Matt Ledbetter and Kyle sit down with a table full of pieces from the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival and break down what they picked up over the weekend.

Held once a year in Hickory, North Carolina, the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival brings together over a hundred working potters alongside a small group of dealers specializing in historic Catawba Valley pottery. It is one of the few places where you can walk booth to booth, meet the artists directly, and see both contemporary work and pieces rooted in a tradition that goes back generations.

Matt talks through how the weekend actually plays out. The Friday night preview, the rush when doors open, and how fast things move when collectors are lined up for specific makers.

From there, they bring a group of pieces to the table and walk through what they picked up. Face jugs, monkey jugs, and functional forms all come into the conversation, along with what to look for in Catawba Valley pottery. Alkaline glaze, form, and firing methods all start to separate stronger pieces from the rest.

If you are interested in Southern pottery, collecting, or just want to understand why people travel for this show every year, this episode gives a clear look at what makes the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival stand out.

Do you know a folk artist or have a picking story worth sharing? Reach out to the show:

houseoffolkart@gmail.com
(919) 410-8002

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Next week, we’ll release the full walkthrough from the floor, showing how these pieces were found and bought in real time.

Episode 54 | What Matt Bought at the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival