[Soderhaltz Pottery, West Gouldsboro, Me.]

[Soderhaltz Pottery, West Gouldsboro, Me.]

"[Soderhaltz Pottery, West Gouldsboro, Me.]" Soderhaltz Pottery, Store, Waterfront Eric Ellis Soderholtz. He was a pioneer in American garden pottery at the turn of the last century, and as well as in the artistic use of that most humble of mediums, concrete. Born in Sweden, based in Boston, Soderholtz's first career was as a photographer, specializing in Architecture. In the late 19th century, on the wave of interest in America's past, he published several groundbreaking books of photographs of early American houses. His work also appeared in most of the major magazines of the day, from Architectural Record to House Beautiful. He first discovered Maine on a fishing trip, winding up in the hamlet of West Gouldsboro, near the spectacular scenery of the Schoodic Peninsula, now part of Acadia National Park. He fell in love with the area, and eventually built a fascinating stone Arts & Crafts bungalow, Boreas Lodge, on a rocky ledge there. He experimented with shapes, techniques, and finishes. Pieces were manufactured using various techniques, including molding on a form, and pivoting against a template. The finish layers were applied by hand on a turning wheel. Powdered brick dust mixed in the concrete gave a particularly beautiful finish, and various other materials, from coal dust to mica chips were used for various colored and textured surfaces. Stamps were used to impress designs on some of his pieces. With the coming of the great depression, business declined, and the studio was closed. 35 years ago, one could still see the giant wooden forms that had shaped many of his pots, strewn about the grounds of his home in West Gouldsboro. The house is still standing in 2015. This information was taken from an article by Brad Emerson http://thedowneastdilettante.blogspot.com/2010/05/concrete-beauty-ee-soderholtz.html