The best thing about pottery, says Anna Richardson, is its ability to connect form and function. Take, for instance, her Pinch Cup. “It’s made pinched by my own thumb, making a resting place for yours,” she says. “I hope when customers use one of my mugs they might feel joy, or peacefulness, or a sense of human connection in their everyday routine.”
That’s the idea behind Terra Sol Ceramics, which Richardson launched in February following a relocation to Charlottesville from Wilmington, North Carolina. Connection is a main tenet for the ceramicist: She works to forge it through customer service, process transparency, and the products themselves. And she hopes her work can benefit more than just her customers. Each season, she hosts a raffle, donating 100 percent of the proceeds to a nonprofit. (This past summer, raffle sales went to The Okra Project, which provides support to black trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people through hot meals and other aid.)
Richardson’s mugs, cups, vases, and bowls feature exclusive glazes (we love the lavender!) and on-trend cottage core designs (the Grid Mug is a bestseller and her personal favorite, she says).
“We are drawn to handmade goods because they represent hundreds of hours of love for a craft,” Richardson says. “From my hands to your home, Terra Sol pieces are meant to be filled and re-filled for many years.”
Find more at terrasolceramics.com.
