The Leach Pottery, St Ives

The Leach Pottery, St Ives

Images from the Leach Pottery.  A working pottery frozen in time where the beginnings of the British studio pottery movement began.  The old fireplace where the potters would gather to discuss form and function.  A place strongly influenced by Japanese mingei (folk) pottery.

The pottery also is home to resident potter Jack Doherty who, with three onsite apprentices, has developed a new range of Leach tableware.  It's good to see new work being developed and skills passed on.  It was interesting to visit the pottery after previously visiting Onta and Mashiko in Japan.  Places where Bernard Leach visited and where I felt I had stepped back in time.  Fascinating.

Eltham Palace

Eltham Palace 

Marquetry Wall

Staircase

Art Deco Clock

Art Deco Fireplace

Mother Of Pearl Inlaid Door

Mrs Courtauld's Bathroom

Mr Courtauld's Bathroom

Walled Garden

I spent a lovely sunny (feels a long time ago now!) day at Eltham Palace, enjoying the perfect setting for a friend's wedding.  Eltham Palace was a Royal Palace near to London. It was last used by Henry VIII as a hunting lodge.  In the 1930's a private house was built adjoining the medieval Great Hall by the wealthy Courtauld family.  Most of the images above show the beautiful art deco interiors.

The first image shows the ship like entrance way. Stunning!  Upstairs the Courtauld's had separate and very different bedrooms. Hers was all curves and gold.  His was angular and functional.  How lovely it must have been to live there!  Very elegant.  The Courtauld's even had a pet ring tailed lemur that was so spolit it had the run of the palace and hand painted wallpaper in his boudoir to remind him of his Madagascan home!