Pottery from St Ives Pottery (England)

St Ives Pottery, England was founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada in St Ives, Cornwall. Leach was a British potter who had studied in Japan, and Hamada was a Japanese potter who had studied in England. The two men shared a passion for traditional pottery, and they wanted to create a pottery that would combine the best of British and Japanese traditions.

The pottery was initially located in a former cowshed, and it was run by Leach and Hamada with the help of a few apprentices. The pottery quickly gained a reputation for its high-quality work, and it soon became one of the leading studios in the UK.

In 1923, Leach's wife, Dorothy, joined the pottery, and she helped to manage the business side of things. Dorothy was a talented potter in her own right, and she helped to develop the pottery's distinctive style more... .

In the years that followed, the pottery continued to grow and evolve. Leach and Hamada continued to experiment with new techniques and glazes, and they attracted a number of talented potters to the studio. The pottery also began to sell its products internationally, and it soon became one of the most respected pottery studios in the world.

Leach and Hamada continued to work at the pottery until their deaths in the 1970s. However, the pottery continued to operate under the leadership of Dorothy Leach and other talented potters. Today, the pottery is still in operation, and it continues to produce high-quality pottery that is inspired by the traditions of both Britain and Japan.

The St Ives Pottery has had a significant impact on the development of studio pottery in the UK. The pottery's focus on traditional techniques and glazes has helped to shape the style of studio pottery in the UK, and its high-quality work has helped to raise the profile of studio pottery around the world. The St Ives Pottery is a valuable part of the UK's cultural heritage, and it continues to produce beautiful and inspiring pottery. less...