One day, my sister and I were sitting at our mother's kitchen table admiring the large yellow bowls that we had grown up with.  Both of us had taken pottery classes in high school and college, so we decided to try our hands at making these durable and comfortable bowls ourselves.  The more we tried to figure out the clays, temperature and glaze combinations, the more we wanted to learn just how the old potters made these wares.  We began to appreciate the designs, application, durability and usefulness of the yellow ware.  After many trials and errors we settled on the wares you will find today at our web site, our shops and many shops in the USA and Europe.

East Knoll produces hand-thrown pottery on a potters wheel, leaving ridges and imperfections that make each piece unique.  The most notable feature of Yellow Ware is the yellow clay itself.  Covering it with a clear, lead-free glaze brings out the natural yellow color of the clay. Depending on the amount of iron, temperature and atmosphere in the kiln, yellow shades range from buff to deep mustard.  Yellow Ware also darkens with age and use.

While a great deal of early Yellow Ware was plain or banded with white, brown or blue bands, creative potters experimented with other designs. Colored slip clays applied under the clear glaze became the trademark patterns now referred to as Mocha Ware.  Mocha Ware patterns can be found on white and red clays too, but we especially like the yellow that is the base color of all our pots.   Colors are swirled, dipped, sponged or trailed onto a damp pot to make patterns known as Cats Eye, Worm, Balloon, Tobacco Leaf and many others that are too varried to be named.   The most popular decoration sought after today, just like in years past, is the Feather/Seaweed pattern.  This is East Knolls specialty.  While a pot is still damp, a band of white or colored "slip" or wet clay is applied to the pot. An infusion of tabacco tea and coloring oxide is applied with a brush, producing a wonderful feathering effect.  Many look like dragons or trees reflecting on a lake.    Our pottery is made with historically correct clays, glazes, designs and application.  Variations in clay and design are to be expected and make each piece unique.  Each piece is hand stamped with the potters initials. Satisfaction is guaranteed.     Thank you for your interest in our pots, Reggie the potter

East Knoll was built about 1820 on a small knoll, east of the "highway" that runs north to south through the village of Torringford, CT.  Torringford was a small farming community settled in 1744 by farmers and craftsmen from Windsor, CT.    One of six houses built by the Birge family, ours is made from small bricks, probably made 3 miles up the "highway" at the Hayden brick yard.    My grandfather, Frank Albrecht, bought the home in 1928, and came from NYC to start a florist business on the property.  I grew up here.  Grampa grew flowers and vegetable plants, shipping chrysanthemums on the Torrington train to NYC.  Many flowers and vegetables were sold from his greenhouses, open to the public, till his death in 1971.   Except for the plumbing and electricity added in the 1950s, the house has changed little.  All the photos on this web site were taken within, on its shelves and mantles. It is a quaint setting for pottery and dolls, come and see the flowers and gardens throughout the spring and summer, and tour the inside of the old farmhouse during the Open House Sale the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

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