Diane Morgenroth
When I heard from Anthony Schaller that Jeff passed away, I was shocked upon hearing that news. I only saw Jeff once a year, at the American Craft Council fair in Baltimore, but I've known and bought work from him for however many years he was at the fair. This year I wasn’t able to make it and we exchanged emails in January. He was going to make some cups for me, and when I didn’t hear back from him I figured he was still getting his act together and then the pandemic ensued. My apartment is filled with his work and my friends all have a piece of his as well.
If you want some levity, let me tell you a more typical Jeff story. I used to see him once a year at the Baltimore Craft Show. He came to know me as one gets to know one's customers. I'd say we had a friendly relationship and we used to chat at length. I was always lecturing him about his business procedures which, in my opinion, were nonexistent. One year, since he forgot to bring his credit card machine, he was copying people's credit card numbers in his little notebook. When I told him that was lame and suggested that he take photos of the numbers, he explained that he didn’t have a cell phone, which prompted me to scold him yet again. So, that was our dynamic.
Anyway, a few years ago, I bought a few pots from him but had my eye on this truly stunning large platter he had made. I asked him how much it was and when he told me, I said something like, "Wow, that's a lot! I don’t know if I can afford that." He then said it was his best piece of work and that his best friend would kill him if he sold it. So, I said, "Well then don’t sell it." But he then went on and said, "No, no, I can see you like it, so if you want it I'll reduce the price because it really is expensive." Well, I nearly smacked him and said I wasn’t trying to bargain with him, that the platter was clearly worth the amount it was marked and then, being bossy, I told him that I thought some of his pots were underpriced and he should charge more. You can well imagine how unenthusiastic he was to hear such unsolicited opinion.
Anyway, I told him I wanted to sleep on it as I wasn’t sure I should buy the platter. And again, he told me that his friend would kill him if he sold it, which prompted me to say I didn’t want to buy something that he shouldn’t sell - and the conversation kept going in that circle.
With some ambivalence, I returned the next morning and asked him if he had considered the efficacy of selling this platter given the reality that his friend had fallen in love with it? He replied that he wanted me to have it but insisted on lowering the price. I told him that I wouldn’t buy it for a lower price. Then he moaned that he didn’t even have a picture of it, so I took a few photos right then and a few more when I got it home and sent them to him. And of course I treasure the gorgeous platter, as I do all of his work. He was a true character, a very talented one, who I miss even though I only saw him once a year. Rest in peace, Jeff.
PS: And I also imitate his voice. Whenever I use the platter, I smile.
Diane Morgenroth
December 12, 2020
When I heard from Anthony Schaller that Jeff passed away, I was shocked upon hearing that news. I only saw Jeff once a year, at the American Craft Council fair in Baltimore, but I've known and bought work from him for however many years he was at the fair. This year I wasn’t able to make it and we exchanged emails in January. He was going to make some cups for me, and when I didn’t hear back from him I figured he was still getting his act together and then the pandemic ensued. My apartment is filled with his work and my friends all have a piece of his as well.
If you want some levity, let me tell you a more typical Jeff story. I used to see him once a year at the Baltimore Craft Show. He came to know me as one gets to know one's customers. I'd say we had a friendly relationship and we used to chat at length. I was always lecturing him about his business procedures which, in my opinion, were nonexistent. One year, since he forgot to bring his credit card machine, he was copying people's credit card numbers in his little notebook. When I told him that was lame and suggested that he take photos of the numbers, he explained that he didn’t have a cell phone, which prompted me to scold him yet again. So, that was our dynamic.
Anyway, a few years ago, I bought a few pots from him but had my eye on this truly stunning large platter he had made. I asked him how much it was and when he told me, I said something like, "Wow, that's a lot! I don’t know if I can afford that." He then said it was his best piece of work and that his best friend would kill him if he sold it. So, I said, "Well then don’t sell it." But he then went on and said, "No, no, I can see you like it, so if you want it I'll reduce the price because it really is expensive." Well, I nearly smacked him and said I wasn’t trying to bargain with him, that the platter was clearly worth the amount it was marked and then, being bossy, I told him that I thought some of his pots were underpriced and he should charge more. You can well imagine how unenthusiastic he was to hear such unsolicited opinion.
Anyway, I told him I wanted to sleep on it as I wasn’t sure I should buy the platter. And again, he told me that his friend would kill him if he sold it, which prompted me to say I didn’t want to buy something that he shouldn’t sell - and the conversation kept going in that circle.
With some ambivalence, I returned the next morning and asked him if he had considered the efficacy of selling this platter given the reality that his friend had fallen in love with it? He replied that he wanted me to have it but insisted on lowering the price. I told him that I wouldn’t buy it for a lower price. Then he moaned that he didn’t even have a picture of it, so I took a few photos right then and a few more when I got it home and sent them to him. And of course I treasure the gorgeous platter, as I do all of his work. He was a true character, a very talented one, who I miss even though I only saw him once a year. Rest in peace, Jeff.
PS: And I also imitate his voice. Whenever I use the platter, I smile.
Diane Morgenroth
December 12, 2020