COMPLIMENTARY COPY TM
The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East VOL. 45, NO. 5 FRIDAY JANUARY 31, 2014
Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
A Profile In Pennsylvania German Studies:
Jeff Dietrich By Karl Pass
igh school art teacher, potter, and folk art collector Jeff Dietrich of Berks County, Pa., titles his pottery business Loghouse Pottery. Dietrich makes redware and stoneware in a studio shop in the former summer kitchen behind his 18thcentury log and stone residence in the historic village of Trexler, outside Kempton, Pa. He holds open houses there, twice a year, which are buying opportunities for his growing network of collectors. One takes place the first weekend of June and coincides with the popular Hawk Mountain Arts Tour, and the other is typically held during the first weekend in December. Trexler is a rural area in northern Berks County near the Lehigh and also Schuylkill County border. The region has a rich
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history of Pennsylvania German culture. The village was designated a National Historic District on Sept. 11, 2001, and the Albany Township Historical Society’s museum is along the railroad tracks across the road from Dietrich’s property. Unlike contemporary potters who merely duplicate old design motifs and forms, Dietrich is a skilled artisan with a keen eye for quality and design in both his work and his collection. “I don’t consider it reproduction. It is my interpretation of the motif,” said Dietrich. He uses a gas-fired kiln and often incorporates wood ash into his glazes. Dietrich uses a hand-built boxed wheel for trimming thrown work that was once owned and used by Jim Seagreaves. Dietrich was friends with the late
Breiningsville, Pa., folk potter, and his wife, Verna. Potter Seagreaves (1913-1997) was a revivalist potter whose style of work incorporated a Pennsylvania German twist with a modern 1950s style artistry. He did a lot of press molding and almost always used bright multi-colored glazes. Seagreaves was largely known for his figural bird sculptures, and the majority of his work is signed in script “JCS.” His wife, Verna (19132000), was also creative and painted, loosely in the style of “Grandma Moses.” Dietrich has one of the largest collections of Verna Seagreaves paintings, including a rare scene depicting Jim in his pottery shop using the boxed wheel. A great source for Dietrich used to be the late Mary Jeff Dietrich is seen here with a charger of his Snyder. “I got design that he made in his studio. They sell for (Continued on page 2)
$150 during his open houses, held twice a year. Photo courtesy of Lincoln Fajardo.
Here are examples of two horse-drawn wagons by Luke Gottshall (1899-1993).
Dietrich has a vast collection of Walter and June Gottshall carvings, as shown here. In the background is a large painting of a chicken and rooster by the Gottshalls’ daughter, folk painter Barbara Strawser.
This is a front view of Jeff Dietrich’s house in the village of Trexler, Pa.
The large spread-wing eagle in the center is by Jonathan Bastian, who currently resides in Virginia. (Right) Jeff Dietrich has one of the largest collections of Verna Seagreaves (1913-2000) paintings.
These wooden carved eagles are in the style of Wilhelm Schimmel and done by Robert Rogers of Springfield, Mass.
A view from the backyard of the Dietrich residence. The log and stone building was built circa 1780. The kitchen addition was done circa 1830. The building served as a hotel during part of the 19th century and was also a post office. It was vacant the majority of the 20th century. Dietrich has lived there since 1999 and uses the former summer kitchen in the back as his shop/studio.
A selection of Dietrich (Loghouse Pottery) plates and jars set Dietrich lays out his pottery for sale on open house weekends Another selection of Dietrich’s work (Loghouse Pottery) in a different style. up for an open house show. on tables throughout his house.