John Leach, Muchelney Pottery, wood fired porringer or handled bowl, 1998

Condition:  Exhibition quality condition, no chips cracks or restoration, only displayed previously.

This is a bowl with a handle for pouring, what is termed a porringer.

It is a great example of John Leach's work, made by him as a special piece, quite likely for an exhibition. John's personal mark is on the base along with the impressed date 1998. John began marking his special pieces in this way (as distinct from the Muchelney standard ware) from 1983 onwards.

The standout feature of this piece is the varied glaze effects from the wood firing. Partly unglazed, there are also ash glazes applied and what appears to be slat glaze from kiln deposits, while the interior has a tenmoku glaze giving an almost black shiny finish.

John Leach (1939-2021) was the eldest son of David Leach and grandson of Bernard Leach, the founder of St Ives Pottery and one the the most important figures in the British studio pottery movement of the 20th century.  John learnt his trade at St Ives and set up his onw pottery in Muchelney, Somerset, in 1965.  His output form this pottery was consistent, wood-fired domestic ware using local clay and drawing on local tradition. His pottery survives to this day, supplying keen private buyers and also top kitchenware retailers with superb quality hand made, robust pottery.