About O'Keane Pottery

Clay has always been my favorite media; beginning with common modeling clay in childhood to my first real pottery experiences in high school. As a young man, I made pots out of clay dug from a local river bank, which made me realize what our predecessors in this field must have done. Formal art training began at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; then later with graduate work in Ceramics also at UW-M. Since that time experience has been my ceramics teacher.

The pottery that we made from 1968 through about 1994 had been made out of a stoneware clay that we mixed in our studio. Since then O'Keane Pottery is made from a fine English Porcelain Clay. Most pieces are created on the pottery wheel, then altered. We use no molds, patterns or templates for forming or decorating. After air drying, our work is bisque fired to 1850 F., glazed and fired again to 2380 F, cone 10. All glazes are formulated in our studio from raw non-toxic chemical components such as feldspar, silica and iron oxide; therefore, our pottery is food-safe.

Much of the current designs have brush decoration and multiple glazes. Since we have no employees, we strive for quality, not quantity. Our pieces are suitable for use in both oven and microwave as well as being safe for the dishwasher.

We believe in creating pottery that is very pleasing to the eye, the touch, and totally enjoyable to use. We hope those who purchase our work find that our original American handmade pottery adds a bit of beauty and joy to their lives. Enjoy, admire and appreciate O'Keane Pottery, for it is made with a love of the beauty and wonders that come from this earth.

James & Carol O'Keane