Product Loyalty

The other day, my son's friend was over for a visit and wanted something to drink. He pulled out my Christa Assad cup, said how much he liked it and asked if I had made it. I let him know that it was made by a "hot" California potter. "Is she hot?", he asked. "What I meant by hot, is that she is at the top of her game, but she is rather easy on the eye as well." He admired the cup for another second, placed it back on the shelf and chose one of mine.

I didn't think too much of it until my nieces stopped by the house. Again, the question was asked, "Did you make this?". Pots made by anyone other than me were put back on the shelf.

When I visit other potters, I am always excited to touch, admire and use pots made by others...I assumed everyone would feel this way-who cares who made it? In the end, I got to experience radical favoritism and it felt good.

On a recent visit from friend and potter, Errol Willett, I was presented with a tea bowl he had made. While I rarely feel strong ownership of any pot that comes into this house, I find that I do think of this cup as mine. I am now musing over the idea of ownership and how we define what we think of as cherished possessions...