Reece Museum exhibit showcases Blue Ridge Pottery history

Inside the Reece Museum at East Tennessee State University, the story of a small-town pottery company unfolds across rows of hand-painted china.Through floral patterns and hand-brushed details, the "Vintage Charm" exhibit honors Blue Ridge Pottery, an art form that once brought national attention to the town of Erwin.The exhibit, free and open to the public, runs through Dec. 12 at the museum located at 363 Stout Drive in Johnson City. The display captures both the artistry and creative spirit of the people who shaped it, featuring about 80 pieces of the pottery.Southern Potteries began operations in Erwin in 1917 and grew to become the largest producer of hand-painted pottery and china in the United States, according to the exhibit. The company's defining process — hand-painting bisque before glazing — started around 1938 and became known as "Blue Ridge Pottery."By the mid-1940s, Southern Potteries produced an estimated 17 million pieces annually, according to the exhibit. At its peak, the company employed more than 1,000 people, with about half being women who painted the intricate floral patterns that made Blue Ridge a household name."Their work represented both skill and creativity," the exhibit stated. "Each piece was unique — a product of local artistry and craftsmanship that flourished in rural Tennessee."Though Southern Potteries closed its doors in 1957, its legacy continues to shape the region's culture. The Reece Museum began collecting Blue Ridge Pottery in 1986, when it received its first donated piece. Since then, the museum has built close relationships with collectors and artists, ensuring that the history of Blue Ridge remains preserved and celebrated, according to the exhibit."Over the years, we've continued to build trust within the collecting community," the exhibit states. "As an institution, we value the preservation of this beloved piece of East Tennessee history."Among the gallery's highlights are 21 pieces on loan from Don and Susan Burkett's private collection, which help diversify the museum's permanent holdings. Together, these items offer a snapshot of the pottery's changes from early designs to later reproductions.One standout is the "Romance" Chocolate Set Tray, dated between 1938 and 1957. Gifted by Robert Blizard to the museum's permanent collection, the set's soft colors and symmetrical brushwork embody what made Blue Ridge Pottery distinctive, according to the exhibit.Another piece, the "Gladys" Boot Vase, shares a glimpse into the variety and personality of the artisans who worked on the line. The boot-shaped vase, also from the mid-20th century, features a black sole and unpainted border, which is a subtle variation that distinguishes it from other versions with brown soles or gold trim, according to the exhibit.Yet one of the most personal stories in the collection belongs to artist Negatha Peterson, whose life and work tie directly to both Southern Potteries and its successor, Erwin Pottery.Peterson joined Southern Potteries in 1941, one of roughly 500 employees painting the company's popular floral patterns by hand."They gave me a brush, and I practiced one day and went to work the next," she recalled in a 1991 Kingsport Times article.When Southern Potteries closed in 1957, Peterson and her husband, Robert Earl Peterson, founded Erwin Pottery in 1960. Using her experience and eye for color, she reproduced some of the original Blue Ridge designs, marking them with "Original Blue Ridge Pattern / Erwin Pottery."Orders soon arrived from across the country, and Peterson's work earned national recognition, particularly in books about collectible pottery and cookie jars, according to the exhibit.One such piece, a miniature pitcher painted by Peterson in the 1960s, is included in the Reece Museum's display. Its backstamp confirms her authorship, and her initials "N.P." appear in the lower right corner of the design.In a 1997 publication, Blue Ridge China Today: A Comprehensive Identification and Price Guide for Today's Collector, Peterson reflected on her artistic approach simply."I paint what I like," she said.Peterson continued painting until her later years. After her husband's death in 2005, Erwin Pottery officially closed. Peterson herself passed away in 2013, leaving behind a legacy of craftsmanship that bridged generations of Appalachian artists, according to the exhibit.The exhibit remains open to the public Monday through Friday, welcoming visitors to experience the enduring legacy of Blue Ridge Pottery, one hand-painted piece at a time.