Michael Cardew

When I go to museums I paly the 'you can have one thing' game - You have to pick just one thing to take away with you (lucky there is normally glass between us) and although other things are more valuable, or important to the story or British Ceramics humble little things like this bowl (after much deliberation) are so charming that they often win

A large Wenford Bridge stoneware  Jar circa 1966. 38 cm high. MC and Wenford Bridge seals.

An earthenware vessel with three double scrolled handles. circa 1930.17.2 cms high. MC and Winchcombe seals

Large stoneware bowl . Diameter 12.5 in height 9 ins.MC and Wenford Bridge seals

A large and significant stoneware grain jar.  Made 1976. 58.3 cms high MC and Wenford Bridge seals.

A stoneware footed


bowl. 14 cms hig circa 1975. MC and Wenford Bridge seals

Earthenware dish circa 1935. 24 cms diameter. MC and Wenford Bridge seals.

Large Winchcombe jug circa 1930. 29 cms high. MC and Wichcombe seals'

A large Wenford Bridge Stoneware Rose Bowl. 30.5 cms diameter. MC & Wenford Bridge seals

A deep stoneware Wenford Bridge bowl Diameter 24 cms. MC and Wenford Bridge seals.

A small Earthenware Winchcombe bowl with painted fish decoration. 21.9 cms. MC & Wenford Bridge seals.

A Michael Cardew stoneware Abuja,Nigeria plate. 21.9 cms diameter. Abuja and MC Seals.

Three Michael Cardew soya pots. From the Bill Ismay collection at COCA York 2023.

Michael Cardew dish from the Bill Ismay collection at COCA York..June 2023.

Michael Cardew bowl from the Bill Ismay collection COCA York. June 2023.

Large grain jar made 1962-66. From the Bill Ismay collection at COCA York  June 2023.

The Jar was made in 1962. It was first shown in the La Borne gallery in Paris in 1962. It was NOT FOR SALE then. In correspondence with Michael Cardew Bill Ismay persuaded Michael Cardew to put this piece up for sale in a Michael Cardew 1966 selling exhibition at the Craftsman's shop. In that correspondence Michael Carew said the regarded this piece as one of the best pieces he had ever made. Bill Ismay bought it from the 1966 exhibition. The piece itself is 77 cms tall and 35 cms in diameter. Bill Ismay managed to carry this one back to Wakefield in a suitcase. Some feat!

Michael Cardew Mug in Manchester City Gallery. Its spot the mistake  on the header card  of course. A mistake that should not happen in a Major Gallery.

It's just another example of the reality that virtually all museums in the UK employ people to look after their studio pottery collections that have little or no knowledge of the subject before being appointed.

Early Michael Cardew @ Leach 1923-1926.
Expensive but….

Lovely colour and nice and dirty. Is it gloopy and dirty inside like he did it in a rainstorm?

I think the answer is not so much
Kind regards
Neil62

Very rare tho. Nice piece. Now is that a keeper?

Hi Philpot,
Seasons greetings.
I decided when I started collecting that I wouldn’t sell anything then realised that some of the pots I bought weren’t really what I wanted and sold them sometimes for less than I bought them for. Then my philosophy changed and now everything, well almost everything has a price. The ones that I would prefer to keep have a price tag on them which is ‘probably unrealistic’ because I don’t mind if they stay around so it is for sale but I don’t envisage selling it any time soon. It’s my way of keeping to my philosophy without actually keeping to my philosophy…..if that makes sense and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t except to me!

Kind regards Philpot and good luck for the New Year
Neil62

Looking at that piece I can a a large amount of romance in it. It looks Old. It also looks like a connection with a long gone country pottery past. Combine that with it being amongst the first steps of a legendary potter. Plus that fabulous script. Oh boy but that is a Keeper!
Happy New Year Neil!

philpot wrote:Looking at that piece I can a a large amount of romance in it. It looks Old. It also looks like a connection with a long gone country pottery past. Combine that with it being amongst  the first steps of a legendary potter. Plus that fabulous script. Oh boy but that is a Keeper!
Happy New Year Neil!

Made me smile but all of what you said!!!
All the best!