Horace Potter
I’ve been investigating metalsmiths from Ohio who have truly changed the course of history. So far, I’ve highlighted the remarkable work of John Paul Miller and Mary Ellen McDermott—both of whom I discovered on my own. But when I reached out to my friend and jewelry historian Jason Adams, he gave me a few new names to explore, opening up even more layers of our regional craft history.
One that I’m thrilled to include is Horace Potter, a pivotal figure often recognized as the founder and leader of Cleveland’s vibrant Arts and Crafts metals community. His contributions were foundational in shaping not just a local style, but also a culture of teaching and studio practice that would ripple across generations.
Potter was born in 1873 into a well-to-do Cleveland family. At twenty, he enrolled in the Cleveland School of Art (today’s Cleveland Institute of Art), where he immersed himself in traditional design and craftsmanship. After graduating four years later, he sharpened his skills in Boston, earning a master’s degree with a focus on metalsmithing—a fairly specialized pursuit for the time.
At just 27, he returned to teach at his alma mater. But his passion for deep, authentic craft education drew him even farther afield: after a year, he left for England to study at the School of the Guild of Handicraft in Chipping Campden, led by none other than Charles Robert Ashbee, one of the primary visionaries of the British Arts and Crafts movement. This experience profoundly shaped Potter’s philosophy. He absorbed not only technical methods but also the movement’s core belief that beautiful, well-made objects could uplift daily life.
When Potter came back to Cleveland, he brought this ethos with him. He resumed teaching at the Cleveland School of Art, instilling these values in a new generation of American metalsmiths. By 1905, he had moved back to his family’s farm, where he famously transformed a humble chicken coop into a metals studio. Ever the community builder, he invited students and young craftspeople to work there alongside him, fostering a true workshop atmosphere.
Soon after, Potter established a downtown Cleveland studio that moved through several locations along bustling Euclid Avenue, becoming a nucleus for high-quality handcrafted silver and metalwork. By 1928, seeking to expand, he partnered with Gurdon W. Bentley to create Potter Bentley Studios, introducing china and garden accessories to their offerings. Though Bentley dissolved the partnership in 1933, it was only months later that another chapter began: Louis Mellen approached Potter, and together they founded Potter and Mellen, Incorporated—a name still synonymous with fine metalwork and jewelry in Cleveland to this day.
Potter didn’t just make exquisite objects; he helped build an artistic infrastructure. Through teaching, mentoring, and leading by example, he established Cleveland as a significant center for Arts and Crafts metalwork in the United States, drawing on European ideals but shaping them into something distinctly local.
I’ve been dedicating my blog posts to studio jewelers and metalsmiths who left an indelible mark on our field. Please feel free to leave your thoughts, memories, or to share—especially if you have stories connected to Cleveland’s rich craft history.
