Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Hutchinson Pottery - Jessica Hutchinson

Jessica Hutchinson participates in an artisan gallery which features a selection of pottery, weaving and jewelry by a talented group of Island artists.

Address: 697 Rustico Road, North Milton, PE, Canada

Phone: 902-569-2756

Email: hutchpottery@yahoo.ca

She uses both a signature "hutchinson" and potters mark based on a stylized H on her work.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Mud Puddle Pottery - Kerry Pfefferle & Peter Krauskopf

Husband and wife potters Peter Krauskopf & Kerry Pfefferle opened Mud Puddle Pottery in 1978 with their shop located initially in an old school house in Mt. Mellick and then Belle River, PEI.

The early home of Mud Puddle Pottery in Mt Mellick, PEI in 1970's

Peter Krauskopf indicated, "That was our shop for ten years. The first few we partnered with Buzz and Irene Arsenault, hence the weaving. The building was moved to Waterside and used as a summer home after we moved our shop to Belle River for three years."

During this period Kerry did all the throwing and signed her pottery with the linked initials KP as well as indicating the location, being PEI. On any of the combined pieces Peter signed the drawings he did on the front of the work, with under glaze pencils.

Kerry and Peter have each been producing pottery on Prince Edward Island since moving to the Island is 1977. Kerry attended Douglas College in Surrey, B.C. while Peter graduated from Simon Fraser University. Peter became an art and theatre teacher in the 1980's, within the PEI school system.

They each remarried and Kerry, then known as Kerry Kingston, continued to operate a pottery business. Peter retired from teaching and became once again an active potter. 

Kerry's Pottery by the Sea first opened in 1996 in Victoria-by-the-Sea, P.E.I. The retail shop was inside her home for five years and then in 2001 she began construction of a new shop, for production and retail. This new shop and studio is located on the north shore in North Rustico.

In an email Kerry indicates that the pottery mark KP was "used it from 1988 to 2003, then switched to Kerry Kingston, KK."

For more on Kerry's work see the blog post on Kerry Kingston.

Kerry Kingston died on November 23, 2020. Her obituary provides additional details.

From collection of  Doug Anderson - photo by Doug Anderson 

From collection of  Doug Anderson - photo by Doug Anderson 

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Dale Paynter - Burlington Pottery

Dale Paynter grew up around pottery in his parents studio in Burlington, PEI so it was natural that he would take an interest in the field. Although his career interests developed in other areas, examples of his wheel-thrown pottery indicate he was a developing potter in the 1970 when Burlington Pottery was a family business and pioneering retail pottery studio on the north shore of Prince Edward Island.

Dale signed his work with his initials JDP as well as the location PEI.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Rainwater Pottery

Linwood and Elizabeth Thompson operated Rainwater Pottery during the 1980's in Little Sands which is located in eastern Prince Edward Island.

Jacquese Conley and her husband were a couple of newly weds on their honeymoon, and recalled their visit to the operation and the pottery they bought there while providing us with these photographs of the work.

"It's been thirty years and they still look as good as the day we bought them .. and we still love them. Thanks for an opportunity to share." 

Correspondence in 2009 with Rob Wilby, a potter who lived nearby indicated,

"They closed around 1985; the Thompsons who ran the business have both passed away over ten years ago. We knew them well."

It appears that the Thompson's work was primarily in red earthenware clay and that they used the company name "Rainwater - PEI" written in a script style as their pottery mark.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Carl Phillis

Having studied under Ron Arvidson, at Holland College School of Visual Arts, Carl Phillis worked in both ceramic sculpture as well as being a potter. With his father, Christopher Phillis, who is also a sculptor working in metal they have executed sculptural commissions that included both media. One prominent one in located in Confederation Landing, on the Charlottetown waterfront. CBC Artspots featured Carl on their site. Carl Phillis, Four Acre Farm, Winsloe RR#9, Prince Edward Island.

Sadly, on Dec 4, 2019 Carl Phillis died at the age of 61. His obituary was published in the Guardian in the December 06, 2019 edition.

PHILLIS, Carl E. Peacefully passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 of Carl E. Phillis of Charlottetown, age 61 years. Son of Christopher and Valerie Phillis. Brother of Paul Phillis. Loving father of Eliza and Thomas (Amanda). Predeceased by his brother Peter Phillis. Carl was a talented potter, sculptor and respected member of the Arts community. He was a member of A. A. and walked with others on their journey to sobriety. Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel from where the service will be held on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Interment in the Peoples Cemetery. No visiting hours by personal request. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

CBC also published an article on Carl's life and his work.

P.E.I. artist Carl Phillis dies at 61

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'Carl was a real artist in the truest sense. He didn't do it for money. He did it for love'

Nicole Williams · CBC News · Posted: Dec 06, 2019 5:10 PM AT | Last Updated: December 6, 2019

Carl Phillis died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at the age of 61 on Wednesday. (Submitted by Gus Hillstrom)

Island artist Carl Phillis has died at the age of 61.

According to his obituary, Phillis died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday. He leaves behind his parents and two children.

Phillis was a potter and sculptor, with installations sprinkled about Charlottetown. Many of them are abstract sculptures that feature painted pieces of machinery, metal and ceramics. 

Friend Gus Hillstrom believes Phillis' last installation was for a historic Charlottetown property that he used to own.

"He used to walk by every day on his way down to Confederation Landing where I used to play Frisbee," Hillstrom said of how the pair met.

"A lot of days we were stopping, have great conversations and he was asking me about what was going on with me."

Honouring a P.E.I. inventor

At the time, Hillstorm was renovating and restoring the property at 66 Prince St. which was originally built by Watson DuChemin.

Gus Hillstrom stands in front of what he believes to be Phillis' last public sculpture, a dedication to 19th century P.E.I. inventor Watson DuChemin. It's titled 'A 19th century story in the 21st century.' (Nicole Williams/CBC)

DuChemin was a builder and inventor in the 19th century. His most famous inventions are the egg-carton and a type of roller bearing blocks. He also built several organs on P.E.I., including the one used at the Indian River Church.

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Hillstrom said the story of DuChemin inspired Phillis to create a sculpture in honour of the inventor. Using various materials from the property on Prince Street and some of his own materials, Phillis installed the piece on the property's lawn last month.

Hillstrom said Phillis titled the piece A 19th Century Story in the 21st Century.

One of Phillis' sculptures located by the Charlottetown Farmer's Market titled 'Unlocking History'

"He didn't want any money for it. He just wanted the people to have it and I said 'why do you do this Carl?' He said 'the reason why I do this is for two reasons. I do it for the Lord and I do it for the people.'"

Work was 'always colourful. They make you happy'

Hillstrom said he didn't know Phillis as well as others but that he "was such a lovely, lovely man."

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"When I learned last night that he passed away, I said 'I need to help tell his story and draw attention to this beautiful piece,'" he said.

This installation by Phillis can be found on Richmond Street across from Trinity United Church in Charlottetown. (Nicole Williams/CBC)

Though much of Phillis' work was abstract, "they're always colourful. They make you happy," Hillstrom said.

Some of Phillis' other work can be found on Richmond Street across from Trinity United Church, Confederation Landing and The Charlottetown Farmer's Market.

A sculpture by Carl Phillis and his father Christopher called 'Celebration - Then and Now' can be found at Confederation Landing in Charlottetown.

Hillstrom said it was easy to sum up Phillis' legacy.

"Carl was a real artist in the truest sense. He didn't do it for money. He did it for love and I think that shines through in his work." 

A service will be held for Phillis at the MacLean Funeral Home's Swan Chapel on Saturday Dec. 7 at 11:00 a.m.

Pottery Marks of Prince Edward Island - Island Stoneware - Cindy & Darryl Lentz

The potters of Island Stoneware, include owners Cindy and Darryl Lentz located in Borden-Carleton PEI. Right Off The Batt Pottery was the original name of the operation when it was located in Kinkora, but with an expansion and relocation to a new facility, a rename took place in 2014 as well.  All work produced is signed with one studio mark. They explain the derivation of their mark on their website,

Our mark is a representation of the Chinese symbol meaning “together” or “shoulder to shoulder”. We’ve combined it with our last name to express how we work together as one. Every piece of our pottery has been created, in some way or another, by both our hands so a small portion of both of us goes into our pots and eventually into your home.

The website of Island Stoneware includes photographs of their work.

Cindy and Darryl Lentz
Island Stoneware Inc

156 Borden Avenue
Borden-Carleton, PEI
C0B 1X0 Canada

Phone: 902.855.2529

Fax: 902.855.2526

Toll Free: 1.888.734.2529

In 2012 a profile was written on Cindy and Darryl with pictures and video of their pottery and studio.

Update:

In 2016 Cindy and Darryl sold Island Stoneware to Chris Palmer a Summerside entrepreneur who operated the manufacturing facility with the help of staff. Chris entered political life and became a cabinet member under the Liberal provincial government of Premier Wade MacLauchlan and he sold the business to a couple that operated the business under the ownership name Perry Niessen Studios Inc. which combining the family surnames of Randy Perry and his spouse, Jamie Niessen. 

The Journal Pioneer indicated in January 2019 that the operation had moved to Summerside. As the change in name and change in ownership since this blog post was initiated has shifted, a new blog post has been created to follow Island Stoneware under the ownership of Perry Niessen Studios Inc.

A Royal Gift

As a craftsman in the 1970's and 1980's the idea of having an item commissioned as a gift to royalty was pretty special.

The first instance was for the 1973 visit to Prince Edward Island of Queen Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as part of the celebrations surrounding the centennial of the Island’s entry into Confederation.

Richard Whitlock, a designer had been given hired to compile a collection of PEI photographs and the project had evolved into hand binding a linen-covered album with handwoven PEI linen. Once completed they realized that the book which was larger than an encyclopedia volume needed a proper slip-case and I was approached to make a leather case for the massive book and attach an engraved silver plaque to the top. Never having made anything of this scale previously I was a bit intimated but figured that using techniques similar to that used on smaller items might work. I had also learned when ordering raw materials to order extras in case of an error.

I measured the book but was not allowed to keep in my workshop lest it be damaged and thus was relieved that the actual book fit the leather case when the designer arrived for pick-up a day or two before the presentation ceremony. Richard Whitlock as the designer was invited to be on hand when officials presented the gift, and while the Queen nodded approval with the gift it dawned on him that something was wrong at that point. The box had been designed to open on the right hand side as requested, but the book came out either upside down or backward when taken from the case since it really needed to open on the left side.

A call arrived from Richard shortly afterward wondering if I was available for a consultation. The gifts had become the property of the recipient, but he had convinced someone who was now responsible for caring for the items that the case and book needed to be "touched up" and would be returned to the staff traveling with the royal visitors before the entourage left the province the next day. The question was whether I could disassemble the case and remake it as a left opening case before their departure. Mission Impossible had been a popular TV show and there was both a clandestine aspect and a technical challenge that seemed familiar to the request as tearing it apart to salvage the silver plaque could have ruined the original case. It was something I couldn’t guarantee the results of but was prepared to try.

Luckily I had an extra hide of the special leather ordered for the project should it been needed, and thus began the process of taking apart the top of what was now royal property with the attached silver plaque and remaking a new top then reattaching the silver. The plaque was itself the work of a silversmith and the attachment process was unique as it was sewn onto the leather using silver wires which I made into silver thread. After making each thread I discovered that the only problem was that hand sewing with wire is not an easy process as it could twist and kink on each stitch. Taking the stitching apart was even worse.

Thus began a full night of work in the workshop - but come dawn the case was reconstructed and presented to Richard who quietly returned it to the staff responsible for safe keeping of the various royal gifts. No one was the wiser as to what had actually happened during the period of ‘touch up’ and I went off to get some much needed sleep.

The second time I was approached was in 1983 when the Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales, who had the year before become new parents were visiting. At that time there was an effort to ensure that there would be something of interest to a young child now that the family included one son. The choice was again something handcrafted being a set of pine toys made at the Toy Factory in Murray River operated by the Shumate family. Al Shumate with his long white beard was the quintessential Santa in his workshop for generations of visitors and his toys had a simple elegance. The set chosen included several toy vehicles selected by Henry Purdy, RCA who was head of the Holland College School of Visual Arts at the time, and my employer. He approached me to see if something could be made to enclose the set. The design we settled on included a leather cover that enclosed the set while being easily opened by children to play with the toys. The case was assembled without incident. Henry Purdy was very conscious of showing respect for craftspeople and although invitations to the royal garden party had already been finalized he made sure that two extra tickets were found for my wife, Daphne and myself to attend the event held on the grounds of Government House where the Prince and Princess were the guests of honour.

Having made many items that visitors to PEI have taken home to remember their visit here it was a special honour as a craftsman to be selected to create both these gifts.

Perhaps the story told by my wife Daphne from childhood shows the natural drive within humans to bestow gifts on others, especially upon special visitors. She was an eight year old who had received a set of what was labeled "international candies" a box of chocolates from her parents that had figures wrapped in foil for each nation. Somehow these international candies which represented the native dress of various countries were special for her and worthy of presenting to someone who had also come from afar. Thus during the 1959 visit to Charlottetown of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, this nine year old managed to deliver through the open window of the motorcade one of her treasured candies - her gift to the Queen whom she thought might enjoy one of her treasured chocolates. Not sure lobbing projectiles through open car windows met protocol then or now, or if melting chocolate is ever welcome landing on ones lap, but the intent of a child in sharing something special with others on the spur of the moment was genuine.