[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 131 (Wednesday, September 16, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      COMMENDING EDGECOMB POTTERS

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, Midcoast Maine is a special place 
for Mainers and tourists alike. With its beautiful harbors and 
quintessential Maine villages, the region is a remarkable cross-section 
of our State. Nestled on route 27 in the heart of this striking area is 
Edgecomb Potters, a veritable gem in Maine's art world. I rise today to 
recognize this superb Maine company and the innovative spirit of its 
founders.
  Located in the town of Edgecomb, Edgecomb Potters was started in a 
small one-room schoolhouse by owners Richard and Chris Hilton in 1976. 
Before starting the business, Richard had been planning on entering the 
broadcasting industry, while Chris was an art teacher. Since that time, 
Edgecomb Potters has crafted over 1.3 million unique pieces of gorgeous 
pottery, and it averages 200,000 pieces each year. Additionally, the 
company has expanded to its present day 28-acre complex, where it has 
eight kilns, and added satellite retail locations in Freeport and 
Portland. Edgecomb Potters has also grown to a team of more than 30 
employees in that time, and over 150,000 people visit the company's 
three locations each season. Beyond its own pottery, Edgecomb's stores 
showcase the work of over 400 different artisans, many of them Mainers, 
specializing in jewelry, sculpture, and glass.
  The Hiltons work together on each design. Richard Hilton serves as 
Edgecomb's master potter, studying the organic composition and history 
of ceramic glazes from all over the world, and Chris lends her 
extensive art background to the output of beautiful pieces of pottery. 
They are consistently producing new and creative glazes and patterns 
which lend a unique rarity to the company's many pieces. All glazes and 
porcelains are made on site with glazes named by the colors they evoke, 
such as Lady Slipper Pink, Apple Green, and Honey Green. In addition to 
these inventive colors, the potters frequently add golden flecks, 
shimmering crystals, and flowing artistic tones to give a distinctive 
finish to each piece.
  During the company's 33-year history, Edgecomb Potters has rightfully 
gained significant national recognition. The Hiltons' passion for glaze 
development has led them to be considered national leaders in this 
field, and has propelled their company to be recognized by the Boston 
Globe, Ceramics Monthly, American Style and numerous other 
publications. Edgecomb Potters also garnered international attention 
when trade representatives from Taiwan purchased one of their large 
vases for that country's president in 2001. The vase was made using 
Kyoto Forest, a unique glaze Mr. Hilton concocted based on a 17th 
century Chinese glaze. The company has also been named one of America's 
``Best of the Road'' companies by Rand McNally. The global atlas 
producer lists Edgecomb Potters as ``one of the most highly acclaimed 
art potteries in America,'' and cites the ``one-of-a-kind'' pottery as 
an incentive for people to visit this extraordinary facility.
  Edgecomb Potters continues to expand because of the Hiltons' constant 
and abiding passion for art and pottery, and the number of new 
customers they continuously attract worldwide is impressive. Indeed, 
Edgecomb's presence in Maine's art scene has placed our State on the 
national map as a destination for lovers of stunning and matchless 
pottery. I congratulate Richard and Chris Hilton, and everyone at 
Edgecomb Potters, for their pioneering spirit, and offer my best wishes 
for their continued success.

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