Brief history of British Studio Ceramics in the 20th century

During the 20th century Britain was at the centre of studio ceramics.  Many of the best known potters such as Bernard Leach, Lucie Rie and Hans Coper lived and worked in England.  Their influence on the world of studio ceramics has been immense. 

Ceramics in Britain have usually been seen as inferior to the fine arts of painting and sculpture.  Auction prices clearly reflect people’s attitudes to painting and ceramics.  This stands in contrast to the appreciation of ceramics in countries like Japan where they are valued as highly as the West values old master paintings. 

Despite an unwillingness to see ceramics on an equal footing with the fine arts Britain has a strong ceramic tradition.  It includes the pottery factories of Staffordshire and the ‘art pottery’ of 19th century artists like William De Morgan.  With such a tradition it is perhaps not surprising that during the 20th century Britain should flourish as a focus for studio ceramics.