Bernard Leach

Large Bowl, stoneware, white engobe and iron brushwork of running rabbits motifs

Period

1935

Size

Length45.5×Width45.5×Height17.5cm

This bowl with vibrantly decorated with bounding rabbits was created at Futagawa Kiln, Fukuoka, in 1934, one year after Leach's arrival in Japan. The green and brown colors in between the two rabbits are painted with quick brush strokes, possibly representing the surroundings as seen by the leaping rabbits. There is humor in the contrast of the active bodies of the rabbits and their downcast eyes.

Bernard Leach

1887－1979

Born in Hong Kong, he grew up in Kyoto and Hikone. After moving to Britain, He studied at art school. He returned to Japan in 1909 where he encountered the Shirakaba-ha school. He went back to Britain accompanied by Shoji Hamada in 1920. He built a kiln there and began to make pottery, establishing Leach Pottery in 1922. He was a pioneer of British studio pottery.