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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 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!" Pots by Janet Leach will be included in the next
Harlequin Gallery exhibition, Potters of the Leach Pottery that takes place
in Kensington from 7 to For examples of Janet’s work in the exhibition
lease click HERE The two pots below are currently available. |
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