Pots On Loan Bridport 2014

Mark Tattershall

I have loved and collected Duncan’s work since long before I started making pots myself. The extraordinary surfaces he produces by using terra sigillata and the subtlety of line he creates through smoke firing were major influences when I came to decide what firing and decoration techniques to explore.

Shallow bowl, 28cm wide. Smoke fired earthenware, terra sigillata, sgraffito.

Mark Tattershall

I bought this incense burner many years ago from a Dutch potter in a French market and the finish, smoke markings and beautifully crafted lid have been a constant source of inspiration.

Burnished and smoke fired, lid with wooden handle.

21cm wide

Mark Tattershall

I discovered Adam’s work at Art In Action in 2012. Based in Pembrokeshire, he has for many years explored the Korean dal-hang-a-ti or Moon Jar in many forms, from these delicate porcelain miniatures to huge stoneware pieces more than 1 metre high. His work inspired me to return to glaze as a finish for my pots and to experiment with local clays as underglazes for high-temperature firing.

Miniature Moon Jar, glazed porcelain

9cm high

Fiona Kelly

Cathi now pots in Cowichan Valley on southern Vancouver Island, but I met her when she was working in North Vancouver ... The plainer beaker was made when she came over to be part of the Aberystwyth Ceramics Festival, and she made pots for a while with Phil Rogers.

Fiona Kelly

This was bought for me by my 4 daughters as a birthday gift from Matthew at Ceramic Art London several years ago.

Jill Pryke

I love the clean elegant lines of this dish and the simplicity and effectiveness of the decoration. Made at the potter's JCJ Pottery in East Sussex; this type of work has now been supplanted by his present finely painted lustre dishes and plates.

Dish, porcelain body, rich brown glaze inside with white incised (combed) decoration. No Mark

29cm wide

Jill Pryke

This jug was made by Ursula Mommens in the nineteen seventies at her South Heighton Pottery nr. Newhaven in Essex. I love the simple, unpretentious form, its open generosity (like the potter who made it) and the study, serviceable strap handle.

Jug, buff stoneware, with speckled grey glaze

19.5cm high

Bill Crumbleholme

Given to me while working as an experimental archaeologist at the Bestwall Quarry Archaeological dig near Wareham. I admire this simple but functional bowl, one of millions made around Poole Harbour while the Romans were there. It has significance for me personally, because it represents a step in my journey of discovery about ancient pottery technology.

A Black Burnished Ware “Dog Dish”, approximately 1700 years old

4cm high

Bill Crumbleholme

These are an heirloom, I think I remember my family buying them when I was very young. We used to stop at the Sibley Pottery for afternoon tea when passing, then I was more interested in the cream tea than the pottery! These two mugs where kept on my father's sailing boat and I remember drinking hot soup out of them, after being sea-sick! My father's had a loop of fishing line on a handle to show it was his. They were probably the first “craft” objects which I had come across being bought from the maker. I have no love of them as objects of beauty, but they represent an awakening in me of pottery.

A pair of cast mugs, white inside, light blue outside.

10cm high

Bill Crumbleholme

Jim is one of the countries best makers of replica pottery. He is an archaeologist turned potter who runs a successful business making and exporting all sorts of functional reproductions of pots. I first met him when he was brought down to work on a Time Team episode, filmed near where I live in 1998 – I helped him source clay and wood for the kiln we built and I can be seen lurking in the background when the programme is re-run. The jug is very well made, in terms of pleasing proportions and colour, as well as being a reminder of good country pottery traditions.

Medieval style Jug, stoneware, incised horizontal wavey lines, brown/green glaze

20cm high

Bill Crumbleholme

A fine example of a simple functional jar, well made and decorated and pleasingly glazed. The decoration is simple but very effective, obviously using a highly repeated set of incised patterns that fit the size and shape of the pot. I bought it from Mike during Somerset Art Week a good few years ago, after an interesting and informative visit to his studio. He has also inspired me by his writings in magazines and books, I can relate to most of his rants!

Lidded cylindrical jar. Facetted and incised sides, spiral on lid. Brown glaze, breaking to transparent where thinner. Marked MD

12cm high

Bill Crumbleholme

A delightful jug, bought at Ceramic Art London, from one of England's best Soda firing potters. A truly inspirational maker of functional wares. Lisa works hard at being a potter and helping others, such as with the Adopt A Potter scheme. She has a control of soda firing that comes of years of experimentation and practice.

“Leaning Back” Jug, soda fired

15cm high

Bill Crumbleholme

A beaker I bought hot from the kiln at the International Ceramics Festival in 2013. A beautifully proportioned vessel with simple effective marks and glazes. Joe has been an inspiration through his championing of self built kilns, especially wood firing – we have built a version of his design and he was very helpful with hints about its construction and firing, both through his book, on the phone and in person.

Beaker, soda fired. Marked JF and ICF 2013

10cm high

Jennie Hanrahan

Troika pottery was designed and produced during the 60’s until its closure in 1983 in St Ives, Cornwall, by Leslie Illsley and Benny Sirota. Its designs represented architectural forms and shapes: pottery simply as an art form. Bernard Leach was the renowned potter in Cornwall at the time, but it was Troika's ambition to be progressive and different. Troika produced their wares from moulds so they could make them in greater numbers, whereas most of the studio potters preferred production throwing . Some Troika designs are considered more desirable to collectors than many studio potters' pieces are.

17cm height 7-5 cm width

A Coffin Vase 1970 - 1972

Celtic Cross motif

Decorated by – Linda Taylor

Mark on base - Troika Cornwall