New Western North Carolina pieces on loan from the collection of Rodney Leftwich will be displayed at the Shelton House’s Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts in Waynesville.

During the 1970s Leftwich, an area native and potter, became interested in the historical pottery traditions of Western North Carolina. He collected examples, studying their forms, glazes, methods of manufacture, and makers, eventually amassing a collection of over 500 examples of locally made folk and art wares.

Pottery produced in the mountains was varied and often unique. Functional and art pottery was made in a variety of shapes and glaze combinations, partially due to the influx of potters from different traditions. Potters west of Asheville around Candler came mostly from South Carolina. Weaverville area potters immigrated from the Catawba Valley tradition south of Hickory, and the Brown family of potters of Arden came from Georgia. Art potters came from Tennessee and elsewhere. Unusual forms include face jugs, ring shaped jugs, foot warmers, and even crude folksy pottery dolls probably made for a potter’s children.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

www.sheltonhouse.org or 828.452.1551.