Bernard Leach (British 1887-1979)
Tall Squared Bottle Vase, circa 1960
stoneware with layered tenmoku over iron glazes
impressed BL and Leach Pottery seals
35.5cm high, 15cm diameter

Condition excellent

Bernard Leach was a pioneering British studio potter, renowned for bridging the traditions of East and West in ceramics. Born in Hong Kong in 1887 and raised in Japan, Leach’s work was deeply influenced by Japanese aesthetics and philosophy. He studied under the master potter Shōji Hamada and integrated the mingei folk craft movement’s principles into his creations. In 1920, Leach returned to England, where he established the Leach Pottery in St Ives, Cornwall, which became a hub for ceramicists worldwide. His pottery, characterized by simple, functional forms and natural glazes, emphasized craftsmanship, utility, and the beauty of imperfection. Leach’s teachings and writings, including his seminal book “A Potter’s Book,” have left a lasting legacy on the studio pottery movement, earning him the title of the “Father of British Studio Pottery.”