James Christian Seagreaves (1913-1997) and wife Verna Seagreaves (1913-2000) were a powerhouse team of folk artisans from Breinigsville, Pa. Jim, a redware potter, and Verna, a watercolor artist, produced Pennsylvania German art sought after in todays marketplace. An online sale by Zettlemoyer Auction Co. on Aug. 26 had a large offering of their work. Prices realized were all over the map, reflecting the wide range of work done. As a group, both the pottery and watercolor paintings sold well. The large grouping was consigned by family members of Ruth Seagreaves Hichar, who was Jims sister. She passed away in 2015. Father/son team of Woody and Eric Zettlemoyer are not strangers to Seagreaves folk art. In 2018, they held three sales on behalf of Jim and Vernas daughter, Claudia, who lives in Colorado and was downsizing. They also sold the couples folk art on behalf of the family following Vernas passing in 2000. Examples of both common and unusual forms of Jims redware have cooled from the high watermark heyday of the 1990s, yet still have a sizable following. His pottery can be found at online marketplaces such as Etsy or eBay. The artistic couple married in 1941, first living in Alburtis, Pa., until 1961, when they moved to Breinigsville. In 1966, the Seagreaves joined the Reading-Berks Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsman. Jim was a revivalist potter who also worked as a machinist for much of his career. Making redware pottery was technically his second career upon retirement in 1976, although he began potting long before. Jim was exempted from the draft during World War II because his work at the Bethlehem Steel plant was considered essential to the war effort. Later, he worked at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Seagreaves was known for his characteristic blending of styles that incorporated motifs and forms, techniques used by traditional Pennsylvania German potters and also that of modern 1950s ceramic art. He was especially known for press molding figural birds and using vibrant, brightly colored glazes. However, Seagreaves was also prolific on the wheel, where he turned mugs, bowls, and fat lamps, among other forms. He was also known for his skillful sgraffito decorating. According to the late regional historian Richard Orth, Seagreaves began experimenting with making redware pottery in the late 1940s. The mentioned press-molded birds were cast from original molds he created. Following his death, the majority of molds were destroyed to prevent reproductions. Aside from the molded work, he was very skilled at creating hand-built work. Among the rarer items he created were face jugs, fish whistles, figural dogs and people. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he signed his work with initials JS, soon changing to JCS due to the fact a period potter (John Snyder of Mohrsville, Berks County) used the initials JS, and Jim wanted to both stand alone and not take the risk of having pieces being passed off for non-contemporary. The bulk of his redware pottery is signed JCS. Verna (1913-2000) was a skilled folk painter, but unlike Jim never produced her artwork on a prolific scale. She was a music teacher by profession, teaching in the Alburtis and East Penn School District, from which she retired. She was also the organist and choir director for 28 years at Zion Lehigh Lutheran Church in Alburtis, and also for the Church of the Good Shepherd in Alburtis. She was a watercolorist for roughly 40 years. Self-taught, Verna mainly worked in the Grandma Moses style of folk painting. Her work was exhibited in 1999 at the Historical Society of Berks County (now the Berks History Center). Like her husband, Vernas artwork is known for the use of bright vivid colors. She also assisted Jim in his pottery studio. She often signed pieces with her initials, VAS, and also Verna. Several of her Zuni and Pueblo-design inspired pottery were in this online auction. The inspiration for the style came from a trip the two took to the American Southwest. Vernas watercolors are deserving of recognition among folk art circles. The photos showcase a few of the unusual highlights. Prices reported include a 17 percent buyers premium. For further information, call Zettlemoyer Auction Co. of Fogelsville, Pa., at 610-395-8084.