Blue Agate Glaze Ceramics by Bennington Potters

The area in and around Bennington, Vermont, has been known for pottery since the 18th century. In 1948, David Gil founded Bennington Potters and revived those stoneware making traditions. The company still makes the Blue Agate line, but I seek out the vintage versions. They have a fine stippling that gives the finish more depth and feels good in the hand. And the deep blue glaze against the sand-colored clay base looks both plainspoken and chic. Blue Agate is not as rare as Black on Green, which is fabulous, but it might take me decades to find enough green pieces to serve a meal on! A factor to consider when sourcing: Try to snag pieces stamped “1915” and “dg” on the bottom (an internal style number, not a date), which indicates they were designed by Gil. I particularly like the rolled edge bowls, which have a wide, folded rim and strike me as the ideal size for cereal and ice cream.