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Please enjoy this article on the British studio pottery movement written by Kerry Hall here at Quastel Associates;
From the widely celebrated Lucie Rie and the auction record-breaking Hans Coper to the globally influential Bernard Leach, the British studio pottery movement of the 20th century is both exciting and relevant in today’s valuation world. These three influential ceramics artists have elevated pottery to fine art and as a result, their works are continuing to rise in value. Their pieces fit perfectly into a modern contemporary home and so it's little wonder they are trending. This article delves a little deeper into each of these key figures and their place in the global market.
Bernard Leach is referred to as the “Father of British Studio Pottery”. A keen traveller who was heavily influenced by the Japanese aesthetic, he set up Leach Pottery in St Ives, Cornwall with Japanese potter Shoji Hamada. Many prominent apprentices attended the pottery studio and spread Leach’s style and philosophies across the globe. His highly regarded works frequently come up at auction and can range in price from a few hundred pounds for a small pot or vase up to a hefty £97,000 for a Charger (plate) with ‘Tree of Life’ design. Items which best showcase his drawing have proved the most popular in recent years.
Lucie Rie fled Nazi persecution in Austria in 1938 to arrive in London where she would go on to become one of the most celebrated potters of the 20th Century. Thanks to her technical knowledge and innovative experimentation with clays and glazes, she offered an alternative to traditional pottery with works showcasing a Modernist and “urban” aesthetic. She had a keen eye for talent and her assistant and apprentice Hans Coper who she worked closely with for several years would go on to break ceramic auction records. It is possible to pick up a Lucie Rie sugar bowl or small vase for around £1,500 to £2,000 but her larger bowls or bottle vases have been known to fetch a significant £130,000 - £140,000 at auction.
As already mentioned, Hans Coper initially worked under Lucie Rie but the German-born artist, who also fled Nazi persecution to arrive in the UK, has become the record breaker for studio pottery at auction. His tall bottle vase with disc was sold at Bonhams for a colossal £655,500, after an estimate of just £80,000-£120,000. With his own distinctive style, Coper favours sculptural form over function and has become widely appreciated for his abstracted ceramics. In the last couple of years, you would be hard pushed to find one of his works for less than £10,000 regardless of size.
In addition to these three leading potters, there are of course many more well-known names in the British studio pottery movement whose works are also enjoying auction success. It is important to understand which ceramic artists are currently trending and to ensure your ceramic collection is adequately insured to cover any loss, damage, or theft.
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