Pottery by Walt Schmidt

Walt Schmidt is an artisan from Bloomington, Indiana. His pottery includes interesting and unique pieces – things like whistle mugs, baconators, noggins, and face jugs. Never heard of such things? Read on!

Pottery Pieces You Never Knew You Needed

Here are our picks of the top ten unique ceramic items by Walt Schmidt:

1. 1. The Baconator:
      This handy tool cooks up to 8 pieces of bacon in the microwave or oven. The grease is collected in the pot and saucer, and can then be poured out and reused or disposed of. 

1. 1. A Mousetrap:
      Have you ever seen a ceramic mousetrap? This one is based on an old Tunisian design and is fully functional. Just soak the string in lard, peanut butter, or fat (from the bacon you cooked in the Baconator!). The mouse chews through the string and is captured in a humane and secure fashion. 

1. 1. Noggins:
      
      A noggin is a small cup, equal to a quarter gill. (A gill is a quarter of a pint.) This is the traditional liquor shot size in Irish pubs. They’re about the size of a modern-day shot glass, and just as handy if you’re drinking hard liquor. 

1. 1. Face Jug/Devil Jug:
      
      These jugs each have a unique character on them. Although similar, no two are alike. Apparently, the difference between a “face jug” and a “devil jug” is that the devil jug has horns and red eyes. 

1. 1. Bird bottle:
      
      This hanging birdhouse is designed for use year-round. It’s perfect for many types of birds including goldfinches, titmice, cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers. 

1. 1. Whistle Mugs:
      These mugs have been popular in taverns since medieval times. When your drink is empty, use the built-in whistle to flag down the barkeep for more! 

1. 1. Candle Jars:
      
      These candle jars are handy in a power outage. They each come with matches and two “plumber’s candles” – easily found in hardware and lumber stores. They burn for 9 hours each and can be conveniently stored inside the jar. 

1. 1. Chip & Dip Bowls:
      
      What party doesn’t need a place for chips and dip? This stylish dish holds both. Plus, you can impress your friends with your great taste (get it? taste? haha). 

1. 1. Strawglasses:
      
      Strawglasses have built-in straws. They’re a fun way to enjoy your favorite beverage – they’re even microwavable! Rinse after use, then wash in the dishwasher. 

1. Hanging Oil Lamp:
   
   This beautiful, fully functional oil lamp hangs from the ceiling (or a hook on the wall). You can use regular lamp oil or kerosene in it for an old-worldly glow.

These are just a few of the items that Walt Schmidt makes. I bet you never knew some of these things even existed! You can see more of his creations at his website, www.hickorytreestudio.com.

If you are interested in purchasing a piece from Walt, you can contact him at hickorytreestudio@att.net.