Press Release

Spectacular results of an auction to benefit the North Carolina Pottery Center

A standing-room only crowd of lively bidders on Sunday at Leland Little Auction and Estate Sales, Ltd. in Hillsborough, raised $34,000 for the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove. Organized by several dedicated supporters of NCPC, the auction featured 191 fine examples of NC pottery donated by several prominent collectors throughout the state, and fetched almost twice as much as the $20,000 that had been anticipated. The sale centered on a substantial collection of Art Ware pottery generously given by Dr. Everette James.

Leland Little very kindly waived all the costs associated with the auction, and in two hours, all the 191 pots had been snapped up by eager pottery lovers. Prices ranged from $10 bargains for a few smaller pieces, to several hundred dollars for many of the most collectible pots. Notable among theses items were a classic late nineteenth century Timothy Boggs canning jar from Alamance County that sold for $650, a handsome J.A. Craven Randolph County crock that sold for $800, and a delightful small green Carolina Pottery frog that sold for $450. Bidding was fierce between members of the knowledgeable collecting community.

NCPC is dedicated to promoting public awareness of North Carolina’s pottery heritage, through educational programs, an extensive permanent collection which is on view at it’s location in Seagrove, and changing pottery exhibitions of old and new NC pots. Like the nearby NC Zoo, this jewel in the state’s cultural heritage draws visitors from around the state and beyond. North Carolina is known as “The Pottery State,” and the response to Sunday’s auction demonstrated a tremendous level of support for NCPC among North Carolina pottery lovers. The extra money puts NCPC on the road to a secure financial footing for the next fiscal year.