Nell Cole Graves
Nell Cole Graves (1908 – February 17, 1997) was a potter from Seagrove, North Carolina, and a winner of the 1996 North Carolina Heritage Award. Graves grew up in Montgomery County, North Carolina, with her father, Jacon B. Cole, and her brother, Waymon Cole. Her father owned a pottery shop called J.B. Cole Pottery, through which two centuries of Cole potters persisted in the region.
Also recorded as Nellie Cole Graves
Nell Cole Graves
- Born
- 1908. · Moore County.
- Died
- 1997. · Seagrove.
- Occupation
- ceramicist and artist.
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Nell Cole Graves (1908 – February 17, 1997) was a potter from Seagrove, North Carolina, and a winner of the 1996 North Carolina Heritage Award. Graves grew up in Montgomery County, North Carolina, with her father, Jacon B. Cole, and her brother, Waymon Cole. Her father owned a pottery shop called J.B. Cole Pottery, through which two centuries of Cole potters persisted in the region.
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Biography
Biography
During Graves' early childhood, it was typical for women and children to help with preparing clay, glazing, and loading kilns, while the men were tasked with making the pottery and running the business. Graves father, however, taught her on a treadle wheel from age 9. Graves eventually came to run the family business. Graves married Philmore Graves, and owned Graves Candle Shop, which was located south of Seagrove, as well as J.B. She died in the late 1990s, and was buried in the old Fairgrove Church Cemetery behind Graves Candle Shop.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1908
Nell Cole Graves born at Moore County.
1997
Nell Cole Graves died at Seagrove.
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Moore County.
Birth place
Seagrove.
Death place
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Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.McGowan, Thomas. A Treasury of Tar Heel Folk Artists: The North Carolina Folk Heritage Award 1989-1996. North Carolina Folklore Journal. 42. 123. Spring 2018.
- 2.McGowan, Thomas. A Treasury of Tar Heel Folk Artists: The North Carolina Folk Heritage Awards 1989-1994. North Carolina Folklore Journal. 44. 123. 1997.
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Spring Bouquet, dated n.d, watercolor and gouache on paper
The Art Institute of Chicago
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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