origins...

Dame Lucie Rie. Porcelain bottle vase, c. 1952.

Yesterday I visited the TPL and found a great book, The Potter's Art by Garth Clark. This "complete history of pottery in Britain," highlights traditions in the history of English potting, including the peasant, industrial, artist and studio potter. It has been satisfying my desire for new inspiration, having a good balance of wordiness and juicy photographs. How stunning is this piece above, by Dame Lucie Rie? I remember her work being one of the first to make a big impression on me when I had just started in ceramics at OCAD. So pure & beautiful.

Hannah Barlow, Doulton's Lambeth Art Pottery, handled vase,
saltglazed stoneware, 1874.

And on a very different plane, I was also drawn to this 

vase by Hannah Barlow for Doulton. It's amazing to see a 

piece like this, that was made in 1874, and see parts of it 

that are still quite contemporary. Flora + fauna will never 

go out of style, I suppose. Enjoy the eye candy.

(Pictures above taken from The Potter's Art by Garth Clark, 1995)