Ceramic
Hans Coper
A Modernist Potter (1920-1981) Hans Coper was an influential modernist ceramist. Originally born in Germany, Coper migrated to England in 1939. Coper’s work was of a ‘continental’ sensibility – it had little or nothing to do with Leach’s ‘Sung Standard’. Coper was concerned less with the revival of Chinese or Korean rural expression, but rather... Read More
June 12, 2019
The Mud-Pie Dilemma
by John Nance. Review by Steven Goldate. John Nance’s diary-style book ‘The Mud-Pie Dilemma’ is a journalist’s account of the life and struggles of American studio-potter Tom Coleman. Nance picks up the story of Tom Coleman, the potter, in Oregon in 1977, when Tom is 32 years old. He had already been making a living as... Read More
June 12, 2019
How to Make a Clay Whistle
Technique by Chris Henley Below you will find a sequence of photographs with accompanying text that describes the fundamentals of a clay whistle making technique. I discovered quite by accident sometime around 1970. It is simple and works every time, if you follow the sequence. However, there are a few variables that come into play.... Read More
June 12, 2019
The Origins of Chattering
A Deocrative Technique Chattering is a decorative tecnique where a flexible metal tool is allowed to ‘jump’ across the surface of a leatherhard pot, making regular incisions on the surface. Japanese potters call such a tool a ‘jumping’ kanna, or ‘tobikanna’. In Japan, turning tools are known collectively as ‘kezuri no dogu’. The tools which potters originally... Read More
June 12, 2019
The Box
Japanese pottery boxes are works of art in their own right. Report by Robert Yellin In the West, one never really pays much attention to the box after receiving a gift or after making a purchase for oneself. It’s simply there to hold the contents and then be thrown away. It doesn’t really tell us... Read More
June 12, 2019
Nesta Nala & Clive Sithole
Two South African Zulu potters Photo: Collection Axis Gallery/Gary van Wyk & Lisa Brittan, photo Gary van Wyk Nesta Nala (b. 1940) is an award-winning South African Zulu potter. Nala learnt how to make traditional Zulu beer pots from her mother Siphiwe, who was also a potter. She has in turn also taught her daughters Jabu, Zanele and Thembi... Read More
June 12, 2019
Eva Zeisel
Hungarian-born American studio potter and designer Eva Zeisel was born in Hungary in 1906. She initially trained in painting in Britain, then, in the tradition of the journeyman, went to work as a designer in various European factories in Hungary and Germany. In 1932 she went to the Soviet Union, again working in various factories and... Read More
June 12, 2019
Wilhelm Kagel (1867–1935)
German pottery manufacturer German frescoe painter, studio potter and pottery manufacturer Wilhelm Kagel was born in Mecklenburg in 1867. He initially worked as a tradesman painter, then from 1887 studied Frescoe and Decorative Painting at the School of Applied Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule) in Munich. He finally settled in Patenkirchen, establishing a studio in 1892. Works –... Read More
June 12, 2019
Kevin White
East meets West Kevin White was born in England in 1954. He studied art and ceramics at various institutes between 1973-1979, after which he became a ceramics research student at Kyoto City University of Fine Arts, Japan, studying under the late Professor Yutaka Kondo. From 1980-83 White worked in Kyoto in the studio of Mr. Satoshi... Read More
June 12, 2019
Kurt Weiser
Contemporary American Studio Potter Kurt Weiser was born in 1950 in Lansing Michigan. He studied ceramics under Ken Fergusen at the Kansas City Art Institute from 1972-76 and then completed an MFA at the University of Michigan. In 1988, after a stint as Director of the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT, Weiser started teaching ceramics... Read More
June 12, 2019