Elegant shapes with a touch of whimsy…enhanced with rich, jewel-like glazes…please the eye and the hands that hold them.
These are the trademarks of Purple Sage Pottery, located in the town of Merrimac in northeastern Massachusetts.
The slab built and wheel thrown reduction-fired pottery of potter Iris Minc is available year-round for purchase from the Purple Sage gallery.
Twice annually the studio puts on a Pottery Sale Extravaganza, where the public may purchase the functional and decorative wares, and clay sculptures of another 15 New England potters.
At Purple Sage, you can also take pottery classes from one of several dedicated teachers, enjoy open studio time on Saturdays or rent studio space.
Purple Sage News
Sign up now for Summer Classes!
We offer classes for all ages taught by teachers as committed to teaching as they are to pottery. While grounded in the fundamentals of hand-building, throwing and glazing, we strive to nurture your creative spirit. Classes are small, having at most 10 students. You can take full advantage of our well-equipped studios, including electric wheels, slab rollers, extruders and various tools. We have an extensive selection of beautiful reduction-fired glazes. Your work is handled with great care, and we pride ourselves on the exceptional results we get from our 70 cubic foot gas fired kiln.
Check out our special workshops!
Catherine DeBrocke will be teaching two consecutive one week summer camps for 10-16 year olds in July.
Visit our classes page for more information.
Upcoming Shows
Iris will be exhibiting at the Berkshires Arts Festival
July 3-5
The festival takes place on the slopes of Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, MA
Come see Iris at the 76th annual League of NH Craftsmen's Fair
August 1-9
Mt. Sunapee Resort, Newbury. NH
Iris will also be exhibiting at Paradise City, Northampton, MA
October 10-12
New Gallery section
We now have an expanded gallery with glaze samples, and pictures of all the standard production items that we make here at Purple Sage Pottery and a corresponding price list, plus some of our one-of-a-kind pieces.
Above left, Iris with "Lotus Leaves" in the Sculpture Garden at the League of NH Craftsmen's Fair last summer. The leaves were hand-buildt from a dark, high iron bearing clay. They are glazed in shades of blue, green and yellow with occasional bits of dark clay showing through. The flowers are made of unglazed porcelain. They as well as the smalller leaves, sit on top of gently curving stems made of aged copper pipe. She won "Best in Show" as well as "The People's Choice Award" for the Sculpture Garden.
Page Last Modified 06-12-2009