A Potter's Book

by Bernard Leach

When potters throw clay onto a stone, they make a connection across centuries to ancient workshops. The techniques and traditions of these early craftsmen, especially those of China’s Sung dynasty, still inform many of the pottery practices in use today, thanks to the seminal work of Bernard Leach.

Leach’s A Potter’s Book was among the first to collect ancient workshop traditions for modern use in studios, emphasizing functional work. It became an immediate hit among potters who embraced its ideal of unity, spontaneity, and simplicity of form. Leach, considered the father of British studio pottery, went on to establish of one of the most respected studios in the world with the ideas of A Potter’s Book at its foundation.

With this classic book, potters can learn everything, from how to set up their workshop to how to adapt pigment and glaze recipes to how to design custom kilns. It spotlights four types of pottery: Japanese raku, English slipware, stoneware, and oriental porcelain. Thanks to Leach’s time in Japan and collaborations with master potter Shoji Hamada, it also serves as a fascinating look at the interplay between Eastern and Western art.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Crafts

368 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1945

About the author

Bernard Howell Leach, CH, CBE (5 January 1887 – 6 May 1979), was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery".

Reviews

[Sally Ito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still mid-way thru reading this book and will likely not complete it once Leach goes into the finer technicalities of pottery making; however, I have always admired Leach's philosophical approach to the arts and crafts, in particular, of Japan and its pottery traditions. The early part of the book is about aesthetics and a cross-cultural examination of the pottery arts as it is perceived in the East and in the West. Having read Leach long time ago, I do now appreciate re-reading him again.

[Horus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike most dated books, this treatise on pottery has not really gone out of date. There are certainly processes and ingredients that have changed in the intervening time, but his descriptions of methods and understanding of form are timeless. Anyone serious about pottery should have this book in their collection, especially if you wish to understand the modern growth of the home pottery industry in England and North America.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book if you want to learn about artisan pottery production in England and Japan from 100 years ago. Some of the technical details and aesthetic arguments are hard to follow because of the passage of time.

[Shaina Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty outdated, but still a fantastic little primer on Ceramic studio production with a little history thrown in.

[Georgia Correia · Rating 3 out of 5]

🤭 …

Boring. It does have practical use so It would be good to come back to, but it’s boring.

[Logan Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most baller last paragraph of any published material ever.

[Ross R · Rating 5 out of 5]

The classic potter's guide for everything you need to know. Now I can build my own kiln.

[Francisco Tapiador · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugely influential for potters and aficionados everywhere, but infuriatingly old-fashioned regarding our perception of the East.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of a studio pottery literacy for so many of us. Though I don't agree with all of his philosophy and approach, this book was very important to me.