Mark of the Potter | Clarkesville, Georgia
9982 State Hwy. 197 N.Clarkesville GA 30523
Phone: 706-947-3440
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Opened in 1969 in the picturesque Watts Mill in a scenic location on the banks of the trout-filled Soque River and featuring high-quality work by local potters and regional craftspeople, the Mark of the Potter has become a popular shopping destination for travelers to the North Georgia Mountains. The shop offers the works of quality handcrafted contemporary pottery from local artists, as well as handmade crafts in metal, ceramic jewelry, hand-blown glass, and pottery by more than 30 artists and craftspeople.
Mark of the Potter, the oldest craft shop in the same location in the state of Georgia, has a long and intresting history. In the 1930s, the Watts family built a new mill, using the foundations of the old Hill Mill (an old Grist Mill built by the Hill family in the early 1800s) for a new generator house. The new mill quickly became a favorite spot for travelers from Atlanta to stop on their way up to the lakes, as well as a place for local farmers to grind corn into meal or feed. Local history also notes that the mill sprouted corn upstairs for the making of mash for corn liquor. Moonshiners raced up and down Highway 197 delivering 'shine and ingredients to and from Clarkesville during the Prohibition years and after.
In the mid-1960s, a flood actually crested the banks of the Soque, ruining the workings and closing the mill. A visionary couple, named Glen and John LaRowe, had driven by the mill for years. After discussing their desire to open up a pottery studio, Letie Watts sold the abandoned building and land.
On November 1st, 1968, Letie handed the keys to John and Glen, and Mark of the Potter was born. In the Spring of 1969, Mark of the Potter first opened its doors as a working pottery, with the LaRowes residing in the upstairs, now converted into their residence.
In 1985, John and Glen decided to retire, and they sold Mark of the Potter to Jay Bucek, one of their potters, to continue the tradition and maintain the "sameness" of the pottery. Jay continued living upstairs for many years to watch over the fish and care for the shop. Jay passed away in early 2010 but his wife Janis is keeping the dream alive by keeping the shop running as it always has with the next generation of potters and staff.
Take a do-it-yourself driving tour of Northeast Georgia folk potters, including the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia in Sautee-Nacoochee and the Northeast Georgia History Center in Gainesville, as well as retail outlets and galleries where folk pottery can be purchased. CLICK HERE FOR AN INTERACTIVE MAP OF THE FOLK POTTERY TRAIL
Shop the Mark of the Potter by viewing the photo gallery below.
Tagged with: Potters in Georgia Pottery in Georgia
Photo Gallery
Mark of the Potter Photo Shopping Tour
Building on the considerable strengths of high-quality work by regional craftspeople and a location in an authentic grist mill on banks of the scenic Soque River, the Mark of the Potter has become the oldest craft shop in Georgia operating out of the same location. Browse the photo gallery below to shop for pottery and other fine crafts, including metal, ceramic jewelry and hand blown glass by more than 30 artists.
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Shop a GA crafts icon in Grandpa Watts Mill on the Soque River
The Mark of the Potter offers the works of quality handcrafted contemporary pottery from local artists, as well as handmade crafts in metal, ceramic jewelry, hand-blown glass, and pottery by more than 30 artists and craftspeople.
hello dear
i’m naghmeh from Iran..i’m ceramist and make pottery… a membership of Iranian society… i want to migrate in your country…. how can i spend my life and how activity whith pottery??? would you pleast tell me about this?
can i have studio, kiln in my house?
can i sold my work?? do your people like pottery and welcome it??