Guy Wolff

This is Staubach’s fourth book, and UPNE is reissuing Clay, an earlier work, in September. The longtime manager of general books at the UConn Co-op and potter said that she is able to do so much, because she needs very little sleep. ‘Most days I get up early in the morning. I work long days, but try to do something productive before and after each work day,’ says Staubach. The book-about a well-known potter whose work graces the gardens of designers-had its official launch on July 14 at Hickory Stick Bookshop in Washington Depot, CT.

Staubach, a potter and gardener herself, has produced an illustrated biography that joins the details of Wolff’s career with a lively discussion of the frequently competing demands of craft and business.

Staubach has done a masterful job of weaving biography, history, aesthetics, technique, and philosophy into an eloquently crafted story. She moves seamlessly from ancient Egypt, China, Japan, and England through Jugtown, to end up in modern-day New England, all the while including encounters with Arthur Miller, Louisa Calder, Martha Stewart, and Steve Jobs. Staubach gives us access, not just to the how but also to the why of Guy Wolff’s incredible journey. A fantastic read!

Guy Wolff is a great potter. He is also a great scholar. His work is exceptional, beautifully made, true to form, unique. I cannot more highly commend him. He is an American national treasure.

Like countless others, I met Guy Wolff’s garden pots through Smith & Hawken. I became a very modest collector. The pots, filled with flowers and foliage, and placed in and around my gardens, became focal points of hardy beauty. Now, thanks to Suzy Staubach’s outstanding book, I know more about the man himself. A nice fantasy would be to find him standing in my garden next to one of his pots, and we would talk.