Peter Pots Pottery

I love this place. Small and unique. I have bought numerous banks (so far, I have the rabbit, the quahog pig, the seashell, and the old pig design), a pair of salt/​pepper shakers (they kind of look like the ying and yang symbol), and a small wave bowl. Since I have moved out of state, I am happy to find that they process orders online. I have been eyeing the cookie jar and the bean pot for the future.

I guess my family is third generation going on fourth generation of Peter Pots Pottery users…
I remember the heavy blue coffee mugs in the cabinet… kept in the w-​w-​w-​w-​way back… just out of reach of my five year old fingers… they were the mugs from Grandma’s… only for Dad to use… I remember WANTING that Mug… but my Mother also wanted that Mug… she wanted it to stay intact… So it was kept very much out of my reach…
Eventually I got older and bought myself my Mug… now I own a whole set of them. Mugs, Bowls, Plates, etc… I use them everyday… and they remind me of what being a Rhode Islander means to me… quirky, modest, interesting, beautiful, in tuned with nature, hard working, rustic, steady, classic, timeless…
It means being special… but not obvious.
And that is what Peter Pots are… Special, Timeless, Classic and Quirky… Not two pieces are alike and yet all are reflections of the others…
I left Rhode Island years ago… but my Family have all moved nearer Peter Pots… so when I make my yearly Thanksgiving pilgrimage to see them… I usually find myself stopping in there… it is a one of kind show room set in a beautiful landscape… it is out of the way… wonderfully hidden… meaning that you have to create a journey to go there… but in a world where everything is endlessly convenient yet endlessly irrelevant… make taking the time to make a moment is important…
and buying a Peter Pots Coffee Mug is not like going to Target or Walmart… take your time selecting it… wander around with it… you are holding a piece of art… and it will be the best mug you have ever bought…

We purchased several place settings of this beautiful and functional stoneware shortly after we were married close to 40 years ago and, minus a few accidents, have been in daily use ever since. We recently decided to bring in a few broken and/​or discolored pieces on Butterfingers Day, the first Saturday of the month when up to 6 pieces may be replaced at 50% off after making a $ 5 additional purchase. The owner, Oliver Greene, has to be in his 90’s and has a tendency to be a bit surly, but I cut him a little slack and did not take his comments personally. He advised us that our discolored plates and saucers could be restored by using silver polish. This stoneware has proven to be a lifetime investment for us so I was amazed that dinner plates, originally retailing for $ 20-​$ 25, now fetch only $ 30. We could not be happier with our investment.

The setting of this place is so beautiful… right next to a brook and a waterfall, both of which you can admire from the outside or any of the nice large windows that face that side of the store. I thought most of the pottery items were too monochromatic for my taste and they felt light and not sturdy enough.
Limited selection of dinner and cookware, along with some antiques, it is a cute place to stop if you are in that part of the state… kind of out in the middle of nowhere, but kind of fun. I thought most of the items were on the pricey side.

Finally landed here this past weekend. I’ve been driving back and forth to NPT for years and have always seen the sign, but never stopped. So I’m glad we finally did. This is a barn like building right next to a waterfall… a very cool place. The store itself is a mix of new and old. The owner/​founder, a guy named Oliver, NOT PETER, was there too. He took a mug off the shelf and banged it against the floor. Also stood on it, demoing the strength of his pieces. The BF and I ended up picking up some pieces for our homes. We kept mentioning what a great place for a wedding/​birthday/​christmas presents! They just came out with a new color too. A really nice green. Oliver has created some really cool looking banks too. Some pig and some rabbit banks. If you fill the bank and bring it back full, spend all the $$$ at the store, they will give you 2 banks, one to keep and one to give away. Sounds like a fun little game to me!!! I will be back for more soon.

Two reasons to stop in West Kingston on the way in or out of Newport. Kenyons Grist Mill, and Peter Pots. Located in an old mill, Peter Pots has here as long as I can remember. They make very nice pottery for use, not show. If you break a piece, bring it back on the first Saturday of every month, and replace it for half price. They also sell antiques and curios.