29 Images and Videos of the Great Bernard Leach

READ > Remembering Bernard Howell Leach

Bernard Leach was born in 1887 in Hong Kong and raised in Japan and Singapore. From his earliest years, he advocated the need for the East and West to meet and merge. His idealism and passionate concern for humanity, which found expression through his craft, were later strengthened and expanded as he embraced the Bahá’í Faith.

Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada admiring an English medieval pitcher, 1966. From the Bernard Leach archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, BHL/12872.

A young visitor examines a Bernard Leach jug at the installation, Kai Althoff goes with Bernard Leach at the Whitechapel Gallery, London, 7 October 2020 – 10 January 2021. Photo: Polly Eltes

A Bernard Leach fish tile displayed against a cloth woven by artist Travis Josef Meinolf, at the installation, Kai Althoff goes with Bernard Leach at the Whitechapel Gallery, London, 7 October 2020 – 10 January 2021. Photo: Polly Eltes

The Leach Pottery centenary display at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, UK.

The old throwing room at the Leach Pottery in St. Ives, Cornwall. Photo: Matthew Tyas

The Leach Pottery in St. Ives, Cornwall today. Photo: Matthew Tyas

Bernard Leach at The Leach Pottery, St. Ives, c.1925. From the Alan Bell archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, ABL/3/1/1.

The fireplace at the Leach Pottery, St. Ives, Cornwall. Photo: Matthew Tyas

Bernard Leach working at the wheel in the 1930s. From the Bernard Leach archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, BHL/6690.

One of the very first Raku pots that Leach made with the assistance of an unknown maker, Tokyo, 1911. © Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, P.75.67.

Bernard Leach, ‘pagoda pot’, 1970s. The lid relates to the roof of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. © Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, P.75.105.a-b.

A vase by Bernard Leach, titled ‘Solomon among the Lilies’, on show in the Kai Althoff Goes with Bernard Leach exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, London. Image courtesy of Leicester Museums © Bernard Leach Estate.

A tile by Bernard Leach, c.1928 on show in the Kai Althoff Goes with Bernard Leach exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, London. From the Bernard Leach archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts.

Bernard Leach with his son, David and students in the Old Pottery in St. Ives, England. From the Bernard Leach archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, BHL/8999A.

Bernard Leach teaching Japanese students at the Marusan kiln, Fujima. From the Bernard Leach archive at the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, BHL/12677.