The History of Ceramics

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

Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel to the American South at the end the 19th C to explore the life and work of George E. Ohr - otherwise known as the Mad Potter of Biloxi. Overlooked for much of his life this eccentric character worked tirelessly creating innovative, wild and exquisitely crafted art pottery. He was a renowned showman using slogans, banners and sales gimmicks to market his wares and was the self proclaimed "world's best art-potter". His life’s work remained undiscovered gathering dust in a garage for decades before an antiques dealer happened upon them in his son's auto shop. Today his legacy is firmly recognised as a founding father of the art pottery movement and there is a museum in his name, designed by Frank Gehry, in his hometown of Biloxi.

Images of artworks and photographs in this episode:

Pitcher, 1889-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.

Vase (Blue/Twist), 1987-1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.

Vase (Red), 1895-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.

Vase (pink/purple/pinched), 1897-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.

Photo of George E. Ohr – The Mad Potter of Biloxi (1857-1918)

Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – outside studio with signage

Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – studio with “Greatest Potter on Earth” signage

Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – inside studio with pots

George E. Ohr, The Mad Potter of Biloxi. Harpers Magazine, 1892-1893

Burnt Babies, 1894, George E. Ohr

Burnt Babies, 1894, George E. Ohr

Vase (Red), 1895-96, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET

Tea Pot, 1897-1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET

Pitcher (Brown/Gold/Pinched), 1896, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET

Photo of George E. Ohr (1895-1918) - workshop

Bowl (Green/Gold), 1897-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET

Bowl (Pinched Clay), 1898-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET

Vase (Black/Blue), 1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET

Vase (Red/Brown), 1890-1905, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET

Pitcher (Green), 1890-1905, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMet

Clockface and Vase (Pink), 1898, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET. (TBC)

Photo of Ohr and O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, Mississippi – architect Frank Gehry.

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 Mad Potter of Biloxi
• 00:04:20 Early Life and Civil War Era Biloxi
• 00:07:01 The Misfit: Education and Early Jobs
• 00:10:50 Discovery of Clay: The Duck Finds Water
• 00:12:04 Research Journey and Return to Biloxi
• 00:14:10 Building a Life: Marriage and Early Success
• 00:20:08 World's Fairs and the Great Biloxi Fire
• 00:26:26 The Golden Age: Reinvention and Masterworks
• 00:31:29 The Mad Potter Persona and World's Fair Recognition
• 00:38:51 Rejection and the End of Production
• 00:44:29 The 50-Year Wait and Miraculous Discovery
• 00:48:17 Legacy: From Forgotten to Greatest Potter on Earth

Stephanie Rozene and curator Garth Johnson pick up the story of Funk Art and look at the life and work of artist Clayton Bailey who would go on to form the breakaway movement called Nut Art. Taking ceramics into a new realm of world making, eccentricity and humour, Bailey would inhabit an alter egos, stage pranks with the press and take the museum world on an unexpected journey.

Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include:

No Deposit No Return, 1961, Robert Arneson Critter Rider, 1960, Clayton Bailey

His and Hers, 1964, Robert Arneson

Clayton Bailey with Nite Pots, 1965

The Typewriter # 1 (Touch System), 1965, Robert Arneson

Clayton Bailey with Nite Pots, 1965

Clayton Bailey with Jughead Pots, 2011

Country Dog Gentlemen, 1972, Roy de Forest

Mountain on Wheels with Fox Fiddlers, 2019, Maija Peeples-Bright

Frog Oreos, 1990, David Gilhooley

Dr Gladstone (Clayton Bailey) uncovers Bigfoot skeleton in Port Costa, CA

Clayton Bailey’s World of Wonders Store Front

Clayton Bailey with Jughead Pots

Garth Johnson - Curator of Kaolithic Curiosities, 2011

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

CREDITS:

Hosts: Stephanie Rozene and guest Garth Johnson

Editor: Joe Little

Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Clayton Bailey and the Nut Artists
• 00:00:52 Peter Voulkos and the Abstract Expressionist Revolution
• 00:02:32 Harvey Littleton, Clayton Bailey, and the Wisconsin Connection
• 00:04:12 The First Funk Object: Caterpillar with Flying Buttresses
• 00:10:01 The Night Pots: Sex, Function, and Subversion
• 00:08:38 Make It Ugly: Building a Ceramics Program in Whitewater
• 00:13:24 Connecting with Robert Arneson and Moving to California
• 00:17:23 The Vermilion Festival and Experimental Education
• 00:23:59 Port Costa and the Birth of Nut Art
• 00:25:47 World Building and Imagination: The Nut Art Aesthetic
• 00:28:10 Dr. Gladstone and the Science of Kaolism
• 00:31:54 The Bigfoot Discovery and Media Pranks
• 00:32:38 The Wonders of the World Museum
• 00:35:36 Performance Art and Compression Testing
• 00:37:52 Partner in Mischief: A Personal Relationship
• 00:44:06 Legacy: The Greatest Conceptual Ceramic Artist

Join Stephanie Rozene and guest Garth Johnson as they travel back to 1967 and the West Coast of the USA where an exhibition named Funk would showcase ceramics as a provocative art form. Using humour, satire, colour and form these Funk artists critiqued the world around them and changed ceramics forever.  No longer utilitarian vessels - this was art that shocked.

Artwork in this episode:

Banded White Bottle, 1958, Robert Arneson

Spouted Footed Vase, 1959, Robert Arneson

No Deposit, No Return, 1961, Robert Arneson

Jack and John Trophy, 1964, Robert Arneson

His and Her’s, 1964 ,  Robert Arneson

John with Art, 1964, Robert Arneson

Typewriter #1 (Touch System) 1965,  Robert Arneson

Self Portrait of the Artists Losing His Marbles, 1965, Robert Arneson

Alice House Wall, 1967, Robert Arnson

Assassination of a Famous Nut Artist, 1971, Robert Arneson

Portrait of George, 1981,  Robert Arneson

Other Images:

Relax in Electric Chair (Dirty Guy),” 1965, Peter Saul

Rocking Pot, 1956, Peter Voulkos,

Hole in One, 1978, Peter Voulkos,

Bottle, circa 1955. Antonio Prieto

Fur Rat, 1962,  Joan Brown

Cakes, 1963, Wayne Thiebaud


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

Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Additional Research: Catherine Ingram
Editor: Fraser Watson
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:02:16 San Francisco in the 1950s
• 00:08:15 The Origins of Funk
• 00:13:30 Robert Arneson's Early Life
• 00:21:04 The Volkos Revelation
• 00:34:19 The First Funk Ceramic Object
• 00:38:53 UC Davis
• 00:46:21 The Toilets: Censorship and Validation
• 00:54:01 The Typewriter
• 01:02:48 New York Success
• 01:08:57 Legacy