Carol Cashmore
looks at the
whimsical
ceramics of the
Richard
Parkinson
Pottery.
'A lucky chance
and a trip to
Cornwall were
instrumental in
Susan and
Richard
Parkinson
setting up the
Richard
Parkinson
Pottery at
Brabourne Lees,
near Ashford,
Kent in 1951.
Susan had
trained as a
sculptor at the
Royal College of
Art and was
hoping to win
the Prix de Rome
when she met
Richard...'
Moorcroft, creating pottery for period interiors
as well as striking designs for the modern eye.
'“Statements”
and “Messages”
are the
buzzwords of
contemporary
business,
education and
cultural
establishments.
Every piece of
Moorcroft
pottery, no
matter how
small, has great
presence and
carries a
positive
statement. It is
because of this
strength that
the highly
glazed china is
popular with
collectors,
despite its
often dark but
rich Victorian
effect. At a
time when, in
general, late
19th century
furnishings are
not the high
flyers they once
were,
Moorcroft’s Art
Pottery retains
a strong
following...'
David Leach ‘THE EYE OF THE HEART’ By David
Whiting.
'On the back of
an invitation
David Leach sent
to me in the
early 1990s, he
wrote: Just to
let you know
that I am still
at it, in a
senile sort of
way! Innovative
creativity on
the decline, but
always trying to
improve on past
experience”.
Such remarks
were typical of
his self
deprecating
humour which
lived
hand-in-hand
with his deep
artistic
conviction.
However, it also
revealed his
persistently
youthful
outlook, an
outlook that was
continually
eager to learn
and be delighted
by the daily
revelations that
pottery can
bring...'
Tomorrow's Treasures.
'What will be
exciting the
collectors of
the future? Can
you imagine a
dusty attic in
the year 2075
with a hidden
treasure
languishing in a
dark corner that
was created in
the early years
of this century?
We thought it
would be fun to
speculate and
showcase the
work of a few
West Country
potters, whose
finely-crafted,
spectacular art
works are
collectable
today and will
be the antiques
of the future...'
Clare Blake talks to Barbara Redman about her
impressive collection of pottery created by the
monks of Prinknash Abbey.
'There are
collectors and
there are
Collectors with
a capital ‘C’.
Barbara Redman
is one of the
latter. Moving
from room to
room, Barbara’s
collection of
Prinknash
pottery is
everywhere, in
glass fronted
cabinets, on oak
display stands
and specially
made shelves, on
coffee tables,
mantelpieces,
and windowsills,
not to mention
the seven boxes
stashed away in
the loft. How
many items does
she have?...'
