Pottery made by hand
Creating hand-thrown pottery is never the same, and is always exciting. It is what we experience as we hold pieces which someday will be someone else’s treasure, and why we are here—
for you.
My name is Susan Abramovitz; in the mid 1970’s I left a teaching position at Case-Western Reserve University to settle in what we feel to be the most beautiful part of Ohio—the Southeast—and founded Rock Riffle Run Pottery.
Let me share a little bit about us with you.
Our Pottery
Rock Riffle Run Pottery is a boutique pottery—we lovingly make our pottery on a wheel (hand-thrown) and sign every peice, keeping alive an art form that is well over 3000 years old. Although we use some modern equipment today, the process and the materials remain much the same as they were in ancient times. It is a tradition that we are very proud to be a part of.
We produce a line of fully functional Stoneware, designed to be used and enjoyed on a daily basis. Within the last 10 years we have expanded to include Terra-Cotta gardening accessories and giftware. Most recently, we added our line of exquisite and enchanting Miniature Pottery.
Our clay is mined at Cedar Heights Clay Company, some 50 miles west of the little town of Shade, Ohio. The clay was laid down 150 million years ago as the earth formed what we now call the Appalachian Mountain Range. We're located in the foothills—beautiful, and close to clay deposits—a wonderful place for a pottery.
The name Rock Riffle Run Pottery originates from the boundary marker "Rock Riffle Run", a creek that borders the property where we set up our first studio. In the mid-1980's we moved a few miles south, but kept the name.
Our Fascination
The roar of the burners...
The white hot glow as the spy holes are removed from the kiln as it nears the peak temperature of 2400 degrees....
The awakening of a piece of clay which comes to life as the potters wheel spins...
Hundreds of pieces sparkling in the sun, with each piece memorable in its transition from a piece of clay in our hands into a beautiful piece of art...
These are but some of the things at Rock Riffle Run Pottery that have kept us excited, fascinated and fed our imagination for over 30 years.
Creating hand-thrown pottery is never the same, and is always exciting. This is what we experience as we hold the pieces which someday will be someone else’s treasure, and why we are here—for you.
Enjoy your visit to our site,
Susan, and all of us at Rock Riffle Run Pottery