Ben Owen III
North Carolina

Wood Fired Stoneware
Multi-layered glazes and natural ash effects
Functional
Please temper with hot tap water for 10 minutes prior to making hot tea.
8.75"w x 6.5"l x9"h

About the Teapot
My inspiration for the tea pot design began during a fellowship in 1995 while making pots in Japan. During some of my side trips to pottery villages, I would visit some of the temples and gardens in Kyoto and other cities. I took an interest in the architecture of the entrance ways of temples having a post and lintel gate. The concept evolved into a new over the top handle design for a tea pot. The added melon alteration for the form is influenced from helping my family in the garden as a child. The organic elements have been a great library of design and research for many years. For glazing, I airbrushed iron and cobalt glazes for accents to the surface along with a long wood firing for 85 hours producing a layered effect to the surface.  

About the Artist
Ben Owen III has been making pottery in Seagrove since he was a young child, working at the site where his grandfather and father established Ben Owen Pottery in 1959. Over the last 40 years, Ben III’s designs have included glaze creation and experimentation with wood kilns, using a longer firing process that develops a wider range of color and texture in the clay. Other glaze techniques have evolved in gas or electric kilns, where precise temperature control allows him to manipulate the finish. Inspirations from nature continue to influence the surfaces and textures of the vessels he makes today. Using clays from their property and other local sources, the family tradition continues, creating one‑of‑a‑kind pottery.

Artist Statement
As a potter of over 40 years, my style in clay is inspired by many influences. My grandfather, Master Potter Ben Owen Sr., and father, Ben Wade Owen Jr., taught me the importance of clay and how to focus on good form and design.
After studying in China, Japan, Australia, and Europe, I have created a unique identity, further refining distinct colors and designs. I continually seek to honor my family’s traditional foundation while pursuing my own identity in clay.

*Teapots that are purchased will remain on display in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition, through September 14, 2026.
After the show closes, teapots will be carefully packed and shipped by September 28, or they may be picked up at the gallery.