Leach Pottery standard ware

Leach Pottery Standard-ware is a contemporary evolution of one of the most influential traditions in British studio pottery. Developed following the reopening and renovation of the Leach Pottery in 2008, the range was created to bring the principles of Bernard Leach into a new generation of practical domestic ware.

The collection was designed to be distinct from the original Standard-ware while remaining rooted in Leach’s belief that the beauty of a pot comes through its function, simplicity and repetition. The forms were developed with everyday use in mind, as well as with the practical requirements of making and teaching within a working pottery.

Rather than being dictated by a single set of designs, the range emerged through a collaborative process shaped by practicality and simplicity. It is deliberately restrained, focusing on a carefully considered selection of useful domestic forms. Sturdy, tactile and ergonomic, each piece is made without unnecessary ornament, giving the collection a timeless quality that sits comfortably beyond changing fashions.

Today, the design and production of the Standard-ware is overseen by Lead Potter Roelof Uys, the individual pieces all handmade at the Leach Pottery by its production potters and apprentices.

Leach Standard-ware is made from stoneware clay sourced from a local pit near St Agnes, Cornwall, and fired in a gas kiln in a reducing atmosphere. This traditional firing process enhances the character of both the clay and glazes, contributing to the distinctive surface and tactile quality of the finished pots.