Tag Archives: pottery

Sommerville Pottery, Pulteney, NY

Monica and Ray Sommerville are long-time potters, starting in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the late 1970s.  They moved to Pulteney in 2007 where you can find them along the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.  They are located at 8727 Thornapple Hill Ext., Pulteney, NY, phone (607) 868-4409.

I am very impressed with their work for several reasons:

  • Their pottery shapes are classic
  • I really enjoy their glazes
  • They make a very wide variety of pieces
  • Their personalized logo pottery is a very creative and cost effective way to combine computer graphics with functional pottery. They can run small or large batches of various pieces with your custom artwork / logo.
  • Like my other favorite potters, they are down to earth and very interesting people

Below the photos are links to their web site, along with several YouTube videos of Monica throwing pots.  If you’ve never seen pots thrown before, you might find it very interesting.  Monica makes it look easy (trust me, that only comes from years of experience)

Workshop and Showrmmo

Workshop and Showroom


Great Doorbell!

Great Doorbell!


Some of their pieces

Some of their pieces


Custom Mugs

Custom Mugs


Custom Cheese Boards

Custom Cheese Boards


Custom Trivets

Custom Trivets

Sommerville Pottery’s Web Site

Video of Monica throwing pots at Artizann’s in Naples, NY

Part 2 of Monica throwing pottery

Part 3 – Monica throws a honey pot

Part 4 – Throwing a large pot for a surprise wedding gift

My Favorite Potters

Clay pots thrown on wheels, glazed and fired to completion are a combination of form and function that I enjoy.

In the early 1970s, I custom mixed clay bodies and delivered them to potters across the Northeast to be thrown into pots on their wheels.  In those visits, and in my time at the NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred, I got to see a lot of good work and to develop my preferences for pottery form and glazing.

With that background, I have come to particularly appreciate a set of potters in Western New York.  There are many fine potters, but this group represents my personal favorites.

If you are interested in pottery and will be in Western NY, I would highly encourage you to call them and set up a time to visit.  You might also catch them at scheduled open houses or shows – just call and see what work best for you and them.