Throughout our years of creating pottery, we’ve been fortunate to connect with collectors who become dear friends of the studio. Today, we’re delighted to introduce you to Jeff Long, a cherished member of our pottery family whose thoughtful appreciation for miniature pieces has helped shape our understanding of how these smaller works find their place in the world. Jeff has been collecting Ephraim pottery since our early days at the farm, developing a particular passion for our miniature pieces that speaks to their special magic.
The Beginning at the Farm
Jeff’s miniature collection began with a chance encounter during a tour of our old farm studio. “In one of the offices, I noticed on the window sill, a few miniatures that stopped me in my tracks being the first time I had seen one,” Jeff recalls. The piece that caught his eye was a miniature Rolled Arrowroot vase. “For years, I hounded the Studio to sell it to me.” When Ephraim moved to the new Lake Mills location, Jeff’s persistence paid off. “They decided to sell a lot of stuff from the farm at the following Ephraim Holiday Event. I was first in line when they opened the doors of the new gallery and this little guy was sitting on a shelf in the middle of the room and I grabbed it!”
Stories Behind the Pieces
Each miniature in Jeff’s collection carries its own story. The miniature Feathery Leaf Fiddlehead Vase came with nine years of anticipation: “I brought my best friend, Rob, to his first EFP Holiday Event and this mini was part of the Experimentals/Ornaments sale. His number was drawn before mine and he bolted to grab this mini. I was convinced he was getting it for me, but that wasn’t the case! Despite years of friendly pleading, Rob kept it displayed with his collection of EFP Bears. Finally, when I purchased my dream home in Maine, he gave it to me as a housewarming gift!! He felt it belonged with me and with the overall collection I have of Feathery Leaf Glazed Ephraim pots!”
A Collector’s Vision
Jeff’s approach to collecting celebrates the relationships between pieces. “I’ve always been drawn to pairs or multiples of my favorite EFP vases,” he explains, “and I’ve always believed that they display with more intensity when in groupings of the same, but different, vases.” He especially enjoys pairing miniatures with their full-sized counterparts, creating dynamic displays throughout his home.
The Art of Display
Jeff’s most treasured pieces reside in a special Stickley cabinet—pieces he declares will “go with me to the grave!” He takes particular joy in custom-ordered pieces, often requesting “artist choice” glazing. “I am always pleasantly surprised when I unwrap them and see them for the first time!”
The Joy of Miniature Collecting
For those considering starting their own miniature collection, Jeff offers this perspective: “Collecting minis is a great way to have the room to display MORE vases and receive the same amount of joy as looking at the larger versions. The amount of time it takes an artist to create a mini is almost as much time as it takes to create a full size version. You really can display an EFP mini vase almost anywhere in your home and that gives you a pop of joy around every corner.”
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