In
1994, Joan Berkwitz began a small business known as Pour Horse. The original intentions
were to offer a casting service for hobby artists and a resin cutting horse was produced
for sculptor Kristina Lucas. Joan also cast pieces for artists Laurie Jo Jensen and Darian
Buckles. Joan then branched out, offering her own Pour Horse line of pins and other
trinkets designed to appeal to Renaissance Faire attendees. However, the effort of selling
the Renaissance Faire wares was not as profitable as hoped, partly due to the fact that
patrons preferred wares made from Renaissance era materials. Having met a ceramics artist
at one faire in 1995, Joan offered to teach that person resin casting skills in exchange
for a small test kiln.
That was the start of it all! Unfortunately, the original kiln was
not really what was needed, and Joan decided to simply go for it and buy a brand new
electric kiln of an appropriate size. A resin cast Friesian horse sculpted by Kristina was
produced, with one piece painted by Joan and auctioned to finance the kiln purchase, and
several pieces sold unpainted by the pottery. Pour Horse Pottery was under way! Joan
quickly began experimenting with producing some of her Renaissance Faire wares in ceramic,
practicing simple moldmaking, but she truly dreamed of producing ceramic horses similar to
the Hagen-Renakers she has long collected. It was not long before that wish was realized!
Photographs: Group of early ceramic Renaissance faire pins
Lucas Studio Debutante resin-photo and custom by Laurie Jo Jensen
Ceramic Viking chess pieces, done after Viking warrior chess set found off the coast of
the Orkney islands
Timothy gargoyle (a dress up set was available for this cutie)
In
1994, Joan Berkwitz began a small business known as Pour Horse. The original intentions
were to offer a casting service for hobby artists and a resin cutting horse was produced
for sculptor Kristina Lucas. Joan also cast pieces for artists Laurie Jo Jensen and Darian
Buckles. Joan then branched out, offering her own Pour Horse line of pins and other
trinkets designed to appeal to Renaissance Faire attendees. However, the effort of selling
the Renaissance Faire wares was not as profitable as hoped, partly due to the fact that
patrons preferred wares made from Renaissance era materials. Having met a ceramics artist
at one faire in 1995, Joan offered to teach that person resin casting skills in exchange
for a small test kiln.
That was the start of it all! Unfortunately, the original kiln was
not really what was needed, and Joan decided to simply go for it and buy a brand new
electric kiln of an appropriate size. A resin cast Friesian horse sculpted by Kristina was
produced, with one piece painted by Joan and auctioned to finance the kiln purchase, and
several pieces sold unpainted by the pottery. Pour Horse Pottery was under way! Joan
quickly began experimenting with producing some of her Renaissance Faire wares in ceramic,
practicing simple moldmaking, but she truly dreamed of producing ceramic horses similar to
the Hagen-Renakers she has long collected. It was not long before that wish was realized!
