Studio Potters : The Bell Collection at Clare Hall

This book celebrates and catalogues the Bell Collection of British studio pottery and is an important resource for all those interested in 20th-century ceramics. The collection is centred on the pioneering work of Bernard Leach and his followers.

For Gordon and Kathy Bell, a visit to the Leach Pottery in St Ives in 1963 sparked a life-long fascination with studio ceramics. The fruits of their 60 years of collecting are presented here: a publication celebrating the Bell Collection and placing it in the context of the period in which it was initiated and developed. Centred on the career of Bernard Leach, widely regarded as the pioneer of British Studio Pottery, the collection evolved to include work by 20th-century makers influenced by Leach’s example. As the collection grew, efforts were also made to include pieces that demonstrated the wide range of clays, glazes and techniques utilised by different potters. With over 500 works now housed at Clare Hall, Cambridge, the collection attests to the Bells' broad vision and includes works created by an international cast of potters. Featuring a catalogue of the collection and the insights and reflections of both Gordon and Kathy Bell and ceramics expert Helen Ritchie, this important publication will contribute to our understanding of studio ceramics while also standing as the definitive account of one of the UK’s leading Studio Pottery collections.