Janet Leach

Hi Philpot, The book is available from the leach pottery. The vase is bit taller than the auction room said about 18 inches but it's the girth and large rim which make it stand out, i know she made larger pieces and have traced one at 24 inches similar to this piece.

I must get the book if only to see if it's the "expurgated" version. I used to visit the Leach Pottery when Joanna was there "assisting" Janet but only spoke with Trevor Corser, who I know would have given the real picture.

There is always a problem with biographical books and it is dependent on whether it is written by a friend or someone with an axe to grind ,i can only take this book at face value as the author had access to much personal correspondence and documents.

This unusual oval lugged bowl by Janet Leach is 32 cms  wide, and 9 cms high. Being slightly higher at one end than the other. Unfortunately at some time it had a dink which has been repaired in the Japanese gold paint method. Which does not detract from it very much.

I have always wondered about this Janet Leach piece. Is the effect deliberate, or just what happens in the kiln? It is obviously not as dramatic as her startling white with spectacular black flashes. Yet its very subtlety grows on one. With the designs slightly fading into each other it reminds me vaguely of John Ward. Not dramatic, yet it really grows on one. Or me at least.
Any opinions?

Hi Philpot, I've not seen an example of this pattern before and as you say quite attractive with the glazes softening the design, personally i think probably a happy kiln accident, unless we find other examples i guess we will never know for sure.

I would agree with croker.

A porcelain bottle from the 1970s.

This poster from the sale of a Private collection of Janet Leach's work at the Craftsmen's Gallery in St Ives in 2018 illustrates a lot of her work. It is a double sided poster so I do not want to hang it up!

A Janet Leach vase made at the Leach Pottery but exhibited and originally sold at an exhibition in Japan.