Hobby Ceramics and How It All Began

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The earliest ceramics were pottery objects made from clay, either by itself or mixed with other materials and then hardened in a firing chamber. Later ceramics were glazed and fired in an oven called a "kiln" to create a colored, smooth surface.

In the second half of the 20th century, a new mass-market type of ceramic hobby industry grew,
feeding on the post war eras increased leisure time and more income to spend on hobbies. This often centered around a shop which provided both a work space and some common services. This was different than ceramic pottery / fine art ceramics where pieces are either made using, a potter's wheel or one hand built.

Hobby ceramics involved finishing pieces that were designed by companies that produced plaster molds and selling them to the many ceramic shops / enthusiasts that began the industry. The company then sold the molds to local ceramic shops who could produce many pieces of the same item. The molds were filled with liquid clay, called slip, then poured out (after a designated time) forming a shell. Once the piece dried in the mold to the point where the item could be unmolded and handled, they were placed in the shop on shelves for sale as "greenware."

In the "greenware" business, the customer goes to a shop which supplies raw unfired pieces, along with decorating materials, tools, firing, communal work space, and lessons. The shop owner slip-casts the pieces on-site, using a wide variety of molds purchased from manufacturers and dealers. The customer cleans the seams of the greenware, decorates it with underglazes and glazes, and the shop does the firing. In the 1960's-70's, every town had a ceramics shop like Agnestelle of Whitewood, either in a storefront or in the home of a hobbyist-turned-store owner. (At one time it was, some claimed, the biggest hobby in America.) The "greenware" (unfired dry slip items cast from molds) shop fulfilled a social function, as "classes" became a regular weekly "girls' night out". Again, manufacturers responded by producing molds, slip, decorating material, and affordable electric kilns.

One of the largest was Duncan Enterprises. What began in 1946 as a small startup in the Duncan family’s garage is today a thriving international business with the same close-knit, family-owned vibes our company was founded on. Their dedication to teamwork and adaptability to change, has evolved this company from the garage to selling creative lifestyle products in every state in the U.S. and 35 other countries. In 2020, they were one of the largest ceramic arts, crafting adhesives, cosmetics and fashion art manufacturers in the world with its ongoing reputation for excellence in product development, quality, education and health & safety. Sadly Duncan became one of the victim of COVID and on January 4, 2022, sold its crafts business and associated brands to the Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation (DKM), a private investment company, which will eventually operate under the name of "iLoveToCreate." The Duncan Ceramic were sold to and marketed by Mayco Colors

In 1962, Estelle Matusik, was given a small ceramic jewelry box with her name on in gold. Wondering how this could be, she asked her friend and was taken to a ceramic shop nearby. There, she started classes with her friend and mom. When she displayed her holiday pieces on her desk at work, her coworkers asked her to make one or more for them. This eventually led to buying the plaster mold and casting the greenware themselves. Her mom, Agnes, did the casting and cleaning and Estelle did the firing. Yes, they bought their own kiln. Her dad, Walt, started to build shelves and a pouring area in one side of their double garage in Levittown, PA. Her mom was very happy and loved owning the ceramic shop. All put their heads together and came up with the name, a combination of Agnes and Estelle and the Whitewood section of Levittown where they lived, becoming Agnestelle of Whitewood.

In the meantime, Estelle went on to work part time at night, in Mrs. Gibbs's Holiday House Ceramics in Croydon, PA. Mrs. Gibbs's took her under her wing and taught Estelle the ceramic business from the ground up. When the shop closed, she later worked in 3 other shops, moving her classes with her and eventually moving them into their home. They outgrew the home in Whitewood and moved to Bensalem, PA in 1976, where Estelle taught night classes for her mom, 3 nights a week in the basement..

In 1980, Estelle was introduced to Dudley Bolbat by her friends at work. His mon and dad, Jane and Paul Bolbat were collectors of items, marked, "Made in Occupied Japan." They had an extensive collection which eventually became the "The Aris Collection."

Agnestelle of Whitewood's most popular class was the Friday Night Ceramic Club, an entity of its own. which lasted 37 years and became family. In addition to working on ceramic project, each member, mostly Italian, rotated bringing a homemade "goodie" each Friday, breaking for a snack at 9:30 and continuing on until 11 PM. They would order at least 10 of each item and as their families grew, would make additional, insuring each would have the same collection. The oldest, 90 and 93, had to leave because the 6 steps to the basement became too steep to climb up, even though Dudley built side half-steps. They were an amazing group and will always be remembered in our hearts.

Over the 37 years, the Friday Night Ceramic Club shared their lives and family recipes with each other, passing them around in class. These terrific recipes are now in Dudley's Greenbook, "Parade of Recipes." Some of the most popular ones we are sharing on our Recipe page. Enjoy!

The Aris Collection

Hobby Ceramics

Cast Iron Banks

Collectible items made in Occupied Japan during the summer of 1945 through the spring of 1952 while U.S. troops were in the country. The entire collection is up for sale and includes all documentation.

As of March 2023, Agnestelle Hobby Ceramic Shop only has finished pieces for sale. All molds, bisque and supplies have been turned over to Emma's Ceramic Studio (ECS).

Authentic still and Mechanical cast iron banks from the Collection of Charles Westey Atwood. These banks were first manufactured in the late 1800s, to instill the concept of earning saving money.