Charles Binns

“E Concrematio Confirmatio – out of the fire comes firmness, through stress we pass to strength.”             –Charles F. Binns

When he was a boy, Charles F. Binns spent a great deal of time as an apprentice to the Worchester Porcelain Works company. His father, who directed the plant, assigned Charles the job of a general helper. One day, after accidentally breaking a teacup, Charles chanced upon a vase destined for New York. It was the first of many encounters with America and the beginning of the work he would devote his life to.

In 1893, Charles traveled to America for an exhibition of Worchester porcelain. His newfound acquaintances greatly affected his choice to return to the country four years later; and in 1900, he became the Director of Alfred University’s school of clay-working and ceramics. He taught at A.U. for 31 years. During his career, he also served as secretary, vice-president, and president of the American Ceramic Society. He became the first director of the New York State College of Ceramics. Additionally, Charles wrote numerous reports and books on the history, manufacture, and practice of pottery. He has been considered the “father of American studio ceramics”. Today, his pieces are highly sought after and are displayed in museums around the world.