Vintage Memories

When I was 11 years old, my mother parked her ‘70s something Ford Maverick in front of a ceramic studio in our town and with a cigarette in hand, directed me to go inside to purchase an unfinished pottery Christmas tree. Apparently, her sister had gone with a friend a week or two earlier and painted a tree. It turned out beautifully.  My mother, not to be outdone by one of her sisters, wanted her own.

I was the crafty one in the family, so surely I could — on her behalf — create a tree that was just as good. So, I purchased a greenware (clay that is dry and brittle, not yet fired) tree, the tools needed to smooth out the side seams from the mold process and a sponge to wash it all down. It took a few trips to the studio and an eye-opening glazing event (I had to trust that the rust-colored glaze would come out green after firing in the kiln) to create my first pottery piece. This was the spark that started my love and passion for ceramics.

I have no idea where that tree is today. What I can tell you is that in the past few years, I have heard again and again about an aunt or grandmother and her handmade Christmas tree. This is generally followed up with a memory about how they either a) wish they knew where it was, b) explained how it was broken, c) shared how their sister/brother has it now or d) delighted in how they bring theirs out each Christmas and share it with their children. So many memories.

Ceramic Christmas trees made their debut in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Atlantic mold was the one I had and one of the most popular of that time. It was a basic tree shape with several larger rings you could add at the bottom to make it larger. The earliest mold companies are no longer in existence and many of the molds have been worn out with use or destroyed over the years.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have your very own, though. Three pottery studios in the area offer the opportunity to create your very own Christmas trees. The process is easy — just apply three coats of a velvety glaze on the tree and let the kiln firing process do all the work. If you don’t want to wait for the firing, acrylic paints will allow you to take it home the same day. But personally, I love the sparkle of the glass-like glaze and knowing that my creation will last for generations without any degradation.

While I don’t believe you can ever substitute a purchased one for a hand-made one, you can purchase inexpensive ones from your local home goods or craft store. But visit your local pottery studio to create memories to last for generations. 

Ceramics in Brevard

ClayZ Arts, Rockledge: www.clayzarts.com, 321-453-4848

Get Fired Up, Melbourne: www.getfireduppottery.com, 321-729-0222

Mimi’s Crafts, Satellite Beach: www.mimiscrafts.com, 321-779-3266

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