazed appearance. This results in darker and lighter colored pots as well as pots with dimpled surfaces. No two pieces of pottery are alike.
One of the main characteristics of this type of pottery is how simple and practical it is. The shapes are everyday and meant to be used to serve food in or to hang as art on the wall.
The artists at Monroe Saltworks make images of what they see every day including tall pines, wild flowers, cattails and moose. It is part of how they share the sights of Maine forever.
One of the most popular items of this sort are Bean pots. This type of ceramic fire lends itself perfectly for making this type of pot. The pots are embellished with pine cones, bears, irises and other lovely symbols to do with the flora and fauna in Maine. The bean pots are traditional four quart vessels that are perfect for simmering two pounds of beans in for a long time.
The reason that Monroe Salt Works is so crucial is because it is recognized throughout the world as being the preeminent Salt Glaze studio. It has been reviving this age old technique of glazing pottery since 1971.
Salt glazed pottery can be used for anything including holding flowers, umbrellas –whatever you can think of. The bowls give a particularly lovely rustic touch to a bowl of fruit.