Emily Swantner
Emily Swantner, native of Corpus Christi, Texas, moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in December 2000, after having lived overseas for 12 years with her vagabond husband, George. She has always worked with her hands, first as a court reporter, then as a professional chef, and now as a micaceous potter.
It is believed that chefs make good potters and vice-versa. Emily took her first micaceous pottery class at Santa Fe Clay in the Spring of 2013 and has never looked back. In the summer of 2013, she studied with Felipe Ortega, Apache Medicine Man and Master Micaceous Potter, at Owl Peak Studio in La Madera, NM. Emily continues to take classes and creates “primitive” yet functional pottery.
Emily fashions her pots in the traditional “coil and scrape,” wood-fired manner taught by Felipe Ortega, which has been used in the American Southwest for more than 800 years. Each piece is uniquely shaped and is further distinguished by her personal mark – the loop with beads motif.
Emily’s pots are made from semi-rare micaceous clay, found only in certain regions and used since ancient times around the world. The mica allows the clay to expand and contract under the heat of cooking. Thus, micaceous clay pots can be used in the oven, on the stovetop, over a campfire, charcoal or gas grill. Emily encourages you to cook in her pottery as it creates a beautiful patina over time. Following a few simple care instructions will ensure a long life of use in your kitchen or simply admiring it as still life artwork.
Deft of hand; once a court reporter, a chef and now a micaceous potter, Emily Swantner also has lived for a dozen years abroad. From her travels she brings design elements to her mica clay cook pots from Africa. Swantner's signature texturing of the stovetop cook pots and her addition of a clay loop and handmade bead makes them instantly recognizably Swantner. She also is noted for her mica plates in dinner plate and tapa sizes. Shallow wide bottom bowls are another Swantner shape. All her tableware she makes in both traditional natural clay with smoke clouds as well with an all black finish. Swantner studied the art of mica clay cookware with the late master, Felipe Ortega.
