Historic Arkansas Museum will host an afternoon of American pottery appraisals followed by a lecture on Sat., March 27 from 1-4 p.m. The event is in conjunction with the exhibit Southern Art Pottery: Dixie-Made—Thoroughly American on display at the museum through Aug. 16. Guest curator of the exhibit, David Edwin Gifford, will give a lecture in the museum’s Ottenheimer Theater following the appraisals. The event is free and open to the public.
Visitors are invited to bring up to two pieces of American pottery to be valued by guest appraisers. Appraisers Melvin and Pat Minton of Benton and Gary and Michelle Moore of Little Rock are all experts in American pottery, including such examples as Arkansas-made Niloak and Newcomb pottery of New Orleans. “Art Pottery of the South: Its Enduring Influences and Qualities,” a lecture given Gifford will begin at 3 p.m. and take a regional look at one of America’s lasting contributions to the Arts and Crafts movement. A researcher of art pottery for 18 years, Gifford has authored seven publications and several articles on the subject. Gifford’s books, The Collector’s Guide to Camark: Identification and Values, Book II and The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Niloak Pottery: A Reference and Value Guide, 2nd Edition, can be purchased in the Museum Store for $19.95 and $29.95 respectively. Historic Arkansas Museum members received a 10 percent discount in the Museum Store.
The accompanying exhibit, Southern Art Pottery: Dixie-Made—Thoroughly American, explores the similarities of style, design and technique of commercial art potteries from 13 southern states from Alabama to West Virginia. Arkansas potteries featured include Niloak of Benton, Camark of Camden and Ouachita Pottery of Hot Springs. More than 130 pieces of pottery will be on display.
Historic Arkansas Museum is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 - 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the galleries and parking are free; tours of historic grounds are $2.50 for adults, $1 for children under 18, $1.50 for senior citizens. The Historic Arkansas Museum Store is open 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 - 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Historic Arkansas Museum is an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, which was created in 1975 to preserve and enhance the heritage of the state of Arkansas. Other agencies of the department are Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and Old State House Museum.