Cornwall Bridge Pottery

SHINE A LIGHT FINALIST
"Passion and the Potter's Art"

Todd Piker was 20 years old in 1972 when he founded the Cornwall Bridge Pottery.  He had then, as now, a passion for enhancing life’s daily routines. The potter’s challenge is to use nature’s palette – air, earth, water and fire – to create settings for domestic treasures, whether cooked, gathered or arranged.  One well-designed pot made over and over, until its production becomes instinctive, will be a good pot.  Good pots, made by production potters now unknown, sold and used by other forgotten people, are now the most beautiful pots of antiquity, treasured by museums. Thus our pots, and we, enter into cycles of art and commerce, of time and value. Some of his customers, knowing as much, have become “collectors”.  But are encouraged to buy pots because you, or someone you like very much, will make use of them. In its 35 years as an anchor in the small community of Northwestern Connecticut the Pottery has hosted several fund-raising events.  One year it raised $1,000 for the local fire dept and it is continually donating pots for local fund-raising efforts by the child care center and the regional environmental organization that protects the Housatonic River Valley.  The Cornwall Bridge Pottery designed a commemorative sprig for the towns 250th anniversary and embossed a collection – mug, pitcher and spoonholder.  A portion of the proceeds of the sale of these pots went to the local Historical Society.  The pottery hosts several storewide sales throughout the year. And also keeps a well-stocked area at the Workshop where people from all walks of life can browse and purchase – at very significant discount –pots that are slightly less than first quality.  There is also a fully-functional website and an opportunity to enter a monthly drawing for a $25 gift certificate to be used at the 'bricks and mortar' Store or online.