New Leach Tableware
New Leach tableware is contemporary tableware made and fired on site at the Leach Pottery by our team of resident potters. The idea draws on the principle of 'learning by doing' established in the early days of the Leach Pottery when production of 'standardware' was the mainstay of the pottery's activities.
Today our tableware is contemporary in style but firmly rooted in our past and with an aesthetic which reflects the landscape in which we live and work here in Cornwall. Each piece in the range is designed by our Lead Potter, Jack Doherty but might be made by any one of our potters, including Jack, and under his direction. At present our tableware is only available through our shop at the Leach Pottery and through a limited number of outlets including the New Craftsman on Fore Street, St Ives.
A catalogue showing the range of pieces will soon be available but in the meantime we are happy to sell via mailorder. Please follow the links for examples of the pieces available plus a current pricelist. For all enquiries or for more photos phone 01736 799703 or email office@leachpottery.com
Tableware photos (please click to enlarge):
Price List 2012
NEW LEACH TABLEWARE by Jack Doherty
'The challenge for me was to design a new range of pots which had their roots in the philosophy of the Leach pottery and which would function and look comfortable in our contemporary environment.'
'The starting place for my research came from two quotations. The first from Yanagi, “To me the greatest thing is to live beauty in our daily life” the other from Bernard Leach “We must make pots which show the nature of the clay.” The clay that I decided to use comes from St Agnes and is essentially the same as the Leach standard ware body. It has an addition of iron oxide to give a darker colour. It is not a refined material but is a “real” clay and it says something to me about the nature of Cornwall.'
'To Bernard’s statement I added “and the nature of the fire” It is important to me that the soda kiln leaves its imprint. There is no decoration added to the work, just the traces of the sodium vapour as it drifts among the pots giving each an individual character.'
'The forms came from necessity. When I came to St Ives, I left behind a house full of pots most of which were in daily use. I had a space to think about which were the essential forms. The things which I needed everyday were mugs and cups for drinking from, bowls and plates for cooking and serving food. So I started by making pots for myself.'
'I had to remember that the tableware would be made by our apprentice potters. I believe that the best pots are made by potters who have learned to understand rather than to control their materials and techniques. Working with simple processes, throwing accurately, turning foot rings and pulling handles gives them grounding in the grammar of making pots. Making work consistently and in quantity gives an insight into the discipline and commitment which they will need in order to survive as independent potters.'
Jack Doherty December 2010