Two essential questions always arise when you see beautiful pottery dishware: Can you eat off it and can you put it in the dishwasher?
With Jane Herold’s work, it’s never an issue.
Her dishes are used at some of the world’s top restaurants and, as she happily says, “They can survive five washings every night in an industrial dishwasher!” So: No problem.
Herold and her husband, the painter/sculptor Robert Adzema, have only recently moved to Cornwall, Conn., from just outside New York City. That means, of course, that it’s much more difficult for chefs to come by and talk custom dishware with her.
But it means it’s much easier for Tri-state residents (lucky us) to meet Herold, talk about kilns and ash and clay with her, and possibly purchase some dishes, pitchers, beakers and more.
Prices and a rough sense of what her shapes and colors look like can be determined ahead of time at her website, www.janeherold.com.
If you’re unsure about the potential gorgeousness of Herold’s work when combined with edibles, you can find images of her dishes and bowls with chef-prepared food on it on Instagram (search for #janeheroldpottery).
One warning: Herold cautions against heating food in the microwave, especially frozen food, on her pottery.
She has found that the handmade ware gets damaged when it has very cold food on it and is then subjected to the high temperatures generated by a microwave oven.
If you’re driving through Cornwall, you can’t miss Herold’s home and studio and shop: It’s the place with the little roadside shack that has a few pieces of pottery on a shelf outside, and a sign indicating that you’ve found Jane Herold Pottery.
There aren’t actually any ceramic pieces in the small outbuilding. You’ll need to come up to the house.
“Don’t be shy about coming up the driveway,” Herold said. “Visitors are very welcome — and there’s no pressure to buy anything.”
You can email or call ahead of time and make an appointment, or you can just stop by.
An added incentive to visit: Herold’s husband, Robert, specializes in crafting massive, gorgeous, sculptural metal sundials, many of which are in public spaces (including one on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, facing Manhattan) as well as in the gardens of many private homes.
He also makes lovely plein air watercolors of our region, which are for sale in their shared shop (see his work at www.robertadzema.com).
For those who do feel a little bashful about being alone with the artists, Herold will hold several open house events on the first two weekends of December, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on the Sundays.
To find out more about Jane Herold and her pottery, and to get email updates on her open house/open studio events in December, go to www.janeherold.com.
If you want to stop by, send her a text at 845-304-8208.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 
