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Harlequin
Gallery |
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Janet Leach - one of the foremost
potters of the 20th century.
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Janet Leach, who was Bernard Leach's
third wife, was born in Texas, USA in 1918. One of the major potters of the
last century, Janet was a potter in her own right before meeting Bernard,
Shoji Hamada and Soetsu Yanagi
during their lecture tour of the States in 1952. The meeting was instrumental
in arousing her interest in the work of Japan and resulted in her studying
there for two years under the guidance of Hamada. During her
time in Mashiko with Hamada she made very few pots, as she was too involved
in seeing how they did things. Then after six months Hamada recommended that
she chose one of the many pottery villages in Japan to go and work in, saying
"Don't learn what I learned, go and learn from where I learned it."
Janet chose Tamba but always returned to Mashiko for Hamada's glazing
sessions and kiln firings. After her
period in Japan, Janet came to England and married Bernard Leach in 1956. In
St. Ives she took over the management of the Leach Pottery and continued to
work there after Bernard's death until she died in 1997. Although
working in reduction stoneware, her work was very different from anything
that Bernard produced. In fact as David Leach stated before his father's
death "Janet must be the one person who has worked closely with him for
a number of years without being visibly influenced. She is so strong in
herself that she has maintained more independence than anyone else who has
been as close to that dangerous fire, my father!" The work below is currently available and all
items have Janet’s personal seal as well as the Leach Pottery seal. |
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