House of the Potter, Inc.

Jay Stewart at the wheel in his studio "Otter Woods Pottery".


	Since 1979, Jay has been making pots at his studio, "Otter Woods Pottery", located 12 miles east of Cannon Beach along Hiway 26 as it runs up the Neacanicum river valley.
	The environment surrounding Otter Woods Pottery is temperate rain forest, and is a haven for Roosevelt elk, deer, and wild ocean-going steelhead and salmon that return year after year to spawn in nearby streams and rivers. The natural forces of this setting combine to inspire the fine stoneware and raku that Jay produces for House of the Potter.
	His simple yet elegant forms are decorated with subtle shades of creamy white, blue, red, teal, green, black and brown that capture the hues and mood of the environment in which the pottery is made.The clean, uncluttered design of Jay Stewart pottery makes it both a pleasure and a functional asset to have in the house. These twin qualities form every piece of stoneware Jay produces. Years of schooling, apprenticeships, and experience is represented in each and every piece of Jay Stewart's pots.
	To ensure the highest quality, Jay mixes his own specially formulated clay and then cures it to the proper age before he is ready to "throw" the clay on the potter's wheel.
	After the thrown wet clay has dried sufficiently on the drying racks in the studio, Jay trims and decorates each piece before they are set aside to dry completely, then they are loaded into the bisque kiln. All pottery, from the simplest mug to the largest platter or vase, is made exclusively by Jay Stewart. Jay’s hands touch each piece of pottery he produces many times before you, the customer, pick it out.
	After the pot is bisque fired it is glazed for the final firing. During the glazing phase, Jay either hand dips, hand paints, or uses a combination of both to glaze each piece from an assortment of colors before they are ready for the final firing. All of Jay's glazes are lead free.
	Jay then carefully loads each piece of glazed pottery into his gas-fired reduction kiln for the final firing that reaches 2,400° F and takes 36 hours to complete. The clay and glazes Jay uses are mixed with raw materials that meet exacting quality standards. Nevertheless, a “drift” naturally occurs from batch to batch of pottery that emerges from the kiln. This means that some pieces may appear darker or lighter from one firing to the next. The beauty of pottery is in its individuality. Each piece of hand-made pottery is similar, but never the same. When ordering a set of dinnerware, bowls, cups, or other pieces for your table, we recommend ordering a set that meets your needs to ensure that the glaze match will be as close as possible.
	All of our stoneware is dishwasher , oven and microwave safe. With normal care, stoneware will give you years of durable use and enjoyment.
	Jay guarantees the pottery against any defect in craftsmanship or material for one year from date of purchase. Should any breakage occur, mail or ship your pieces back for replacement
	Jay at the end of a day's work in his studio at Otter Woods Pottery. House of the Potter Inc., is a small family business. We ask for your patience when ordering. Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery. We are happy to answer any questions you may have via e-mail or our other contact information. See our Retail Price List or E-mail for more information.