Pots by Ben Wolff
I am always thrilled to get new pots for my growing collection of rare and exotic plants, especially when they are from one of my favorite potters, Ben Wolff.
Ben is the son of Guy Wolff, also a master potter, who I first met years ago during one of my many trips through Litchfield County, Connecticut, searching for antiques, plants, and ideas for my magazine, Living. I was so impressed by Guy's work, I became a regular customer - of both father and son. Now, I have the largest personal collection of Wolff pottery ever known. Ben works out of his home where he creates all his pieces by hand on a traditional potter's wheel. Earlier this week, Ben personally delivered another batch of vessels to my farm in two different sizes, each one so thoughtfully handcrafted.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Ben Wolff drove down from Goshen, Connecticut in Litchfield County to deliver a batch of beautiful gray pots. Here we are in my head house putting them all on the table. Ben’s pots are his own designs. He uses different clays, glazes and finishes making them different from his father’s.
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- My large greenhouse is filled with Wolff pottery. I’ve been using Wolff pots for years.
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- Every time Ben visits, he asks to walk through the greenhouse to see all the many clay containers he and his dad have made for me.
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- Here is one of his smaller orchid pots.
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- Orchid pots have holes primarily for aeration. The holes facilitate airflow to the orchid’s roots, preventing them from sitting in stagnant water.
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- Ben has made many orchid pots for me over the years in different sizes.
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- Here’s another one with a beautiful edged rim.
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- When I order pots, I always order a sizable amount to cover my planting needs for some time. Here’s a batch of orchid pots I purchased in 2023.
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- This Ben Wolff pot is planted with one of my Chinese money plants, Pilea Peperomioides.
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- This succulent is potted in a six pound vessel, the wet weight amount of the clay used. This standardized system for marking horticultural pots was adopted by Victorian potters.
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- And here is another pot from one of Ben’s older collections.
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- Ben has been crafting pots since 1999. Here he is at his potter’s wheel in his home.
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- He makes every pot himself and then ships them out with the help of his wife, Corinne.
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- Ben’s pots are sold personally and to stores around the country.
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- Most of these gray and terracotta pots under my greenhouse table are Ben Wolff pots just waiting to be potted with new plants.
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- Most recently, Ben delivered two-dozen gorgeous large gray pots.
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- I needed these bigger sized pots and these wide pan sized planters.
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- Each pot has a large drainage hole at the bottom.
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- On one side, Ben stamps his name and the wet weight of the clay – these had a wet weight of 10-pounds.
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- On the other side, he stamps my name. Thanks, Ben, I love every vessel and can’t wait to pot up my next plant. Please go to Ben’s web site to see what’s available and follow him on Instagram @benwolffpottery.
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