In 1899, Horace Potter opened The Potter Shop to showcase his decorative metal work and jewelry. His excellence was in incorporating decorative design elements and historic ornament into handwrought silver and brass objects, and into fine jewelry. His inspiration came the Arts and Crafts movement that he and Louis Tiffany were instrumental in introducing to America . The Arts and Crafts Movement (also important to the Cowan Pottery artists) valued the handmade object over those made in factories. Potter's jewelry exhibited his jewelry and hollowware in the Studio and in many major art museums. By 1933, the firm had moved to its present location and Louis Mellen became a partner. Horace Potter died in 1948 and Mellen sold the firm to renown designer and silversmith Frederick Miller and Jack Schlundt. In 1989, the current owner Ellen Stirn Mavec bought it. Throughout the years, the tradition of excellent craftsmanship has been the hallmark of this institution.