Small Tulip Pot
John Ward exhibition – Erskine, Hall and Coe
London, 2019
‘There is something compelling about the making of pots, regardless of function, which keeps me within the particular sphere; they are the focus of some many interests and associations. My aim is to make pots which have simple forms with integral decoration and aspects which can interact with the environment in interesting ways; to try and express a balance between these dynamic qualities and a sense of stillness or containment. Form above all, but expressed through light and colour’ – John Ward
Ward, now in his eighties, is one of the most distinguished of the modern British potters, having studied under Hans Coper and Lucie Rie at the Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts in the 1960’s.
His works are simple and complex, both in their forms and decoration. Whilst Ward is best known for his black and white vessels, our exhibition features a selection of these alongside a varied range of colours and scale. Ward has said of his style,
‘Living near the sea has probably had an effect on the banded decoration I use, either reflecting the movement of water and waves or the dips and folds of the strata revealed in cliff faces. This in turn has affected form.’
Influenced by the clean and pure forms of ancient Chinese and Egyptian pre-glaze pottery, early Cypriot pottery and early Persian bowls, Ward uses flattened coils of clay and a pinched base to produce the hollow forms that characterise his sculptural vases. Ancient influences are accompanied by an interest in varying aspects seen in the work of more recent and acclaimed potters; the formal strength of Hans Coper, Lucie Rie’s use of light and colour and Ian Godfrey’s experimentation with form and texture. Sometimes altered by cutting and rejoining to create ridges and grooves between curving surfaces, a pebble is then used to burnish the work. Ward’s pots are twice-fired in a kiln and he uses only matt glazes.
Exhibition running till 1st June 2019
Erskine, Hall & Coe Ltd
15 Royal Arcade
28 Old Bond Street
London W1S 4SP
+44 (0) 20 7491 1706
[email protected]
www.erskinehallcoe.com
John Ward — White Vessel
28cm height
John Ward—Large Shouldered Bowl
c.1980
John Ward–Tulip Pot
Stoneware 23.5cm height
John Ward – Striped Bowl
c. 1985
John Ward-Shouldered Vessel, c. 1980
John Ward– Rounded Pot with Squared Top and Green Banding
c. 1995
John Ward – Blue Vessel
John Ward — Monumental White Form with Green Banding,
c. 1996
43cm Height Stoneware
John Ward exhibition, London
Erskine, Hall & Coe
John Ward exhibition, UK
John Ward — Pale Vessel
c. 1990
32 x 24 x 20
John Ward–Bowl, c. 1980
Stoneware, 36.5 x 25.5 cm
John Ward–Pale Vessel with Squared Rim, c. 2000
John Ward — Blue Vessel, c. 1985–Stoneware
23cm Height
John Ward–Blue Vessel
c. 1985–Stoneware 23cm height
John Ward exhibition – Erskine, Hall and Coe
2019
John Ward — Black and White Vessel
c.-1995
John Ward–Small Shouldered Pot, c. 1990
John Ward Black and White Vessel
c. 1995 Stoneware 23cm height
John Ward – stoneware cup
John Ward – Green Banded Vessel
early 1980s 12.7cm Height
John Ward — Small Speckled Pot
c. 1985
John Ward —Pot with Cut Rim and green stripes
c. 1995–21,3 cm
John Ward — Ceramic vessel with White and Mottled Green Banding
early 1980’s
John Ward Blue and Red Tailed Bowl
Stoneware c. 1995
Green and Brown Pot with Squared Rim — John Ward
c. 1990–Stoneware, 22 cm high
Green and Brown Oval Vessel, c. 1985–Stoneware, 22.5 cm
Bowl & Shouldered Vessel
c. 1980–Stoneware, 36.5 cm high & 23 cm high
Blue Vessel by John Ward
c. 1985 Stoneware 22cm
John Ward—Green Striped Vessel
c. 1995–47cm
