David Three Feathers Jones graduated with a
B.S.Ed. from Indiana University of PA in 1967 after Naval service in Vietnam, and taught
for several years in both Florida and Pennsylvania before taking the position of Education
Director at Meadowcroft Village in Avella, PA. After two years there, he accepted the
position of Director of the historic David Bradford House where he developed the first
person interpretation program as well as historic interpretive events.
During this time, he became involved in "war gaming" with miniatures and
learned to make his own, casting in self-made molds using what he later
found out was an early pewter formula. This expanded into casting buttons
and jewelry for reenactment groups and led to the formation of Three
Feathers Pewter® on January 13, 1984.
He apprenticed to Carl Steen, a Master Pewterer and learned the rare art of spinning
pewter. When Master Steen passed over, Mr. Jones purchased his estate including tools,
equipment, and patterns. This led to the development of the Three Feathers Pewter®
functional line of lead-free pewterware. Further study with William Melchior, Master, of
North Wales, PA and other Masters, refined and expanded his skills in this rare and
disappearing art form. He continues to learn, and through continued research, develops new
offerings as reproductions of traditional pieces or adaptations for modern usage.
The Three Feathers indicates Mr. Jones' Welsh heritage, his adoption by a Shawnee family.
Willa Hollingswoth, Owner of Three Feathers Pewter®
and Journeyman Pewterer, joined Three Feathers Pewter® after meeting
Three Feathers and becoming enthralled with pewter and its making. In January of
1997 Willa became Apprentice to Three Feathers and after seven years of instruction
advanced to the level of Journeyman Pewterer. In July of 2006 Willa purchased Three
Feathers Pewter® and Three Feathers continues on as Master Pewterer.Over the years Willa and Three Feathers have received into their
shop and have journeyed to study with other Masters. In doing so Willa has sharpened
her skills in every aspect of pewtering. Willa has assisted in developing several
pieces that are in current use and has also developed pieces of her own for future use on
the Three Feathers Pewter® line.
Three Feathers Pewter® has received numerous awards and honors including being
named to the "Early American Homes" directory of top 200 Traditional Artisans in
the US, inclusion in the State of Ohio Archives of Vanishing Traditional Arts, is honored
to be the November picture for both the 1999 and 2000 "Early American Homes"
calendar, and was commissioned by the White House to create an ornament for the 1999 White
House Blue Room Christmas Tree.
The Three Feathers Pewter® Studio and Gallery in
Millersburg, Ohio opened on October 1, 1995 and is designed to permit visitors to watch
the actual process of spinning pieces, something which can only be witnessed in
only several other
places in the United States. |
