Chilmark Pottery

I saw this the sign to this place while driving down the street and since I love pottery I had to stop in. The pieces were beautiful and high quality. There was a sale going on when I went in. The staff was very friendly and helpful. It was nice seeing where the owner actually made pottery. I did alot of looking not buying because prices were a little high for everyday coffee mugs, bowls and plates which would have very high chance of getting broken in my household with little regard for the price I paid for them. So maybe I will buy some pottery later. But overall this place has nice pottery.

I just stopped visited Chilmark Pottery on a recent bike trip to Martha’s Vineyard with my boyfriend. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Geoffrey, and talked with him for a while about pottery and politics. The pottery was beautiful — the most vibrant colors I have ever seen. We brought home ten small bowls, a slim serving platter and some gifts for family. Everything in the store was buy one, get a second piece at 50% off, which was a fantastic deal for such gorgeous pieces. Wandering down that little dirt road to the shop, meeting Geoffrey and his furry little greeter, browsing the huge and beautiful selection and scoring some great finds — it was a lovely experience and a Vineyard must.

As far back as I can remember my parents each had their own Chilmark Pottery bowls, which were used for most of their meals. Until one of my brothers or myself would accidentally smash one into the sink or floor, which didn’t happen too often. They would have to wait until the next vacation to be able to replace their special bowl. Now I have a few of my own special bowls, that have a blend beautiful blues, mixing with a brilliant purple on the inside. While the store is a little dusty and a can be cluttered in places, I think it adds to the charm. The beautiful glazes come in so many subtle variations, that I sometimes spend hours searching. If you want a cheap bowl or mug you can go to a big chain store. If you want a functional piece of art that you can admire and appreciate, this will be a good place to visit. If you are in MV you have to visit at least once.

As the previous reviewers have stated, this place has beautiful items, but it is beyond pricey for what you get — $ 32 for a coffee mug, $ 80 for a small bowl I would use for my morning cereal, etc. Nice to browse, but nothing I would want to shell out that much cash for.

Wendy G. is right– Chilmark Pottery is a misnomer. The store is in West Tisbury.
Something else that’s funny is that the «sale» sign is always up in front of the store. According to an article we read a few years ago, the owner (Geoff) discovered that the word ‘sale’ brings in more foot traffic. And truth be told, there’s always some kind of cock-​eyed sale going on – buy 1 get 1 ½ off, or something; 25^th anniversary sale (which, curiously, has been going on for the last 2 years…), etc.
Chilmark Pottery’s stuff is beautiful. Especially the stuff that Geoff makes (he’s gotten into selling pottery from Vietnam and China, and it isn’t as interesting, or as quirky, as the stuff he throws himself). Geoff’s bowls, plates, and mugs are organic interesting shapes, and the glazes just sparkle.
The downside: the store feels really dusty and cluttered, and sometimes the prices are higher than one would like (though I don’t think Geoff is wedded to the marked prices). I wish Geoff would display a little less merchandise and display it better.

Funny enough, Chilmark Pottery is not in Chilmark, but West Tisbury. Beatiful things, but pricey. I end up looking more than buying. But, a great place when you need a unique gift for someone – it’s that sorta place – where you’d buy something for someone else, not yourself. Great stoneware bird feeders, dishes with really interesting glazes, funny ceramic birds, etc. Though, the 50% off section on the front porch does feature some deals!