MAKERS | AMERICAS | USA | CERAMICS 

Berkshire Pottery | Ceramicists

Christian Radice and Erika Stosiek-Radice © Taylor Hall O'Brian

Step inside Berkshire Pottery, a family-run ceramics workshop helmed by husband and wife duo, Erika Stosiek-Radice and Christian Radice, founded in 1960 by Erika's parents, Gertraud and Martin Stosiek. Within an atmospheric Dutch barn on an old 19th century dairy farm, the couple craft abundant ceramic creations and run the day-to-day business. Erika shares their story.

How did you begin?

I like to say I essentially began pottery the day I was born! My parents started the business seven years before that, in the same Dutch barn we’re in today, so I grew up surrounded by it and never knew anything else. I only began doing it full-time a year or so after college, when I realized that a traditional day-in, day-out 'real job' wasn’t for me. That’s when I realized I actually had a passion for the creation of the pottery, in general.

How did you learn?

I began by interning as a Handlänger, literally “hand extension” in German, for my mother, who had trained as a master potter in Germany as a young girl. My early work involved cleaning greenware, weighing out specific lumps of clay for her to throw, glazing bisque pieces for her to paint, loading and unloading kilns, and helping customers whenever needed. I also took care of the shop itself: cleaning, fixing and arranging displays, rewiring kilns, and doing general yard work.

As time went on and my mother gradually stepped back from full-time work, I took on more of the actual pottery tasks while still managing many of the supporting ones. Over the years I honed my throwing and painting skills into what they are today.

Every winter, when my eldest brother, Martin, is on a break from taking care of his organic farm, he lends a hand for a few weeks and throws pots on the wheel for me. He is very good at what he does, and his work is both valuable to me and much appreciated. In 2007, my husband Christian stepped into the role of Handlänger as well, assisting wherever needed. Our three glazes are still based on recipes my father developed years ago, and they continue to serve us beautifully.

How do you plan, prepare and create your works?

After my mother retired in 2014 at the age of 77, I continued painting many of her patterns while also developing designs of my own. From time to time I create new shapes or motifs, and if customers connect with them, they become part of our ongoing work. My inspiration almost always comes from nature: our patterns feature flowers, trees, birds, and other elements of the world around us. Pottery itself is rooted in nature; every finished piece is the result of earth, water, air, and fire.

The spirit of my mother and father is also a profound motivation for me and my work ethic. As two German immigrants, they worked tirelessly to build this business while raising five children. Their determination and ability to make their vision real, even when money was tight, shape how I approach my craft every day.

We didn’t have much in the way of wealth, but we had a lifestyle, and we never went without. We learned to be self-sufficient. If the definition of being rich is strictly monetary, we will never be rich. But put richness in terms of life and happiness, we are some of the richest people we know. A simple life provides that truth!

What does a typical day look like?

We’re early risers. Typically 5 a.m. We start the day with coffee and breakfast, then take care of a few chores around the house. Playtime and a long walk around the property with Maizie, our rescue pup, are non-negotiable. When we arrive in the morning I walk through and see what pieces I need to fill in.

That determines what shapes and patterns I will finish for the day. If I am getting low on forms that have already bisqued, I will need to throw on the wheel. It typically takes a week or so for pieces to be dry enough to fire in the kiln, so I have to plan accordingly.

We generally take lunch around noon, and the shop remains open. At times lunch can be interrupted with a customer, but that’s okay. That’s what having a small mom & pop business involves, and that’s the path we chose. In the summer months, we pack up at 5pm, in the winter it is 4, and we head home from there. But as my husband likes to say: 'If he’s anywhere on the property and someone shows up, we’re open' – a philosophy passed down from my father.

The best and worst things about being a craftsperson?

The best things have to be allowing myself to be creative every day, and the freedom and lack of pressure this career affords us. We have always lived happily within our means, and strive to not incur debt. This has never been a punch-in, punch-out job; there’s a natural diversity to each day. 

Sometimes we’re in the shop; other times we might spend an afternoon gardening or working on a home improvement project. And occasionally, if someone can tend the shop, we’ll slip away and enjoy a few hours of fun.

If there is a downside, and it’s hardly a deal breaker, it’s the lack of a guaranteed paycheck. COVID only amplified that reality. But that’s where living within our means and avoiding debt makes all the difference. While nothing is ever guaranteed, we can usually count on summer and Christmas as our busiest seasons, which helps balance out the leaner winter and spring months. Planning ahead for those slow periods is part of the rhythm of our work.

One more thing... What career would you be doing if you weren’t a craftsperson?

I really don’t know. Pottery came naturally for me and I can’t see myself doing anything different. I have a degree in Environmental Science, but that is not an option anymore. I know I would choose to do something creative. I would have to! I love being outdoors and gardening, and I love being creative in the kitchen, especially when I have the opportunity to feed others. Cooking, baking, gardening or landscaping; something using my hands where there is an end result.

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Interview by Liz Gardner
Images from Taylor Hall O’Brien