Alan Ambrose on mon 10 aug 98
I am forwarding this be cause it may be of general interest. Note the
"exhibition Shoji Hamada Master Potter, at Bonhams in association
with Asia House (4-17 September 1998)" for anyone in London at that
time.
Regards, Alan
........
THE ARTS AND INFLUENCE OF KOREA AND JAPAN
INCLUDING THE JANET LEACH COLLECTION AT
Bonhams, Knightsbridge, Wednesday 16th September 1998
PART I: Important Korean Ceramics from The Janet Leach Collection and
Japanese Ceramics and Works of Art
Tuesday 15th September
PART II: Textiles, Art Reference Books & Lacquer work
Wednesday 16th September at 3.00pm
PART III: Masterworks
Wednesday 16th September at 6.00pm
Bonhams are to hold a sale of antique Japanese and Korean Works of Art
including ceramics, inro, netsuke and other items for the first part of
this sale. Many of the pieces in the sale are from The Janet Leach
collection including a large and extremely rare Korean Vase.
Highlighting the sale is the eminent early Korean Moon Vase, Choson
Dynasty (17th/18th century) from the personal collection of Janet Leach,
estimate on request. This large Imperial globular stoneware vase was
brought over from Korea by Bernard Leach, who unable to travel with it,
left it stored with Dame Lucie Rie at her studio. On his return to
London Leach decided that the pot was so well suited to Lucie's studio
that it should be left there. Upon her death it was returned to Janet
Leach at Rie's request. A photograph taken by Lord Snowdon for The
Sunday Times Magazine shows Lucie Rie seated beside the globular Vase,
in her studio. The immense size of the piece indicates that it would
have been made for the Imperial family. This masterpiece is extremely
rare and similar in size and shape to one in the National Museum of
Korea in Seoul.
Timed to coincide with the exhibition Shoji Hamada Master Potter, at
Bonhams in association with Asia House (4-17 September 1998), an auction
of important works by Shoji Hamada, Bernard Leach and Kenkichi Tomimoto
amongst other Japanese National Treasures, entitled Part III -
Masterworks will be held on Wednesday 16th September 1998.
Supplementing the superb range of ceramics on offer is a selection
scrolls, wood block prints, hand woven textiles and The Janet Leach
Library.
Other important items featured in the sale include two rare Jomon clay
pots with incised decoration from 2,000 - 3,000 BC and a Tamba ash
glazed pot from the Japanese Edo period, (#4,000-6,000).
The work of Shoji Hamada (1894-1977), one of the greatest ceramicists of
the twentieth century and an inspiration to generations of potters, is
well represented in Part III with close to 20 key pieces to be offered.
Items of special interest include a magnificent tall stoneware Bottle
Vase with a transparent glaze decorated with a wax resist design of
foliage to either side, c.1930 (#7,000-9,000) and another stoneware Vase
painted with orchids at #6,000-#8,000. Also of importance is an
extremely rare stoneware cut sided Bulbous Pot with painted green and
red enamel (#6,000-#8,000) from The Janet Leach Collection and a
stoneware Square Dish in tenmoku with a vertical and wavy kaki design to
be sold with its original wooden signed box (#6,000-8,000). Amongst the
more unusual items to be offered are a pair of boxed Hamada large
ceramic Handwarmers, (#7,500-9,000).
>From the age of sixteen Hamada devoted his life to pottery. In 1918 he
met Bernard Leach in Kyoto where they worked together fusing what they
believed to be the most important achievements in Eastern and Western
ceramics. In 1920 Leach invited Hamada to England where they
established the St. Ives Pottery and built the first English 3-chamber
kiln. Michael Cardew later exclaimed that "The landing of Bernard Leach
and Shoji Hamada on the island of Britain in 1920 was for craftsmen
potters the most significant event of the 20th century". Hamada returned
to Japan in 1924 and settled at Mashiko where he established his own
pottery. By 1955 he was nominated a "Living National Treasure" ("Holder
of an Intangible Cultural Property") for his folk style art ceramics
created at Mashiko where he was one of the leaders of the Mingei craft
movement.
The work of Hamada achieved international status partly due to his
collaboration with Bernard Leach, whose work was greatly inspired by
Japanese techniques. The Janet Leach Collection comprises a number of
important works related to her husband, Bernard Leach (1887-1979), Janet
Leach's private collection of works by other potters and her
comprehensive reference library. Within the Leach library, to be sold
in Part II, are numerous signed copies and important first editions.
Rare books include Bernard Leach's signed copy of his book A Potter's
Portfolio, 1951 including his handwritten annotations and corrections
(#400-600). Photographs used to illustrate the book feature items from
Leach's personal collection which are included in the auction. Of
special interest is an early English slipware dish, 18th/19th century
(#400-600) and a Japanese stoneware plate decorated with flowers and
foliage, 18th/19th century (#1,100-1,500). Other important texts include
the rare printed book An English Artist in Japan, 1919, by Leach
comprising reproductions of his ceramics, drawings and poems along with
essays by Leach and others, estimate #600-900. Of particular relevance
to the auction and the Shoji Hamada exhibition is copy of A Potters
Book, 1952 by Bernard Leach signed "BL Black Mountain, 1952" and "J.
Darnell".(Janet Leach's maiden name). Black Mountain was where Susan
Peterson invited Hamada and Leach to lecture a group of students, one of
whom was Janet. Nearly fifty years later, on Thursday 10th September,
Susan Peterson, potter, teacher and writer, will give a lecture at
Bonhams entitled: Shoji Hamada: A Potter's Way & Work.
An impressive and varied range of works by Bernard Leach span his career
and interests featuring everything from early St. Ives ceramics to hand
painted fans. Particularly impressive is a large stoneware plate
featuring his famous "Pilgrim" design, (#8,000-12,000) and a rare
biscuit fired stoneware jar with incised decoration of the 'Tree of
Life', for estimate refer to department. The unfinished pot was left by
Leach's wheel together with a similar one by Hamada and is of great
academic interest as it was decorated but only biscuit fired and is the
only known example of this stage of Leach's technique. Also of interest
is one of Leach's favourite pieces a fluted celadon bowl,
(#2,500-3,500).
Many items in the sale reflect the personal nature and relationship of
Bernard and Janet Leach and the influence Japan and the Far East had on
them. A simple silver ring, made in Japan, featuring the 'Pilgrim'
design for Janet at the request of Bernard is included. Two unique
papyrus fans depict hand painted drawings by Bernard Leach and are
signed "BL 1953". One of Leach's greatest friends and colleagues was
fellow associate of the Mingei movement, Kenkichi Tomimoto. An item of
real sentiment included in the auction is a scroll featuring a drawing
by Tomimoto entitled "The Road", (#4,000-6,000). At either end of the
scroll are ceramic batton caps crafted by Leach and signed "BL", and on
the back it is touchingly inscribed "For Janet my wife, at my death".
Another indication of Leach's relationship with Tomimoto is portrayed in
one of the many books offered, given by Tomimoto to Leach and inscribed
with the message "50 years of friendship".
Bernard Leach who spent his childhood in the East, but studied drawing
and etching in London from 1903-7, left England for Japan in 1909. His
first contact with pottery was at a raku party near Tokyo in 1911 and
until his death in 1979 pottery remained at the heart of his varied and
creative life.
Kenkichi Tomimoto (1886-1963), appointed a Japanese National Treasure in
1955, is well represented in the sale. Important items include a fine
square stoneware dish in the Oribe style, #4,000-#6,000 and a blue and
white porcelain incense burner, 1933 (#2,800-3,500). Further important
lots by Tomimoto illustrate his close relationship with Bernard Leach.
A small model of a firing kiln by Tomimoto will be of great interest to
collectors as it was sent to Leach as a design for the St Ives kiln, the
most important kiln in Britain, and is now estimated at #800-#1,200.
Work by contemporary potters includes a small bizen vase with inlaid
rope design by Tatsuzo Shimaoka who was designated a 'National Living
Treasure' in 1996, estimate #600-#800 and a porcelain Kutani flower vase
in a vivid blue/indigo by Tokuda Yasokichi III who was designated a
master in 1997 (#1,000-1,500), along with pots by Kawai, Morino and
Arakawa and many of the most celebrated Japanese potters of today.
The title of a Japanese "National Living Treasure" can be awarded to
craftsmen practising numerous applied arts which adhere to the Japanese
tradition. Masters are nominated in many fields including ceramics,
textiles, lacquerware, woodwork and printmaking amongst others. Featured
in Part II of the auction is a large selection of impressive works from
woven fabrics for kimono through lacquerwork to bamboo including a pair
of 'travelling' chopsticks exquisitely crafted by a master in their
signed wooden box.
Information : d.alexander@bonhams.com
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