A Very English Tradition

William Plumptre

We are delighted to present a solo exhibition featuring new work from William Plumptre. Trained by a Japanese master Mingei potter, Tatsuzo Shimaoka, William Plumptre has been making pots in the Anglo-Oriental style for over three decades. A Very English Tradition features his iconic wood ash glaze and rope marking decoration - a technique he learnt in Japan with Tatsuzo Shimaoka.

'I left Chelsea Art School in 1983 and lived for 2 years in Mashiko from 1985 where I worked for a year in the workshop of Tatsuzo Shimaoka; a National Treasure of Japan. It opened up a vast wealth of pottery technique and interpretations of clay. I have returned four times to Japan and still draw on my experiences there. I was curious to learn the technique of Zogan the inlay of slip on clay and rope decoration on the surface of clay which is the main reason why I went to study under Tatsuzo Shimaoka. I love the surface texture created by this method and the use of different types of wood ash glaze to bring out the rope patterns.' - William Plumptre