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Bernard Howell Leach

(1887-1979), Potter and writer

Sitter in 7 portraits
Artist of 1 portrait
Born in Hong Hong, Leach studied at the Slade school of Art, London before moving to Japan to teach, at the age of 21. He studied pottery under the tradition of Ogata Kenzan. Returning to England with his family in 1920, Leach established the pottery in St Ives with Shoji Hamada. He used local materials and drew inspiration from the 17th Century, aiming to produce inexpensive slipware for everyday use. From the early 1920s he began to take on students who included Michael Cardew and Katherine Pleydell-Bouverie.

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Bernard Howell Leach

by Bernard Howell Leach
etching and aquatint, 1914
NPG 6017

Bernard Howell Leach

by Andrew Lanyon
bromide print, 1966
NPG P1345

Bernard Howell Leach

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1961
NPG x13788

Bernard Howell Leach

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1961
NPG x13789

Bernard Howell Leach

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, mid 1960s
NPG x132787

Bernard Howell Leach

by J.S. Lewinski
bromide print on card mount, 1970
NPG x13732

Bernard Howell Leach

by Paul Joyce
bromide print on card mount, November 1976
NPG x13431

Related People

Janet Darnell Leach (wife)

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Self image: basic materials and techniques (3)

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Bernard Howell Leach