The History of Ceramics

The History of Ceramics brings together British art historian & curator Paul Greenhalgh and U.S. maker and academic Stephanie Rozene as they reveal the most compelling stories from this often-overlooked corner of art history. From the very first shards that shed light on early civilizations, to stories of power, political intrigue and espionage. Famous artists, extraordinary characters, pioneers and rebels from the world of pottery, architecture and design. Full of revelation, insight and practical expertise, The History of Ceramics offers an alternative history to our times.

The History of Ceramics is a arts podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 22 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The History of Ceramics, a arts show with 22 episodes published.

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  Episode #21

  Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master - Part 1 - Japan

  Aug 19, 202636 minS1

  How did an English artist in Japan become one of the most influential figures in modern ceramics? In the first of our three-part series on Bernard Leach, we explore the extraordinary early years that shaped his life and work. From his return to Japan and his first encounters with pottery to his friendship with Shōji Hamada, we discover how Japanese culture transformed Leach's understanding of what a pot could be. This is the story of the meeting of East and West — and how the ideas Leach discovered in Japan would eventually help change the course of modern ceramics. To see images of the ceramics being discussed in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app. Featured Artwork: Bernard Leach and bookcase, Tokyo, 1917-1919 Bernard Leach, A Potters Book, 1940 Bernard Leach with grandparents in Japan, c. 1890 Frank Brangwyn, by Reinhold Thiele, c 1900 John Ruskin, by W. & D. Downey, 1863 William Morris by Frederick Hollyer, 1887 Leaping Salmon Vase, c.1950, Bernard Leach; Okinawa Style Teabowl, c.1970, Shōji Hamada, Oxford Ceramics Gallery Harmony in Blue and Gold, The Peacock Room, by James McNeill Whistler, 1834-1903, Public Domain Temple of Heaven, Peking, 1916, printed signature in the plate Bernard Leach 1916, Public Domain Photograph of rural Japan, C.1900, Public Domain Early Raku Vase, Bernard Leach, c.1925 Raku Firing Kiln Portrait of Ogata Kenzan VI, by Bernard Leach, 1924 Mokko-shaped Food Bowl, by Uruno Shigekichi, 1881-1923 Cup, Ogata Kenzan, 18th Century Photo of Shõji Hamada, 1894-1978 Photo of Sõetsu Yanagi, 1889-1961 Photo of Bernard Leach with Shõji Hamada & Sõetsu Yanagi, Dartington 1952 Cup and Signed Box, Shõji Hamada Large Dish, Shõji Hamada Stoneware Bottle, Shoji Hamada Hamada’s Kiln in Moshiko, Creative Commons License, CC3.0 Unknown Craftsman, Sõetsu Yanagi , 1972 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master 00:03:57 Early Life: Colonial Beginnings and Artistic Awakening 00:12:01 The Arts and Crafts Movement: Ruskin, Morris, and Moral Philosophy 00:15:15 Japan's Meiji Period: Transformation and Cultural Identity 00:18:10 Return to Japan: Teaching Etching and Finding Community 00:23:52 The Raku Party: A Life-Changing Moment 00:27:05 Training with Kenzan VI: Entering the Japanese Pottery Tradition 00:28:57 Hamada and Yanagi: The Birth of Mingei 00:30:57 Philosophical Foundations: Arts of the People 00:33:30 The Bold Decision: Sailing for St. Ives Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Sam Bond Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

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  Episode #20

  Secrets of The Japanese Tea Ceremony

  Aug 12, 202639 minS1

  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 Chapters 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

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  Episode #19

  Bernard Palissy - Obsession, Faith and Myth

  Aug 5, 202641 minS1

  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 Chapters 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

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  Episode #18

  The Ming Dynasty - When Porcelain Became Power

  Jul 29, 202643 minS1

  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 Chapters 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

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  Episode #16

  Lucie Rie & Hans Coper - Clay, Courage and Reinvention - Part 2

  Jul 16, 202644 minS1

  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 Chapters 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

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