North Carolina Collects: The Real McCoy

This exhibition of approximately 1,000 pieces of Nelson McCoy pottery is drawn from an extensive private collection. Acquired over a period of more than 15 years by collector Edward Alexander, the collection is made up of thousands of examples of McCoy pottery, including many outstanding uncommon, rare and one-of-a-kind pieces that are seldom seen anywhere. The collector was first intrigued by McCoy pottery when it was featured on the television series Martha Stewart Living. He was attracted to the various colors, shapes and forms of the objects and became interested in seeing more. He soon began collecting McCoy pottery, focusing on examples from the 1940’s, ‘50’s and ‘60’s. Among the pieces included in the exhibition are: cookie jars, vases, planters and wall pockets.

This project received support from the Dan Cameron Family Foundation, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a vision of the Department of Cultural Resources.