How did Bernard Leach’s ideas travel from a small pottery in St Ives to influence generations of potters around the world?

In the final episode of our three-part series, we follow Leach as his influence spreads beyond Britain. We explore his relationship with American potters Warren and Alix MacKenzie, his travels across the United States, and his celebrated 1952 tour with Shōji Hamada and Sōetsu Yanagi.

From Black Mountain College to the emerging American studio pottery movement, we meet artists including Marguerite Wildenhain, Karen Karnes and Peter Voulkos, and discover how a new generation embraced, challenged and transformed Leach’s ideas.

This is the story of how Bernard Leach became an international figure — and how his philosophy helped reshape studio pottery for generations to come.

If you would like to see the images featured in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app.

Artworks and images in this episode:
Bernard Leach, David Leach, and students at the Leach Pottery, St. Ives, Cornwall c.1945
A Potter’s Book, by Bernard Leach, 1940
David Leach, 1911-2005
Standard Ware Bowls, Bernard Leach
Pottery Dinnerware, The LeachPottery, St. Ives
Michael Cardew, William Marshall, Bernard Leach, Picnicking at Cardew’s Pottery in 1970, Courtesy of Jeff Oestrich
Bernard Leach at Alfred University, 1950,
Warren & Alix MacKenzie, 1953,
Bowl, Warren MacKenzie, c. 1969-1970
Ceramics, Warren MacKenzie, 1924-2018
Hamada, Leach, Yanagi and Wildenhain at Black Mountain College, 1952
Sōetsu Yanagi, Bernard Leach and Shōji Hamada, 1952
Black Mountain College Seminar, 1952
Vases, Margaurite Wildenhain, c. 1940’s-50’s
Bottle Vase, Margurite Wildenhain, 1970
Vase, Bernard Leach, c. 1959
Shōji Hamada, c.1970
Sōetsu Yanagi, Bernard Leach, Rudy Autio, Peter Voulkos, Shōji Hamada, 1959
Covered Jar, Peter Voulkos, c.1954
Peter Voulkos kicking the potters wheel, 1952
Cup and Signed Box, Shōji Hamada
Robert Rauschenberg at Black Mountain College, c.1952
Bernard Leach, c.1920’s

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach's Later Life and International Impact
• 00:01:00 David Leach and the Standard Wares: Professionalizing the Pottery
• 00:03:09 The Apprentice Model: Learning Philosophy and Craft
• 00:05:26 Warren McKenzie: The First American Apprentice
• 00:10:29 Leach's First American Tour: Land of Money, Speed and Gadgetry
• 00:13:11 The Three Musketeers: Leach, Hamada and Yanagi Tour America
• 00:17:05 Black Mountain College: Clash of Philosophies
• 00:22:59 Hamada's Magic: Improvisation and Visual Language
• 00:25:38 Archie Bray Foundation: Meeting the Young Peter Voulkos
• 00:33:10 Legacy: Bernard Leach as Big as Wedgwood

Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did Bernard Leach turn a small pottery in St Ives into the centre of a new ceramics movement?

In the second episode of our three-part series, we follow Leach as he returns to Britain with Shōji Hamada and establishes the Leach Pottery in St Ives. We explore the challenges of those early years, the development of his distinctive approach to making, and the ideas that would eventually be captured in his influential A Potter’s Book.

As Leach’s reputation grows, so does his influence. Through teaching, writing and a new generation of apprentices, his pottery becomes a meeting place for ideas drawn from East and West.

This is the story of how Bernard Leach helped transform the status of the studio potter — and began building a movement that would reach far beyond St Ives.

To see images of the pots being discussed on this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting apps.

Featured Artworks:

Bernard Leach 1913 early Raku Vase,   The V&A Collection

Photo of Bernard Leach with Shōji Hamada and Sōetsu Yanagi, 1952

St. Ives Harbour and Porthminster Beach - Cornwall – UK

Cornwall - St. Ives, Back Lane - 1920's Photochrom Postcard

The Leach Pottery, St. Ives, Cornwall

Blueprint of “The Leach Pottery Japanese Style of climbing Kiln. Design by Tsurunosuke Matsubayashi”, 1923. Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts

Grade II Listed Climbing Kiln, Leach Pottery

Raku Firing Kiln

Bowl, early 20’s, Bernard Leach

Barbara Hepworth & Bernard Leach, 1968, St Ives Museum

1934 (relief), Ben Nicholson, 1934, Tate

Shōji Hamada, 1894-1978

Tsurunosuke Matsubayashi, 1894-1932

D W & L K Elmhirst,' 1893-1970, Dartington Hall Trust Archive

Two Bowls by Bernard Leach and Teabowl By Shoji Hamada

Herbert Read by Mark Gerson, 1967, The National Gallery

A Potters Book by Bernard Leach, 1940

Salmon Vase, Bernard leach, 1950

Slipware Plate, Bernard Leach, c. early 1930’s

Early Slipware dish, Bernard Leach, c. early 1930’s

Early Jar with Firing crack, Bernard Leach, c. early 1930’s, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh

Charger, 1929, Bernard Leach, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh

The Mermaid dish, 1670-1689, Thomas Toft, The V&A Collection

A Dartington Pottery Salt Glazed Stoneware Flagon

Photo of David Leach, 1911-2005

Teapot, David Leach and Charger, Bernard Leach, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh

Vase, c. 1959, Bernard Leach, The V&A Collection, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh

Standard Ware, c. 1941, Bernard Leach, The V&A Collection, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach Returns to England
• 00:01:30 St. Ives: A Haven for Artists and Traditional Craft
• 00:07:48 Building the Pottery: Early Struggles and Failures
• 00:14:06 Hamada's Departure and the Kiln Rebuilt
• 00:15:02 The Elmhursts and Dartington: Patronage and Philosophy
• 00:17:36 Pottery as Art: Breaking Down the Barriers
• 00:22:25 The Leach Aesthetic: Japanese Meets English Slipware
• 00:30:44 A Potter's Book: The Ceramic Bible Published
• 00:35:44 David Leach Takes Over: Professionalization and Production
• 00:36:58 Legacy: The Apprentice Model and Global Influence

Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

How did an English artist in Japan become one of the most influential figures in modern ceramics?

In the first of our three-part series on Bernard Leach, we explore the extraordinary early years that shaped his life and work. From his return to Japan and his first encounters with pottery to his friendship with Shōji Hamada, we discover how Japanese culture transformed Leach's understanding of what a pot could be.

This is the story of the meeting of East and West — and how the ideas Leach discovered in Japan would eventually help change the course of modern ceramics.

To see images of the ceramics being discussed in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app.

Featured Artwork:

Bernard Leach and bookcase, Tokyo, 1917-1919 

Bernard Leach, A Potters Book, 1940

Bernard Leach with grandparents in Japan, c. 1890

Frank Brangwyn, by Reinhold Thiele, c 1900

John Ruskin, by W. & D. Downey, 1863

William Morris by Frederick Hollyer, 1887

Leaping Salmon Vase, c.1950, Bernard Leach; Okinawa Style Teabowl, c.1970, Shōji Hamada, Oxford Ceramics Gallery

Harmony in Blue and Gold, The Peacock Room, by James McNeill Whistler, 1834-1903, Public Domain

Temple of Heaven, Peking, 1916, printed signature in the plate Bernard Leach 1916,  Public Domain

Photograph of rural Japan, C.1900, Public Domain

Early Raku Vase, Bernard Leach, c.1925

Raku Firing Kiln

Portrait of Ogata Kenzan VI, by Bernard Leach, 1924

Mokko-shaped Food Bowl, by Uruno Shigekichi, 1881-1923

Cup, Ogata Kenzan, 18th Century

Photo of Shõji Hamada, 1894-1978

Photo of Sõetsu Yanagi, 1889-1961

Photo of Bernard Leach with Shõji Hamada & Sõetsu Yanagi, Dartington 1952

Cup and Signed Box, Shõji Hamada

Large Dish, Shõji Hamada

Stoneware Bottle, Shoji Hamada

Hamada’s Kiln in Moshiko, Creative Commons License, CC3.0

Unknown Craftsman, Sõetsu Yanagi , 1972

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master
• 00:03:57 Early Life: Colonial Beginnings and Artistic Awakening
• 00:12:01 The Arts and Crafts Movement: Ruskin, Morris, and Moral Philosophy
• 00:15:15 Japan's Meiji Period: Transformation and Cultural Identity
• 00:18:10 Return to Japan: Teaching Etching and Finding Community
• 00:23:52 The Raku Party: A Life-Changing Moment
• 00:27:05 Training with Kenzan VI: Entering the Japanese Pottery Tradition
• 00:28:57 Hamada and Yanagi: The Birth of Mingei
• 00:30:57 Philosophical Foundations: Arts of the People
• 00:33:30 The Bold Decision: Sailing for St. Ives

Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

In 16th century Japan, a bowl of tea could get you killed. This episode traces the birth of the Ancient Japanese tea ceremony and the aesthetic of wabi-sabi, or the art of finding beauty in imperfection. Paul and Stephanie tell the story of tea master Sen no Rikyu, whose humble, handmade Raku bowls stood in defiance of warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi's golden excess, in a tale of philosophy, political power, and two tea masters who paid for their art with their lives.

To see the pots Stephanie and Paul are discussing in this episode, be sure to switch to video in your podcast app.

Featured Artworks
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, by Kanō Mitsunobu, 1598, Public Domain

Sen No Rikyū, by Tōhaku Hasegawa,1595, Public Domain
 
Sen no Rikyū's Tai-an Teahouse, Kyoto, Japan, 1952
 
Black Raku ware tea bowl, late 16th century, The Smithsonian, CC0

Black Raku Tea Bowl, Named “Kaedegure” (Twilight by the Maples), attributed to Raku Cojiro, late 16th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain

Furuta Oribe,  c. 17th Century

Square Serving Dish with Bail Handle,  late 16th century, Asia Society Museum, Public Domain

Sake Bottle (Tokkuri) with Decoration of Three-Leaf Arrowhead, Early 17th century, Public Domain 

Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond

Sound Mix and Engineering: Joseph Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Secrets of The Japanese Tea Ceremony
• 00:01:41 Origins of Tea in Japan: From Monasteries to Cultural Power
• 00:03:00 The Political Tea Ceremony: Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Vision
• 00:05:09 Wabi Sabi: The Perfection of Imperfection
• 00:09:23 Sen no Rikyu: The Master Who Stripped Away Ego
• 00:11:17 The Tea Ceremony Experience
• 00:14:45 Chojiro and Raku Ware: Hand-Built Tea Bowls
• 00:19:47 The Death of Sen no Rikyu: When Simplicity Threatened Power
• 00:24:03 Furuta Oribe: A Warrior's Energy Transforms the Ceremony
• 00:26:17 Oribe Ware: Chaos, Asymmetry, and the Happy Accident
• 00:32:35 The Second Suicide: Oribe's Violent End
• 00:35:23 Legacy: Wabi Sabi and the Birth of Studio Ceramics

Bernard Palissy was an artist, scientist, inventor and one of the most extraordinary figures in the history of ceramics. Driven by religious faith, a fascination with nature, and an obsession to discover the secret of white enamel, he devoted years to relentless experimentation, sacrificing his fortune, and burning almost everything he owned in pursuit of perfection. In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene uncover the remarkable life of the French Renaissance potter whose distinctive rustic wares transformed European ceramics. 

Featured Artworks:

Self Portrait in Faience, Bernard Palissy, 1862 
Rustique figuline, attributed to Bernard Palissy, French c.1560, J. Paul Getty Museum.
‘Rustique Figuline’ Dish with a white background, Bernard Palissy, c. 1550, National Ceramic Museum
Maiolica Plate, Italian, ca. 1500, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Bowl, Majolica, Italian, 1480-1500, The V&A Collection
Dish, Bernard Palissy, 17th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Plaque depicting Bernard Palissy, Multiple Artists and Makers, 1846, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Pilgrim Flask, Bernard Palissy, 1556-67, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Still-life platter, Bernard Palissy, c. 1550,
Dish, Bernard Palissy, c. 1580, 
Moule, Fragment, 16th century, Musee du Louvre
Grenouille de fontaine, Atelier de Bernard Palissy, 1565-1610, Musee du Louvre
Château de la Bâstie d'Urfé, France, 1550
Henry II, King of France, François Clouet, 1559
Catherine de' Medici, François Clouet, c. 1560
Fontaine en forme de dauphin, 1600-1650, Musee du Louvre
Ewer, Saint Porchaire Ware, c. 1550, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Mould of Palissy Basin, Musee du Louvre
Tazza with cover, Mid 16th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
La Nourrice, Guillaume Dupré (unconfirmed), c. 1640, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Plate, Manner of Bernard Palissy, Late 19th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Platter, Follower of Bernard Palissy, Last Quarter 16th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Platter, Manner of Bernard Palissy, 2nd half of 19th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Round Plate with Lobster, Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, 1889, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Turkey, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory,19th Century
Artichoke Jar, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory
Cabbage Ware, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory
Round Dish with Lobster and Shells, Thomas Victor-Sergent, 1870-80, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Large Basin with Snake, Ferns, and Bark, Charles-Jean Avisseau, C. 1850-55, The Met Collection, Public Domain

Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond

Sound Mix and Engineering: Joe Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Palissy - Obsession, Faith and Myth
• 00:02:13 A Troubled Age: France in Religious Turmoil
• 00:04:24 Early Life: The Self-Taught Rustique
• 00:12:08 The Catalytic Moment: Falling in Love with a Cup
• 00:17:07 Obsession and Sacrifice: Burning the Floorboards
• 00:20:03 The Rustiques Figulines: Nature Cast in Clay
• 00:24:18 Royal Patronage: Catherine de Medici and the Court
• 00:26:16 The Saint-Porchaire Mystery: A Lost Attribution
• 00:29:20 Public Intellectual: Lecturer on Science and Nature
• 00:30:54 Dangerous Faith: The Huguenot Who Wouldn't Hide
• 00:32:41 The Bastille: A Tragic End
• 00:33:22 Legacy: From Sons to Revival
• 00:34:33 Attribution Challenges: Real, School, or Revival?
• 00:39:37 Eternal Inspiration: Palissy's Enduring Impact

This week Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene explore the extraordinary ceramics of the Ming Dynasty, the period that established China as the world's greatest producer of porcelain.

From the famous blue-and-white wares of Jingdezhen to magnificent imperial commissions and the global trade that carried Chinese porcelain across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, we uncover how Ming potters achieved levels of craftsmanship that have rarely been surpassed. We also discover how these exquisite objects became symbols of wealth, power, and cultural exchange, inspiring generations of potters around the world.

Emperor Hongwu (21 October 1328 – 24 June 1398) – Public Domain
Monks Cape Ewer, 1368-1644, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Bowl with Chrysanthemums, late 14th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Porcelain Plate with Animals, mid 14th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Jar with Dragon, 1426-1435, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Bowl with Pomegranates, lotus scrolls, and chrysanthemum Petals, early 15th century, Public Domain
Flask with Medallion, early 15th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain

Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Jim Fuller & Sam Bond

Sound Engineer and Mixer: Joe Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

• 00:00:00 Introduction: The Ming Dynasty - When Porcelain Became Power
• 00:02:36 The Rise of Emperor Hongwu: From Peasant to Power
• 00:14:19 Technical Mastery: Copper Reds and Chrysanthemum Bowls
• 00:16:38 Infrastructure and Imperial Ambition: Building the Ming Empire
• 00:23:00 Emperor Yongle and the Golden Age of Blue and White
• 00:21:06 The Dragon Jar: Symbolism, Status, and Visual Mastery
• 00:28:11 Islamic Influences: Cross-Cultural Design and Pattern
• 00:33:13 The Great Voyages: Porcelain as White Gold
• 00:36:47 The Inward Turn: Crisis, Capture, and Conservative Retreat
• 00:41:54 Legacy: Jingdezhen and the Story Written in Glaze

This week Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene explore the remarkable ceramics of the Tang Dynasty, one of China's greatest periods of artistic innovation. We venture down into the depths of their magnificent tombs and discover the wonders of their funerary wares. Ceramics creations that capture life in the Imperial Court from dancers, polo players, concubines, warriors and magnificent horses. These treasures open a window into a golden period of Chinese history but also show how the Tang potters transformed the art of clay and influenced ceramic traditions around the world.

FEATURED ARTWORKS IN THIS EPISODE:

Emperor Li Yuan, 618-626, unknown, Public Domain
Excerpt from the handscroll Viewing the Pass List, c. 1540 by Qiu Ying
Tang Court Playing Polo, 706AD, Public Domain
Cosmetics Box, 8th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Figure of a Horse, 700-750, The British Museum, Public Domain
Amphora, Late 7th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Covered Jar, 8thcentury, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Set of Ten Entertainers and Two Dancers, 618-907, Miho Museum, Public Domain
Camel and Rider, 701-750, Art Institute of Chicago, Public Domain
Horse and Rider, early 8th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Camel with Musicians, 723, National Museum of China, Public Domain
Horse with Lead Glaze, 728, The British Museum, Public Domain
Seated Court Lady, 8th Century, the Met Collection, Public Domain
Female Attendant, Mid 7th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Female Attendant, 7th-8th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Seated girl holding Mirror, first half 8th Century, Art Institute Chicago, Public Domain
Polo Player, ca. 618-907, Public Domain
Young Female Polo Player,  early 8th Century, Musée Guimet
Female Polo Player, c. 750, Musée Guimet

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Jim Fuller & Sam Bond
Sound Engineer: Joe Little Executive
Producer: Emma Cahusac

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Tang Dynasty - A Golden Age of Chinese Ceramics
• 00:00:35 Context: From Terracotta Warriors to Tang Dynasty
• 00:01:33 The Tang Renaissance: Arts, Innovation, and the Birth of Porcelain
• 00:07:27 Emperor Li Yuan and the Reunification of China
• 00:09:40 Cosmopolitan Influences: Turkish Origins and Foreign Ideas
• 00:10:27 The Qianling Mausoleum: Royal Graves and Funerary Traditions
• 00:16:37 Craft and Technique: How the Figurines Were Made
• 00:18:58 Sancai Glaze: The Three-Colour Ceramic Revolution
• 00:22:10 Masterworks: The Covered Jar and Ewer
• 00:24:00 Ten Musicians and Two Dancers: Capturing Movement in Clay
• 00:25:44 Colour Theory and Cultural Openness in Tang Art
• 00:26:47 The Silk Road and Sea Trade: Expanding Horizons
• 00:28:02 Camels and Foreigners: Depicting a Cosmopolitan World
• 00:29:07 What Makes a Tang Dynasty Piece? Poise, Pride, and Individuality
• 00:30:36 The Camel with Five Musicians: A Traveling Band
• 00:33:10 Heavenly Horses: The Prized Steeds of the Tang Dynasty
• 00:37:17 Court Life and Leisure: Snapshots of Tang Society
• 00:39:43 Women Playing Polo: Sport, Warfare Training, and Social Inclusion
• 00:40:55 Equality and Sophistication: Women in Tang Society
• 00:42:11 Conclusion: Windows into the Tang World

This week we continue the story by following the extraordinary journey of Hans Coper, a man who arrived in Britain as a refugee with no experience of pottery, yet went on to become one of the greatest ceramic artists of the modern age.

Forced to flee Nazi Germany as a teenager, Hans Coper rebuilt his life from scratch in wartime Britain. When he began working in Lucie Rie's studio, he discovered not only a new craft but an entirely new way of expressing himself. Although Rie taught him the fundamentals of working with clay, Coper soon developed a powerful artistic language all his own creating bold, sculptural vessels that blurred the boundaries between pottery and sculpture.

In this episode, we explore Coper's remarkable transformation from refugee to internationally celebrated artist, the creative partnership and lifelong friendship he shared with Lucie Rie, and the innovations that changed the direction of modern ceramics forever.

More than a story about beautiful objects, this is a story of resilience, identity, and the extraordinary power of art to reshape a life.

Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the life and work of Hans Coper and discover how a man who began with no training in ceramics became one of the defining voices of twentieth-century studio pottery.

IMAGES FOR HANS COPER EPISODE:

Lucie Rie, Bronzed bowls from the 1980s
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, A group of Cycladic forms, late-
1970s – early-1970s
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, Early composite form, c.1950 and
Large jug, c.1953
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, Portrait of Lucie Rie, conceived
c.1953
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, Ovoid pot c.1970, Small ovoid pot,
c.1972 and Ovoid pot, c.1972
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation

Monumental Altar Candlesticks, Coventry Cathedral, by Hans Coper,
Image courtesy of Julian Osley – CC BY-SA 2.0


ADDITIONAL WORKS:

Bernard Leach, Thrown Bowl, 1973
Provided by York Museum
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

Bernard Leach Studio St Ives
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Henry Moore, Three Way Piece No. 2 ( The Archer), 1964-65
On display in front of Toronto City Hall since 1966 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/sa/1.0/

Henry Moore, Large Reclining Figure 1982 (LH 192b), fibreglass. As of 2004 sited outside the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. On loan from the Henry Moore Foundation. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Brâncuși's Paris studio, 1920,  Photograph by Edward Steichen, Public Domain

Constantin Brancusi, The Kiss, 1907-08, Public Domain

PHOTOGRAPHS:

Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion
Mews, 1950s
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Image Courtesy of the Crafts Study Centre,
University for the Creative Arts, Farnham

Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion (B&W)
Mews, early 1950s
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation

Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, 1959-69 (in vehicle)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, Albion Mews, c.1956
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, Albion Mews, c.1967
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation

‘Lucie Rie / Hans Coper: Life at the Wheel’ will be at Offer Waterman in London from 18 September - 31 October 2026.

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Fraser Watson
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Hans Coper Arrives at Lucy Rie's Door
• 00:01:49 Hans Coper's Early Life: A Comfortable Beginning in Germany
• 00:03:04 The Nazi Rise: A Childhood Shattered
• 00:06:04 Escape from Germany: Hanging from a Moving Train
• 00:09:13 Internment and the Pioneer Corps: Survival in Canada and Britain
• 00:12:53 Gone with the Wind: The Day That Changed Everything
• 00:13:33 The Button Factory: A Hive of Refugee Activity
• 00:17:39 Learning the Potter's Wheel: A Natural Talent Emerges
• 00:22:11 The Relationship: Big Sister, Younger Brother
• 00:27:48 Two Different Visions: Potter vs. Sculptor
• 00:30:29 The Aesthetic: Delicate Bowls and Textured Monuments
• 00:34:47 Teaching Philosophies: Steel Fist vs. Graceful Integrity
• 00:38:43 Architectural Commissions: From Pots to Coventry Cathedral
• 00:41:28 Legacy: Changing the Direction of British Ceramics

This week on The History of Ceramics, we begin the remarkable story of two artists who transformed the course of modern ceramics. Our journey starts with the extraordinary life of Lucie Rie.

Born into the rich cultural world of Vienna, Lucie Rie was already an accomplished ceramic artist when the rise of Nazism forced her to leave everything behind. Arriving in London as a refugee in 1938, she faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding her life and career in an unfamiliar country. Yet through determination, technical brilliance, and an unmistakable artistic vision, she would become one of the defining figures of twentieth-century ceramics.

In this episode, we explore Rie's early life in Vienna, the artistic influences that shaped her distinctive style, and the resilience that carried her through exile and war. We discover how her elegant forms and luminous glazes challenged traditional ideas about pottery, and how her tiny London studio became the birthplace of a revolution in ceramic art.

This is more than the story of a remarkable potter. It is a story of courage, reinvention, and creativity flourishing against the odds.

Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the life and work of Lucie Rie—and discover how one extraordinary artist helped redefine the possibilities of clay.

Featured Images:

Lucie Rie, Bronzed bowls from the 1980s, 

Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, A group of Cycladic forms, late- 1970s – early-1970s
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation 

Lucie Rie, Teapot Designed and Made for Ernst Plischke, 1928
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Lucie Rie, Early London period bowl, c.1945 

Lucie Rie & Hans Coper, Early London period cylindrical lidded pot, c.1947 

Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artists/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation 

Lucie Rie, Vase from the 'Black Firing', 1981 and Composite vase, known as the 'God Pot', c.1980
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Lucie Rie, Vase with sgraffito design, c.1982 Footed bowl, c.1978
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Lucie Rie, Pink footed bowl, c.1980
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Bernard Leach, Thrown Bowl,, 1973
Provided by York Museum 
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

Bernard Leach Studio St Ives 
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

PHOTOGRAPHS:

Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion Mews, 1950s
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Image Courtesy of the Crafts Study Centre,
University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion Mews, early 1950s
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, 1959-69 (in vehicle)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Lucie Rie, Albion Mews, c.1960 (at wheel)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation 

Lucie Rie, Albion Mews, c.1960 (at wheel with pot)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Lucie Rie, Albion Mews, c.1967 (in studio)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

‘Lucie Rie / Hans Coper: Life at the Wheel’ will be at Offer Waterman in London from 18 September - 31 October 2026. 

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks.   

Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Jim Fuller & Fraser Watson
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Lucy Rie and Hans Coper - Titans of Studio Ceramics
• 00:03:31 Vienna's Golden Age: The Wiener Werkstätte and Gesamtkunstwerk
• 00:10:03 Lucy's Upbringing: An Intellectual Jewish Family in Vienna
• 00:17:18 World War I and Tragedy: The Loss of Her Brother
• 00:20:53 Discovery of Clay: Finding Her Medium at the Kunstgewerbeschule
• 00:29:23 Marriage and Early Success: Building a Career in 1920s Vienna
• 00:32:40 The 1937 Paris Expo: Career Triumph and Rising Darkness
• 00:36:07 Flight from Vienna: Escaping the Nazis in 1938
• 00:38:37 Starting Over in London: Albion Mews and the Button Business
• 00:48:28 A Knock on the Door: Hans Coper Arrives

In 1974, a group of farmers digging a well in rural China made one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history: an underground army of thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors, standing silently in battle formation for more than two thousand years.

But why was this extraordinary army created? Who was the powerful ruler it was built to protect? And what does it reveal about the ambitions, beliefs, and astonishing technological achievements of ancient China?

In this episode of The History of Ceramics, we explore the story behind the Terracotta Army and the remarkable reign of Qin Shi Huang, the emperor who unified China and transformed its future. We uncover the extraordinary craftsmanship behind the figures, the vast workforce that produced them, the secrets still buried beneath the emperor's mausoleum, and the ongoing archaeological discoveries that continue to reshape our understanding of one of the world's greatest ceramic masterpieces.

From imperial power and military might to artistry, innovation, and the enduring legacy of clay, this is the story of how an army that was never meant to be seen became one of the greatest treasures of human civilisation.

Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the fascinating history behind the Terracotta Warriors—and discover why these silent guardians continue to captivate the world over two millennia after they were made.

All artworks included in this episode are courtesy of: Creative Commons license Zero, Public Domain Dedication

For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks

Credits:

Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene

Editor: Joe Little

Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

• 00:00:00 Introduction: The Greatest Ceramic Project Ever
• 00:00:52 Discovery in 1974: Farmers Uncover a Lost Army
• 00:04:55 The Secret Keeper: Zhao Kangmin and the Cultural Revolution
• 00:08:11 Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China
• 00:11:16 Fear of Death and the Quest for Immortality
• 00:13:09 Building an Army for the Afterlife
• 00:15:07 The Mausoleum Complex: The Size of Manhattan
• 00:22:41 Industrial Scale Ceramic Production
• 00:29:27 Individual Faces: Eight Types, Infinite Variations
• 00:34:38 Color and Paint: The Lost Vibrancy
• 00:39:43 The Emperor's Death and the Fall of Qin
• 00:42:04 Fire and Destruction: The Tomb Under Attack
• 00:43:39 Legacy: From Fear to Forever