Natural Wonders

Sally Cornwall loves the simple nature that is in her back yard. The Wolfeboro potter has spent the past 20 years sharing her love of natural science by teaching area school kids with demonstrations, classes and excursions. She also expresses that love through her hands, by shaping clay.

With stoneware in a variety of colors, Sally coils and pinches pots into organic, but functional shapes. The unglazed exterior is left to crack and crackle for a serendipitous surface that only adds to the nature of the piece. A high-fire glaze on the inside creates textural contrast and makes the object functional. Rims are left as the hand last teased them or she adds a ceramic representation of the outdoor world with leaves or maybe clay moths or bees alighting the edge. More recently she has begun to incorporate real bittersweet vines and feathers as a final touch. It’s only natural.

When Sally is not rolling tubes for coiling pots she is donning gloves to hand dip truffles. She and her husband Jonathan Walpole started Winnipesaukee Chocolates three years ago and have continued to expand their premium bar and toffee lines named after area locales.

Both chocolate and pottery can be found at their retail outlet in Wolfeboro and Sally’s ceramic work is available at League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s retail shops in Concord, Littleton, Wolfeboro and Sandwich (seasonal). Prices range from $40 to $1,000. — Susan Laughlin