In 1997, art consultant Kate Chertavian, potter John Bedding, and collector Guy Smallwood came together to form the CBS Collection. Their vision was to create a dynamic collection featuring the work of the world’s leading studio potters, both past and present. The collection operates on a unique model: buying and selling pieces, with all profits reinvested to continuously expand and enhance the collection. Many of the pieces are of museum quality, yet unlike a museum, the collection is vibrant and accessible, allowing visitors to take home and appreciate these exceptional works.
The CBS Collection is organized and displayed at St Ives Ceramics, a specially designed gallery located in the heart of St Ives—a town renowned for its rich heritage in studio pottery, notably as the home of Bernard Leach. Leach, often regarded as the father of the studio pottery movement, established the Leach Pottery in 1920, where he trained and inspired generations of potters.
The collection features many potters with connections to St Ives, either as students of Bernard Leach or followers of his philosophy. It also includes representatives of modernist movements, such as Hans Coper and Lucie Rie. The collection is eclectic, with a focus on the quality and craftsmanship of the works.
