Training to Make Stoneware

The items found in the photos here were all small animal sculptures (lamb, bear and duck) created by Vennia (Vennie) Cornett at Iron Mountain Stoneware in Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee between the years 1965 and 1968.  The pieces all are original one-of-a-kind pieces.  They were modeled by hand.
Venie was one of Iron Mountain's original forty-five trainees in 1965.  During a six week program the trainees worked with clay to learn its characteristics and limitations.  They modeled various animals, figures, birdhouses, and other forms from their imagination.  The objects were glazed and fired.
From this group the first sixteen employees were selected, and Vennie was included.  Her stoneware creations captured the interest of buyers, and Vennie continued to make the small sculptures in additon to her factory work.  The textured frog was made by  Desmal Johnson--another of the Iron Mountain employees.
The lamb is glazed in Ice, the duck is an early version of Pond Mountain, named Lichen, and the bear is glazed in Roan Mountain. The frog also appears to be in Roan Mountain.  Two of these sculptures, the lamb and bear, are being sold on eBay this week with a copy of a certificate of authenticity from Nancy Lamb.

Figurines - lamb, bear, frog, and duck

Note the IMS mark on all but one--the lamb