Pottery on Prince Edward Island: pottery

Showing posts with label pottery. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Index

- updated Oct 1, 2025

Pottery has traditionally been marked with the place of production, as well as identifying the potter or the studio where it was made. Many studio potters include the year as well. Requests from collectors for information on PEI pottery that arrived by email has grown into a blog about Prince Edward Island potters over time.

Village Pottery in New London, PEI continues to be a big part of our family life; founded by my wife Daphne Large in 1973 it is now owned and managed by our daughter Suzanne Scott, while Daphne and I continue as active potters within the business. My interest in the field developed when I worked as a leather instructor at Holland College School of Visual Arts in 1972, worked with both Barry Jeeves and Ron Arvidson, who were instructors in the pottery studio. They both influenced a generation of potters including myself. I began compiling information on current and historic potters on Prince Edward Island after getting questions by email sent to the Village Pottery address and decided to post the responses in blog format.

Local collectors of Island pottery including Gary Carroll, Tom Banks and Catherine Hennessey have all been generous with sharing their collections with me and providing photographs, which is much appreciated.

This listing is not complete, and we welcome additional information and images or edits that you notice which need correcting. Your suggestions help it grow. You can contact the author via email -- Ian Scott, Charlottetown, PEI.

The current listings includes, (in no particular order):

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

David Morrow - Potter - Newfoundland & PEI

David Morrow has deep roots on Prince Edward Island, and is currently retired and living on PEI. His career as both a naturalist and as a potter was primarily in Newfoundland. He trained as a potter in Corner Brook, Newfoundland with Margo Meyer in the ceramics program in the Corner Book Vocational School and operated his own pottery studio in Dunville, Newfoundland in the 1980s. He eventually trained at Holland College in Charlottetown, PEI becoming a naturalist working at Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland. His work was primarily wheel thrown. This handbuild-coil construction vase was discovered on PEI. It is signed D M and was marked with his full name on masking tape by the prior owner.

While in Dunville, Newfoundland his mark included this one

SHP Crafts NFLD Morrow

Potters mark David Morrow 1980s

Pottery by David Morrow, Dunville, Newfoundland, 1980s

Friday, January 6, 2023

Jaiden Carragher Pottery, PEI

Jaiden Carragher has the following accounts for her pottery work:

Pottery by Jaiden Carragher

Pretty Good Pottery,

Pretty Good Pottery has the following contact methods.

Pretty Good Pottery on Instagram

Linko Canada Pottery

Operating under the name Linko Canada Pottery and based in Charlottetown the primary contacts are

Linko sells her work through various locations including Village Pottery in New London, PEI.

Red Cliff Pottery -- PEI

The work of Red Cliff Pottery on PEI is a bit of a mystery. Do you have any additional information that could help identify the maker, location or dates of this pottery operation?

Red Cliff Pottery

Red Cliff Pottery signature

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Jan Coffin - Coffin's Corner Pottery, Orwell, PEI

Jan Coffin was a pottery student at Holland College School of Visual Arts in Charlottetown during the 1970s when Ron Arvidson was the instructor. Before she participated in pottery training extension courses offered in Montague through the School with Daphne Large. Following completion of her training at Holland College, her plan was to open a purpose-built studio in Orwell near the popular tourist attraction Orwell Corner Historic Village; however, a change in life plans resulted in her studio opening in Montague. She operated her business as Coffin’s Corner until the 1980s. During this time she participated in a number of craft shows and had pottery on consignment in local tourism operations.

During the period that Jan operated the business she signed her work with "Jan - Coffin's Corner PEI".

Pottery by Jan Coffin of Coffin's Corner Pottery, PEI
Gary Carroll collection

Monday, November 28, 2022

Sharon Fiske - Clayworks

While Sharon Fiske the owner and operator of Clayworks, which has been a highly productive Nova Scotia pottery employing other potters and running a retail location in Bedford for several decades, there is a Prince Edward Island connection.

Sharon began her pottery career on Prince Edward Island as a pottery student of Ron Arvidson at Holland College School of Visual Arts in the late 1970s. It was during her PEI years that she signed her student work with "Sharon Fiske PEI" and the year.

Sharon continues in 2022 to operate Clayworks but rather than a large production studio with staff that she had previously employed it has become a home-based studio of her own one-of-a-kind artistic efforts. The website of the Nova Scotia Potters Guild states:

Sharon Fiske
CLAYWORKS LIMITED
Halifax, NS
My life as a potter over the past thirty years has taken me around the world: Asia-Pacific, Europe and throughout North America. These experiences have exposed me to people and places that have been influential in my development as a production potter and my growth as a ceramic artist. I have established a diverse body of work that attracts the interest of both art enthusiasts and people seeking functional production ware. I have produced one-of-a-kind pieces that are often humorous, colorful, and accented with sculptural details or thrown, expressing delightful animated forms.
Clay is totally controllable yet so unpredictable. These extremes only fuel my imagination and desire to challenge its characteristics. Such is the way of an artist. I chose clay.
I have transitioned to a home studio and I will concentrate on one-of-a-kind pieces. Commissioned work will be entertained.

Sharon Fiske - from Nova Scotia Potters Guild website
https://nspotters.com/sharon-fiske

Sharon Fiske-Muise
2751 Robert Murphy Drive
Halifax, Nova ScotiaB3L 3T3
H - 902 453-0210 C - 902 471-8429
Home studio, call ahead
Email: sharonfiske@gmail.com
Website: http://www.clayworks.ca

Pottery bean crock by Sharon Fiske while student on PEI in 1978
Photo credit and pottery from the collection of, Betty Lou Frizzell Abbott

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Margaret Frizzell - “Paintings of the Island” in Oyster Bed Bridge

While the creative output of Margaret Frizzell is best remembered by her paintings sold under the name “Paintings of the Island” in her summer gallery at Oyster Bed Bridge, she was also active in making pottery. Recently I received images from art dealer Aubrey Bell who indicated that as owner of Gallery18 he had received an inquiry recently from individuals in San Diego, CA.

"One of them had acquired a piece of P.E.I. pottery made by Margaret Frizzell.

FRIZZELL, Margaret (1922-2007)

Margaret Frizzell was born in Sherbrooke Quebec. She graduated from the Department of Fine Art of the Ontario College of Art in Toronto and the Banff Summer School of Fine Art in Banff, Alberta, where one of her portrait works hangs in the permanent collection. She studied watercolour under Leslie Coppold, R.C.A., Caroline Buchanan, A.W.S. Zoltan Szabo and Barbara Simmons. Margaret was a member and past president of Artistes Hudson Artists, a member of Cercle Artistique du Quebec, Comite 'Culturel La Presqu'lle, Vaudreuil, Que. She was a charter member of the International Society of Artists, Ohio. In 1992 she was accepted as a member of the Arts Club of Montreal. Preferring to paint outdoors, Margaret worked in oil, watercolour and ink. Her primary residence was in Hudson, Quebec, but for 36 summers, Margaret and her husband, Harold, operated “Paintings of the Island” in Oyster Bed Bridge.

I contacted one of Margaret’s sons, Cameron Frizzell in Montreal. He confirms she bought a kiln in the early 1970s, which remained in the family home in Hudson, Quebec, until it was sold in about 2010.

However, he says his mother’s involvement with ceramics lasted only a few years. Before long, she returned to her primary interest, which was painting.

I’m passing along the images in the event you believe they might find a place on your blog."

Basket of Blueberries - by Margaret Frizzell, PEI 1974

Pottery signature of Margaret Frizzell, PEI 1974

We greatly appreciate the efforts of everyone to add this information to the blog.

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Maddie Anderson - Maddie Made Pottery & Village Pottery

The work of potter Maddie Anderson is marked under the name Maddie Made Pottery.

Maddie's webpage and Instagram feed as well as Etsy shop are all ways to contact her directly. Her business Facebook page indicates:

Hi there
I don’t think I’ve really introduced myself on here and I wanted you guys to get to know me a bit better!
My name is Maddie Anderson and I’m a ceramic artist from Prince Edward Island. I first touched clay when I was nine years old at Village Pottery (swipe for that throw back). But it wasn’t till about seven years ago that I started taking lessons and thanks to my amazing teacher @peipotterscove I’ve been practicing ever since.
About a year ago I really decided to give this whole pottery thing a 100%. I got a job as a potter at Village Pottery (yes, the same place I first tried pottery all those years ago) and started attending the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design! And in about a week I’ll be studying ceramics full time for the next two years!
I’ll be forever grateful that I discovered ceramics. A little piece of me goes into every single piece I make and I hope that shines through.
Thanks to each and every single one of you for following along and supporting me.

The pottery she produces at Village Pottery in New London, PEI is signed with Village Pottery as well as her initials MA, the year and PEI.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Holly Anne Doyle -- Dear Margaret Pottery

Holly Anne Doyle, operates her business as a potter using the Instagram handle Dear Margaret, and her website is hollyannedoyle.com

She indicates that her work is "Handmade by the sea PEI, Canada"

She signs her work "holly anne pei"

Pottery by Holly Anne Doyle -- photo by Ian Scott 2022

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Hesperus Pottery - Hunter River, PEI

Hesperus Pottery - Hunter River, PEI.

In 1991 Hesperus Pottery established a US patent for the name Oven God --- a ceramic bread warmer when it had been heated in an oven. Circular in shape of cast ceramic material, the item could also double as a trivet.

A corporate listing website still had a listing for the operation in 2022, although there is no indication if it was current. It listed:

Hesperus Pottery

PO Box 113

Hunter River, Prince Edward Island, C0A 1N0

Peter Baker, partner

Email: hesperus@capecod.net

Phone: (902) 964-2284

Fax: (902) 964-3165

Website: capecod.net

Email: hesperus@capecod.net

Hesperus Pottery bread warmer

Hesperus Pottery spongeware jug

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Ebb And Flow Pottery - Canavoy, PEI

Ebb And Flow Pottery is the studio name of Briege B. Gunn who is located on MacEwens Creek Rd. in Canavoy, PEI

Tel: (902) 218-5278

ebbandflowpei@gmail.com

The Facebook page and Instagram feed are additional means of contact.

The potters mark is a circular seal at the base of mug handles or elsewhere on other pieces. The owner indicated on November 4, 2021 on Facebook that the reason for the seal relates to several personal things as well as identifying the company's work:

Customers often ask me about my “red seal”. The seal means two things. Number one, it’s the seal that I’ve been using on my fine art paintings for the last 13 years, so if you can’t afford an original painting or Wool Art piece, you can still get my artwork in the form of pottery at an affordable price with my red seal. The seal also symbolizes my family lineage in pottery. My family line in pottery goes back 400 years in Ireland, so the red seal is also a sign of genuine craftsmanship that flows through many generations in my bloodline.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Haley Potter Pottery - Haley Cole

Operating under the name Haley Potter the pottery studio of Haley Cole is located in Bonshaw, PEI.

Her Instagram feed, and Facebook page as well as her Etsy Store are methods of contacting her directly.

On Nov 24, 2023 Haley indicated on Facebook/Instagram -- "I’ve been keeping a secret…. I’m opening a community pottery studio in Canmore, Alberta.

This was a hard decision to leave PEI, but I know the Canmore community will support me as much as PEI did. I’m overjoyed about my new studio space and can’t wait to begin this new adventure! Feel free to follow along (I will still be posting my work on @haleypotter.pei but studio updates on @haleypotterstudio)

Her potters mark is a signature Haley Potter and the year.

Monday, December 13, 2021

Barb MacLeod Pottery

Barb MacLeod Pottery is located on PEI. Her Instagram feed as well as her Facebook page give an idea of her current work.

Handbuilt ceramic work is her primary focus currently.

More information to be updated soon.

Sticks and Stones Pottery - Rachel Ballem

Sticks and Stones Pottery is the business name that Rachel Ballem operates under, based in Summerside, PEI. The business Facebook page and Instagram feed both indicate that Rachel Ballem was born and raised on Prince Edward Island, and is a pottery artist that draws inspiration from her Island life and whimsical imagination.

The website for Island Stoneware, a production pottery company in Summerside, PEI indicates that among their potters, "Rachel Ballem joined Island Stoneware in 2019. Originally from Summerside, she started as a self-taught sculptor using newpaper and a food processor to create her first sculpting material. She moved on to polymer clay and then to stoneware clay. She’s been potting for over 22 years. Rachel is the mom of two grown kids and a menagerie of animals."

Steele Bits & Pieces Pottery - Steele Ceramics - Lisa Steele

Updated July 5, 2025

Lisa D. Steele began her pottery training in British Columbia. Concurrent to an academic career at UPEI, she operates Steele Bits & Pieces Pottery. Lisa also operates her business under the name Steele Ceramics.

Her member profile on the PEI Crafts Council's website indicates: "Lisa Steele started doing pottery in British Columbia over twenty years ago and has been making pieces ever since. She has an appreciation for all sorts of functional or just-for-fun pottery, and likes trying out different pottery techniques and glazes."

Email: steele.ld@gmail.com

Her first potter's mark paid homage to her academic life in Physics through a combined symbol. Lisa indicated that she changed her maker's mark about 2019. Both are shown below. She also includes PEI when signing her work.

Steele Bits & Pieces is also on Instagram.

The website is Steele Bits & Pieces Pottery

Business Card 2025 - Steele Ceramics

Steele Bits & Pieces Pottery - maker's mark of Lisa Steele prior to 2019

Steele Bits & Pieces Pottery - maker's mark of Lisa Steele after 2019

During the summer of 2025, as part of the 60th anniversary of the PEI Crafts Council, the exhibition “Excellence in Craft,” featured a wide variety of well-crafted contemporary pieces inspired by PEI’s talented fine craft community, including two pieces by Lisa Steele. This exhibition was mounted in partnership with the Eptek Art & Culture Centre. The show catalogue indicates, "These raku pieces use burnished clay and ferric chloride acid to evoke the sensor of movement within natural turbulent flows of fluids, with layering evoking a sense of depth and motion as in storm clouds at sunset."

Steele Bits & Pieces Pottery - Sunset Storm 1, an exhibition piece from
Excellence in Crafts Exhibition 2025 at Eptek Art & Culture Centre, Summerside, PEI

Steele Bits & Pieces Pottery Sunset Storm 2, exhibition piece from
Excellence in Crafts Exhibition 2025 at Eptek Art & Culture Centre, Summerside, PEI.

Steele Bits & Pieces Pottery - studio production items 2025

Lisa Steele

Sunday, January 10, 2021

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Michael Stanley Pottery & Scorched Earth

Michael Stanley is a second generation Island potter, having grown up with parents Christine, a weaver and Malcolm, a potter who together operate Stanley Pottery & Weaving in Breadalbane.

Michael served his apprenticeship in the family studio between 1999-2004 where all studio production for father and son was signed Stanley, PEI along with the year.

Opening his own business, Scorched Earth Pottery in 2004, his work was signed Scorched Earth PEI between 2004-2008.

Most of the work was for the wholesale trade during this period as well as a certain amount of raku work. In 2009 Michael entered the retail trade when he opened his Charlottetown studio, first on Richmond St. and then relocated to 89 Water St. in 2011. He operated under the name Michael Stanley Pottery, which is currently (2023) located at:

22 Howard St.

Victoria-by-the-Sea

Prince Edward Island

Canada

(902) 393-2339

Summer Hours:

Open everyday from

May 1 – Oct 31

Winter Hours:

By appointment from

Nov 1 – April 30

His Facebook page is called Michael Stanley Pottery and his Instagram handle is #michaelstanleypottery He uses a potter's mark that is based on a tree of life image he created himself.

Some pottery is also signed Michael Stanley Pottery.

His website is MichaelStanleyPottery.com

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Alicia Kate Pottery Co.

The pottery of Alicia Kate is marked at time of writing (2020) with the location marks of NB, PEI and NS, as well as the potter's mark, Ali Kate. The Facebook page indicated that

"All of Alicia Kate Pottery Company’s pieces are hand crafted by Alicia Snair, in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Please message for prices and orders!"

Alicia Kate has connections to all three Maritimes provinces and has chosen to mark her pottery with three location marks - while clearly indicating that she is based in NS currently. As this blog is to assist pottery collectors with identifying work marked PEI or made in PEI, we have included Alicia Kate Pottery Company.

The Instagram account and Facebook page are helpful as it the company website aliciakatepotteryco.com launching NOV 7, 2020 at 10AM.

Alicia also makes pottery for Village Pottery in New London, PEI. On that pottery she marks with initials AS as well as Village Pottery, PEI and the date in the form 20 to indicate 2020.

Mary Shumate Pottery

An excellent article on Mary Shumate, with pictures is included on the Artisans on Main website. The text is copied below.

Mary Shumate

As a child I loved making mud pies. When I got the opportunity as an adult to “play in clay” I felt right at home. I love the feel of the smooth clay under my fingers as the wheel turns, and in the end the clay is formed into a useful shape. I tend to be a “functional” potter, so I look for ideas that can be used to create functional rather than strictly decorative pieces. Some of my work is thrown on the wheel and some pieces are made from slabs of clay. But the focus is always to make something useful and useable.
All my pieces are stoneware which is oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe. The glazes are food safe. I’m always playing around with new glazes, but I have three that I use consistently. They are my standard.
My first pottery class was at Community School in Belfast, PEI in the late 70’s. I loved it so much that I took an evening pottery class at Holland College. At that time I didn’t pursue the pottery because of family and time constraints, so I put pottery on the back burner while we raised our 8 children. Meanwhile, we moved to Kingston, Ontario, where I enrolled in pottery classes and became a member of the Kingston Potters Guild, soon to be on the Executive and participating in their semi-annual sales. We moved back to the Island in 2012, and I was happy to find an outlet for my pottery. Having something like pottery to make helps pass the long winter months as I prepare stock for the summer sales.

Pottery on Prince Edward Island