Inspiration

Clay, water and fire are the elements with which the first cultural artifacts were made. From prehistoric bowls pottery, through the vases of the Chinese T'ang and Sung period and the polychrome earthenware from Central America, an ongoing development took place into modern ceramics. The traditional ceramic worker controlled the whole process: from digging up the clay until the last glazing fire. Industrialization (especially in the 19th century) changed this process quickly: specialized workers who mastered only one aspect of the whole production process replaced the traditional working craftsmen.

It was William Morris who, in reaction, formulated the idea of the "artisan".

Morris' concepts also influenced modern ceramic artists: the most important exponent being the English ceramic artist Bernard Leach. Bernard Leach played a crucial pioneering role in creating an identity for artist potters across the world. With the publication of "A Potter's Book" he gave an important impulse to the movement of the so-called studio-ceramic artists.

This movement aimed at producing ceramics on a small scale by individual ceramic artists; as a result a high esthetical standard was maintained. And even more important, Leach brought from his education in Japan influences of Eastern arts into Western ceramics.

At the beginning of the 20th century the utility function of the small scale produced ceramics was still very important. In the second half of the 20th century, influenced by ceramic artists as Hans Coper and Lucie Rie, more emphasis was given to the autonomous character of ceramic objects.