Sand Mountain Pottery

  Our Friend Ron Countryman many years ago bought a piece of pottery signed T J Henry DS Ala. Ron wondered where and Who made this piece of pottery. This set Ron off on the initial research on Sand Mountain Pottery.

 Ron spent countless hours searching for the makers of this wonderful pottery.Ron later wrote an article which was published in conjunction with the exhibit " Pottery From The Mountains Of Alabama" sponsered by The Bessemer Hall of History in 1986.Ron's research lead Him to the Belcher's Gap Community located on the Eastern ridge of Sand Mountain between Sardis Alabama and Crossville Alabama.Using the Census records from 1860 thru  1880,He found that there were two different Families of Potters at different times working in this area.The first was the Davidson Family.

   Three Davidson's were listed in this area,Abraham,Azell and Alvin.They were on this site turning pottery in 1860.It is thought that They were there as early as 1854.They enlisted in the Civil war where Azell was killed.Abraham and Alvin later showed up in Blount County Alabama after the War.Abraham was turning pottery in the Hopewell (Blount County) Community until the 1880's.

   After the War the Belcher Family came from Randolph County Alabama to Sand Mountain.They were Edmund T Belcher,Thomas J.Henry and Archibald McPherson.T.J. and Arch were married to Edmunds Daughters.Edmund's Son WilliamT Belcher was also a potter.They were listed in the census as being on Sand Mountain in 1870.

   This group of Potters produced some of the finest,highest quality and most beautiful pottery. They produced decorated pieces and used a process called double dipping on some pieces of Thier Pottery. The decoration is in the form of Wavy Combing insde incised lines.Sometimes these combed pieces were dipped in glaze and redipped about half way down the piece to make the glaze darker on top. The glazes were ash, lime and later albany slip.The albany slip pieces were later and are not as sought after as the lime and ash glazed pieces.This pottery is made from the finest clay and most pieces are very thin.

   Even though there were mutiple Potters, all this pottery seems to have the same characteristics.The thumb depression at the base of the terminal,tall slender churns with small openings and the same decoration,but by different turners.It is not known whether Edmund T ever turned pottery or not,But there are some finely turned and decorated pieces that We think could only have seen turned by a Master and We think it was Him.

  For more detailed information I suggest You try to find Ron's Book.Pottery From The Hills Of Alabama.It is out of print but can still be found.Also Just released is 'Alabama Folk Pottery' By Joey Brackner.

Mr. & Mrs. Edmond T Belcher

Potters

Abraham B. Davidson

Azell Davidson

Asberry F. Davidson

Alvin S. Davidson

Edmund T. Belcher

William T. Belcher

Thomas J. Henry

Archibald McPherson

William E. Henry

Elijah E. McPherson