Being a bourbon lover, my inspiration for the title of this page was the top shelf in the liquor store where most of my favorite bourbons reside... My intention is to only offer pots worthy of the Top Shelf ranking on this website. As with most potters, there has always been some inconsistency in the work that comes out of my kiln. Thankfully, not much is lost at this point in my career, but the pots I am featuring on this website are truly alive with the mystery of creation that inspires my best work...  Since I fire in a gas reduction kiln I am not dependent on the fumes from soda/salt or the ash from wood to get interesting results on my surfaces, but only the pots that truly integrate the elusive qualities of surface, color development and crystal growth will aspire to this page.

With the exception of liner glazes (which are poured), my glazes are applied with spray guns. Potters always speak of the Kiln Gods, but for me the magic resides as much in the application process as it does in the mystery of fire. Most all pieces have 4-8 glazes sprayed in overlapping layers. Some glazes are sprayed in a way that isolates them from others, like the black glaze I apply on the rim of a bowl, or the rim, handle, and foot of a pitcher, but most are layered and blended. My intention is for the whole presentation look as if it is one rich and varied surface, much like agate, marble, or layers of metamorphic rock. I want my glazes to ebb and flow (but not run too much!), with color and surface texture gently emphasizing changes in the form. I encourage micro-crystalline growth on the glaze surface, which can resemble a snowstorm or falling leaves, and I use fake ash glazes to encourage streaking, leaving vivid traces of glazes interacting with and flowing through each other as they melt. Most of my glaze combinations are rather unstable to work with, but at their best they have an amazing ability to allure and captivate the viewer.  One thing is certain... they are never boringly predictable. Just as unstable people are often more captivating, enticing, and provocative than those we regard as “pillars of the community...”

I am constantly searching for new glazes that will stir my soul and inspire previously inaccessible colors or textures. I both formulate glazes and collect them from other sources, but I am always experimenting with formula and application variations. The glaze which acts as the basis for much of my work and encourages the formation of crystals (Strontium Crystal Magic) began its life as a Tom Coleman glaze (Yellow Crystal Matt). Through an extended series of experiments it ended up far enough afield to warrant renaming. By itself it is rather uninteresting, but it brings glazes sprayed over it to life. Whenever I try a new formula the first thing I do is spray it over SCM. If anyone has interesting glazes to send my way I will add them to my ongoing glaze experiment...

Top Shelf Pottery represents the pottery in my current inventory that does the best job of captivating my interest and inspiring me onward. Since this is a subjective judgement, you might not necessarily agree with me. Any pot purchased through this website comes with a 30-day return policy. If it does not seem as luscious in person as it looked on your computer, simply return it and I will gladly replace it with one that suits you better... It is important to me to have satisfied customers! If you simply decide that Steven Hill Pottery isn’t to your liking, then I will cheerfully refund your purchase price, less shipping.

Not all the items I make will be shown here. For instance, I don’t plan on putting mugs ($50), tumblers ($50), or whisky cups ($30), unless I happen to have a spectacular pair or set to photograph. But I would be happy to pick out one of these items glazed in your color preferences and ship it to you for $15.

The prices will vary on similar items depending on my gut response to an individual pot. If a pot is one that truly makes my juices flow it might command a significantly higher price, but usually the variation is not too dramatic. I try to keep my prices fair, balancing the success of my 34 year career, with the fact that I still want my work to be used as functional pottery.

We take credit cards over the phone or you can send a check. Insured shipping will be 10% of the price of a pot, with a minimum of $15. We must charge Illinois residents sales tax. There will be discounts offered on the shipping of multiple pots, assuming we can pack more efficiently. As a rule, I will leave recently sold pots on the site for your reference, marked sold.

Email us at gallery@centerstreetclay.com or call (815) 570-2030.