Pottery and Basketry of Southern Appalachia

Made possible in part by a Challenge Grant from the NEH, this exhibit features pottery, baskets, and historic images of local craftspeople, such as the Meaders of White County Georgia, and several notable Cherokee and Catawba artists, including Amanda Swimmer, Nola Campbell, and Lottie Stamper. The exhibit focuses on change over time and cultural transmission in the mountains.

Before commercially produced containers were available in the mountains, families used ceramic storage containers made by local potters. Ceramic vessels were watertight and durable, enabling families to keep milk, churn butter, and preserve fruits and vegetables.

Baskets illustrate the sharing of skills and traditions between different cultural groups in Southern Appalachia. Cherokee, European settlers, and African Americans borrowed materials and techniques from each other. For example, rib-style baskets originated in Europe, but in Appalachia, were made with white oak strips, a material first used by the Cherokee.

Image courtesy Foxfire Museum & Heritage Center