Shearwater Pottery

Shearwater Pottery was established in 1928 in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, by Peter Anderson and members of the Anderson family. The workshop has remained in operation for decades, making it one of the longest-surviving art potteries in the American South.

Peter Anderson founded the pottery, and his brothers Walter Inglis Anderson and James McConnell Anderson contributed significantly to its designs and artistic direction. Walter Anderson, a renowned painter and muralist, created many of the distinctive decorative motifs that define Shearwater pieces.

Shearwater Pottery is known for hand-thrown functional wares such as vases, bowls, and plates, as well as sculptural and decorative pieces featuring the family's characteristic glazes and designs. The pottery's aesthetic draws inspiration from the natural landscape of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Authentic Shearwater Pottery pieces are typically marked with a distinctive backstamp or incised marking, and each piece is hand-thrown and individually decorated. Collectors should look for the pottery's characteristic glazes and designs associated with the Anderson family artists.