Richard Burkett on wed 5 aug 98
Some of you might find this interesting:
>From: Alexander Damien
>Subject: Korean & Contemporary Ceramics
>Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 13:47:00 +0100
>
>I thought the following information might prove interesting reading for
>your 'audience'. It concerns an important exhibition and auction in
>London of some of the worlds greatest ceramics, everyone is welcome and
>if anyone has any questions experts will be available to answer any
>questions.
>
>Many thanks
>
>Damian Alexander
>
>
>THE ARTS AND INFLUENCE OF KOREA AND JAPAN
>INCLUDING
>THE JANET LEACH COLLECTION
>AT
>
>Bonhams, Knightsbridge, Wednesday 16th September 1998
>
>
>PART I: Important Korean Ceramics from The Janet Leach Collection and
>Japanese Ceramics and Works of Art
>Tuesday 15th September
>
>PART II: Textiles, Art Reference Books & Lacquer work
>Wednesday 16th September at 3.00pm
>
> PART III: Masterworks
>Wednesday 16th September at 6.00pm
>
>
>Bonhams are to hold a sale of antique Japanese and Korean Works of Art
>including ceramics, inro, netsuke and other items for the first part of
>this sale. Many of the pieces in the sale are from The Janet Leach
>collection including a large and extremely rare Korean Vase.
>
>Highlighting the sale is the eminent early Korean Moon Vase, Choson
>Dynasty (17th/18th century) from the personal collection of Janet Leach,
>estimate on request. This large Imperial globular stoneware vase was
>brought over from Korea by Bernard Leach, who unable to travel with it,
>left it stored with Dame Lucie Rie at her studio. On his return to
>London Leach decided that the pot was so well suited to Lucie's studio
>that it should be left there. Upon her death it was returned to Janet
>Leach at Rie's request. A photograph taken by Lord Snowdon for The
>Sunday Times Magazine shows Lucie Rie seated beside the globular Vase,
>in her studio. The immense size of the piece indicates that it would
>have been made for the Imperial family. This masterpiece is extremely
>rare and similar in size and shape to one in the National Museum of
>Korea in Seoul.
>
>Timed to coincide with the exhibition Shoji Hamada Master Potter, at
>Bonhams in association with Asia House (4-17 September 1998), an auction
>of important works by Shoji Hamada, Bernard Leach and Kenkichi Tomimoto
>amongst other Japanese National Treasures, entitled Part III -
>Masterworks will be held on Wednesday 16th September 1998.
>Supplementing the superb range of ceramics on offer is a selection
>scrolls, wood block prints, hand woven textiles and The Janet Leach
>Library.
>
>
>Other important items featured in the sale include two rare Jomon clay
>pots with incised decoration from 2,000 - 3,000 BC and a Tamba ash
>glazed pot from the Japanese Edo period, (#4,000-6,000).
>The work of Shoji Hamada (1894-1977), one of the greatest ceramicists of
>the twentieth century and an inspiration to generations of potters, is
>well represented in Part III with close to 20 key pieces to be offered.
>Items of special interest include a magnificent tall stoneware Bottle
>Vase with a transparent glaze decorated with a wax resist design of
>foliage to either side, c.1930 (#7,000-9,000) and another stoneware Vase
>painted with orchids at #6,000-#8,000. Also of importance is an
>extremely rare stoneware cut sided Bulbous Pot with painted green and
>red enamel (#6,000-#8,000) from The Janet Leach Collection and a
>stoneware Square Dish in tenmoku with a vertical and wavy kaki design to
>be sold with its original wooden signed box (#6,000-8,000). Amongst the
>more unusual items to be offered are a pair of boxed Hamada large
>ceramic Handwarmers, (#7,500-9,000).
>
>>From the age of sixteen Hamada devoted his life to pottery. In 1918 he
>met Bernard Leach in Kyoto where they worked together fusing what they
>believed to be the most important achievements in Eastern and Western
>ceramics. In 1920 Leach invited Hamada to England where they
>established the St. Ives Pottery and built the first English 3-chamber
>kiln. Michael Cardew later exclaimed that "The landing of Bernard Leach
>and Shoji Hamada on the island of Britain in 1920 was for craftsmen
>potters the most significant event of the 20th century". Hamada returned
>to Japan in 1924 and settled at Mashiko where he established his own
>pottery. By 1955 he was nominated a "Living National Treasure" ("Holder
>of an Intangible Cultural Property") for his folk style art ceramics
>created at Mashiko where he was one of the leaders of the Mingei craft
>movement.
>
>The work of Hamada achieved international status partly due to his
>collaboration with Bernard Leach, whose work was greatly inspired by
>Japanese techniques. The Janet Leach Collection comprises a number of
>important works related to her husband, Bernard Leach (1887-1979), Janet
>Leach's private collection of works by other potters and her
>comprehensive reference library. Within the Leach library, to be sold
>in Part II, are numerous signed copies and important first editions.
>Rare books include Bernard Leach's signed copy of his book A Potter's
>Portfolio, 1951 including his handwritten annotations and corrections
>(#400-600). Photographs used to illustrate the book feature items from
>Leach's personal collection which are included in the auction. Of
>special interest is an early English slipware dish, 18th/19th century
>(#400-600) and a Japanese stoneware plate decorated with flowers and
>foliage, 18th/19th century (#1,100-1,500). Other important texts include
>the rare printed book An English Artist in Japan, 1919, by Leach
>comprising reproductions of his ceramics, drawings and poems along with
>essays by Leach and others, estimate #600-900. Of particular relevance
>to the auction and the Shoji Hamada exhibition is copy of A Potters
>Book, 1952 by Bernard Leach signed "BL Black Mountain, 1952" and "J.
>Darnell".(Janet Leach's maiden name). Black Mountain was where Susan
>Peterson invited Hamada and Leach to lecture a group of students, one of
>whom was Janet. Nearly fifty years later, on Thursday 10th September,
>Susan Peterson, potter, teacher and writer, will give a lecture at
>Bonhams entitled: Shoji Hamada: A Potter's Way & Work.
>
>An impressive and varied range of works by Bernard Leach span his career
>and interests featuring everything from early St. Ives ceramics to hand
>painted fans. Particularly impressive is a large stoneware plate
>featuring his famous "Pilgrim" design, (#8,000-12,000) and a rare
>biscuit fired stoneware jar with incised decoration of the 'Tree of
>Life', for estimate refer to department. The unfinished pot was left by
>Leach's wheel together with a similar one by Hamada and is of great
>academic interest as it was decorated but only biscuit fired and is the
>only known example of this stage of Leach's technique. Also of interest
>is one of Leach's favourite pieces a fluted celadon bowl,
>(#2,500-3,500).
>
>Many items in the sale reflect the personal nature and relationship of
>Bernard and Janet Leach and the influence Japan and the Far East had on
>them. A simple silver ring, made in Japan, featuring the 'Pilgrim'
>design for Janet at the request of Bernard is included. Two unique
>papyrus fans depict hand painted drawings by Bernard Leach and are
>signed "BL 1953". One of Leach's greatest friends and colleagues was
>fellow associate of the Mingei movement, Kenkichi Tomimoto. An item of
>real sentiment included in the auction is a scroll featuring a drawing
>by Tomimoto entitled "The Road", (#4,000-6,000). At either end of the
>scroll are ceramic batton caps crafted by Leach and signed "BL", and on
>the back it is touchingly inscribed "For Janet my wife, at my death".
>Another indication of Leach's relationship with Tomimoto is portrayed in
>one of the many books offered, given by Tomimoto to Leach and inscribed
>with the message "50 years of friendship".
>
>Bernard Leach who spent his childhood in the East, but studied drawing
>and etching in London from 1903-7, left England for Japan in 1909. His
>first contact with pottery was at a raku party near Tokyo in 1911 and
>until his death in 1979 pottery remained at the heart of his varied and
>creative life.
>
>Kenkichi Tomimoto (1886-1963), appointed a Japanese National Treasure in
>1955, is well represented in the sale. Important items include a fine
>square stoneware dish in the Oribe style, #4,000-#6,000 and a blue and
>white porcelain incense burner, 1933 (#2,800-3,500). Further important
>lots by Tomimoto illustrate his close relationship with Bernard Leach.
>A small model of a firing kiln by Tomimoto will be of great interest to
>collectors as it was sent to Leach as a design for the St Ives kiln, the
>most important kiln in Britain, and is now estimated at #800-#1,200.
>
>Work by contemporary potters includes a small bizen vase with inlaid
>rope design by Tatsuzo Shimaoka who was designated a 'National Living
>Treasure' in 1996, estimate #600-#800 and a porcelain Kutani flower vase
>in a vivid blue/indigo by Tokuda Yasokichi III who was designated a
>master in 1997 (#1,000-1,500), along with pots by Kawai, Morino and
>Arakawa and many of the most celebrated Japanese potters of today.
>
>The title of a Japanese "National Living Treasure" can be awarded to
>craftsmen practising numerous applied arts which adhere to the Japanese
>tradition. Masters are nominated in many fields including ceramics,
>textiles, lacquerware, woodwork and printmaking amongst others. Featured
>in Part II of the auction is a large selection of impressive works from
>woven fabrics for kimono through lacquerwork to bamboo including a pair
>of 'travelling' chopsticks exquisitely crafted by a master in their
>signed wooden box.
>
>
>Information : d.alexander@bonhams.com
>
Richard Burkett - School of Art, SDSU, San Diego, CA 92182-4805
E-mail: richard.burkett@sdsu.edu <-> Voice mail: (619) 594-6201
Home Page: http://rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/rburkett/www/burkett.html
CeramicsWeb: http://art.sdsu.edu/ceramicsweb/
HyperGlaze@aol.com & http://members.aol.com/hyperglaze/
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