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Rating
4.8from
This podcast has
28 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
HENI TalksExplicit
No
Date created
2026/03/24
Latest episode
2026/09/30
Average duration
44 min.
Release period
7 days
Description
The History of Ceramics brings together British art historian & curator Paul Greenhalgh and U.S. maker and academic Stephanie Rozene as they reveal the most compelling stories from this often-overlooked corner of art history. From the very first shards that shed light on early civilizations, to stories of power, political intrigue and espionage. Famous artists, extraordinary characters, pioneers and rebels from the world of pottery, architecture and design. Full of revelation, insight and practical expertise, The History of Ceramics offers an alternative history to our times.
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Peter Voulkos - The Man Who Broke the Rules (Part 1)
2026/09/30
What happens when a master potter decides to break all the rules?
In the first of two episodes, Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh explore the life and work of Peter Voulkos, the artist who helped transform American ceramics after the Second World War.
From his Montana childhood and wartime service to his first encounter with clay, Voulkos begins as a brilliantly skilled traditional potter. But through teachers, fellow artists and the experimental world of 1950s America, he starts cutting, tearing and rebuilding clay in radically new ways. By the mid-1950s, pottery was becoming sculpture and a revolution in clay was underway.
To see the images from this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app.
Featured Images:
Photo of Voulkos doing pottery by Stephanie Rozene
Photo Filming Voulkos at work, by Stephanie Rozene
Voulkos Correcting a student, Stephanie Rozene.
VOulkos nished platers on table, Stephanie Rozene
Photo of John Balistreri assisting Peter Voulkos. 1990s (Creative Commons)
Voulkos at Potters wheel, ca. 1956
Photo of Frances Senzka smiling
Photo of Edith Heath, Date Unknown, (Wikipedia)
Photograph of Maija-Grotell-1920s (Wikiedpia)
Marguerite finishing a vase, ca.1950s. 1998 Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona Foundation
Face Vessel, ca. 1970s, Marguerite Wildenhain
Archie Bray and Rudy Autio photograph, ca. 1951
Photograph of Frances Senska and her pots, 1988, Linda Best photo / Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Chicken and Wine Set, 1960, Frances Senzka
Ya Ba Bo jar, 1970, Frances Senzka
Bottom of Ya Ba Bo jar, 1970, Frances Senzka
Peter Voulkos Painting his Ceramics, ca. 1950s
Ceramic National Piece, 1950, Peter Voulkos ????
Gourd Shaped Vases, Vases with Leaf, Green-Swirled Vases, 1952, Peter Voulkous
Archie Bray Putting Soda in Beehive Kiln ca. 1950s
Yanagi, Leach, Autio, Voulkous and Hamada at the Archie Bray Foundation
Voulkos kicking the wheel for Hamada at Archie Bray Foundation, 1952
Karen Karnes, (1925-2016), Western Regional Archives, State Archives of North Carolina
David Weinrib, (1924 – 2016)
Robert Rauschenberg at Black Mountain College, Black Mountain, NC, United States, circa 1951. Photo: Cy Twomble
M.C Richards (1914 – 1999) Wikipedia Picture
Untitled Stoneware with Acrylic Paint, ca. 1953, MC Richards Collaboration with Peter Voulkos
Covered Jar, 1953, Peter Voulkos
Jackson Pollock at work – photograph by Hans Namuth (Wikipedia)
Marguerite Wildenhaine, ca. 1962, Wikipedia page.
Rocking Pot, 1956 Peter Voulkos (Smithsonian ART Museum)
Peter Voulkos working, ca. 1960.
Tony Prieto Tall Vase, Stoneware, 1950. The Everson Museum of Art. Photo credit Stephanie Rozene.
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Peter Voulkos - The Man Who Broke the Rules
00:00:58 Stephanie's Personal Encounter with Voulkos at Alfred University
00:05:07 The Two Sides of Peter Voulkos: Machismo and the Dance
00:07:47 Early Life: Montana, Greek Immigrant Roots, and World War II
00:10:37 Finding Clay: Frances Senska and Montana State College
00:14:54 The Foundations of Mastery: Learning Traditional Pottery Skills
00:17:31 Early Success and the Archie Bray Foundation
00:21:09 The 1952 Leach and Hamada Tour: International Influences
00:22:09 Black Mountain College and M.C. Richards: Opening New Doors
00:32:33 New York City 1953: Abstract Expressionism and Transformation
00:39:47 Breaking with Tradition: The Rocking Pot and Radical Experimentation
00:44:59 Setting the Stage: Otis College and What's to Come
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Dennis Caouki
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
The Ancient Greeks: From Red Figure to the Rise of Rome
2026/09/23
The story of Greek ceramics continues with a revolution in pottery. Around 530 BC, Athenian potters began turning the familiar world of black-figure decoration on its head, creating the extraordinary red-figure vessels that would come to define Classical Greek ceramics.
Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh explore the potters, workshops and innovations behind this transformation, and discover how ceramics became part of everyday Greek life – from wine-drinking symposia to sporting prizes and simple household wares. As Greek influence spreads across the Mediterranean, so too do its ceramic traditions, before a new power emerges: Rome. Yet conquest would not bring the story to an end. The Romans absorbed and reinvented Greek forms, ensuring their influence would survive for centuries.
Please switch to video in your podcasting app, to see the pots being spoken about in this episode.
Featured Artworks:
Black Figure Amphore, Attributed to Group E (British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Red Figure amphora, signed by Andokides, c.530 BCE
Terracotta amphora (jar)
Red Figure bell krater, Anonymous, often referred to as by the Berlin Painter, Greek, c.480 BCE, Louvre Museum.
Anonymous, possibly Apulian, possibly Boeotian, 480 BCE
Francois Vase, Black Figure krater, decorated by Kleitias, made by Ergotimos, Greek, 570-560 BCE, Archaeological Museum, Florence. (CC 3.0)
Terracotta kyathos (cup-shaped ladle), Attributed to the Group of Berlin 2095, c. 530–500 BCE
Terracotta amphora (jar), Attributed to the Orvieto Painter, c. 540 BCE
Small terracotta amphora (jar), Greek, Attic, c. 800–750 BCE
Terracotta neck-amphora (storage jar), Greek, Corinthian, c. 620–590 BCE
Terracotta neck-amphora (jar), Attributed to the Edinburgh Painter, c. 500 BCE
Terracotta neck-amphora (jar) with lid and knob (27.16), Attributed to Exekias, c. 540 BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask), Attributed to the Amasis Painter, c. 550–530 BCE
Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water), Attributed to Lydos, c. 550 BCE
Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar), Attributed to the Ethiop Painter, c. 450 BCE
Terracotta neck-amphora (jar) with twisted handles, Attributed to the Lykaon Painter, c. 440 BCE
Terracotta amphora (jar), Attributed to the Berlin Painter, c. 490 BCE
Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup), Greek, Attic mid-5th century BCE
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: The Ancient Greeks - From Red Figure to the Rise of Rome
00:01:29 Recap: From Geometric to Black Figure Pottery
00:02:49 The Potters: Immigrant Makers and Family Workshops
00:04:52 The Red Figure Revolution: A Technical Breakthrough
00:06:45 Andokides and Bilingual Pottery
00:09:18 Pattern Bands and Workshop Signatures
00:11:33 Sophistication and Space: The Classical Aesthetic
00:14:13 The Berlin Painter: Minimalist Mastery
00:16:37 Shapes and Function: The Symposium Culture
00:18:54 Slavery, Democracy, and Greek Society
00:22:06 The Value Question: Cheap Plastic or Precious Art?
00:25:43 Production and Economics: From Souvenir Cups to Masterworks
00:28:01 Greeks Had No Word for Art
00:29:14 Legacy and Permanence: Objects That Tell Stories
00:31:40 The Hellenistic Expansion: Red Figure Goes Global
00:33:36 The Roman Conquest: 146 BC and the End of Greek Independence
00:37:20 Ceramic Memory: How Clay Survives Empire
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
The Ancient Greeks: Pots, Power and the Birth of a Civilisation
2026/09/16
Emerging from the turmoil of the Bronze Age collapse, ancient Greece would become one of the most influential cultures in history – and ceramics were at the heart of its story.
Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh trace the extraordinary rise of Greek pottery, from the bold patterns of the Geometric period to the great workshops of Athens and Corinth and the exquisite black-figure vessels of the Golden Age. Against a backdrop of warring city-states, expanding trade and the looming threat of the Persian Empire, they discover how these pots became vessels for myth, storytelling and everyday life – and an extraordinary record of a civilisation taking shape.
To view the ceramics being discussed in this episode, please switch to video in your podcasting app.
Featured Artworks:
Images featured in this episode:Terracotta volute-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water), Etruscan, c. 340–300 BCE
Terracotta hydria (water jar), Greek, Euboean, mid-6th century BCE
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask), Attributed to the Painter of Athens 1943, c. 450–440 BCE
Map of Peloponnesian War 431 BC
Map of Athens
Proto-geometric pottery, c. 950-800, made at Kerameikos
© The Trustees of the British Museum.
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
(CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Plan of Kerameikos, Athens
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
(CC 4.0)
Kerameikos Photo, Athens
Courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Terracotta amphora (jar), Signed by Andokides, Attributed to the Andokides Painter, Attributed to the Lysippides Painter, c. 530 BCE
Terracotta neck-amphora, Greek, Attic, c. 710 BCE
Dipylon Amphora, 760-750 BCE, National Archaeological Museum of Greece, Athens , Courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Dipylon krater, Attributed to the Trachones Workshop, c. 725 BCE
Hellenistic Amphorae
Marble funerary stele, c. 4th century BCE,
National Archaeological Museum of Greece, Athens
Courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Terracotta oinochoe (wine jug), Attributed to the Chigi Group, c. 625 BC
Vase, first half of 6th century BC (made)
Black Figure amphora, Exekias, Greek, c.530-525 BCE, Vatican Museum.
Terracotta lekythos (oil flask) (2), Attributed to the Amasis Painter, c. 550–530 BCE
Terracotta neck-amphora (jar) (2) with lid and knob (27.16), Attributed to Exekias, c. 540 BCE
Signature Exekias Louvre
Death of Penthesileia, by Exekias, c. 550-543 BC, CC 4.0
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: The Ancient Greeks - Pots, Power and the Birth of a Civilisation
00:00:59 Historical Baggage: Reinventing the Greeks
00:04:35 The Greek Polis: City-States and Cosmopolitan Culture
00:07:06 The Bronze Age Collapse: Sea Peoples and Dark Ages
00:10:18 Geometric Pottery: The Ceramic Renaissance
00:23:02 Corinthian Innovation: New Visual Languages
00:26:31 The Persian Threat: Marathon and Military Culture
00:33:22 Black Figure Revolution: Exekias and Master Potters
00:43:15 Terra Sigillata: The Technology Behind the Beauty
00:46:20 Rebuilding Athens: Setting the Stage for Red Figure
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Sound Mix and Engineering: Joe Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
The Minoans: Myth, Minotaurs and the Ceramics of Ancient Crete
2026/09/09
Nearly 4,000 years ago, the Minoans flourished on the island of Crete, trading across the Mediterranean and creating some of the most extraordinary ceramics of the Bronze Age.
Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh explore a world where myth and archaeology collide – from King Minos, the Minotaur and the labyrinth to the discovery of Knossos. Through monumental storage vessels, exquisite Kamares wares and spectacular octopus jars, they uncover the creativity, power and mysterious decline of one of the ancient world’s great civilisations.
If you would like to see the images from this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app.
Images in this programme:
Image off map of Crete, Greece and Turkey
Terracotta vase in the form of a bull's head ca 1450 – 1400 BCE, The Met Collection
Heinrich Schliemann (1822–1890)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Sir Arthur Evans 1851- 1941 at Knossos
Photograph of Knossos, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Reconstruction of Knossos
Bull-Leaping Fresco found at Knossos ,1450 BC,
Linear A inscription on a clay tablet from Hagia Triada, Crete, ca 2100 – 1450 BC
Linear B Tablet from Knossos, ca 1375 – 1350 BC
Procession fresco from Knossos; reconstructed by Émile Gilliéron from the late Minoan period, CC 4.0
Minoan pithos Storage jars at the Palace of Knossos, ca 1700 BCE
Large scale Caskets “bath tubs” and storage units, c.1750 BCE
Terracotta beak-spouted jar, Vasiliki ware, 2600-2200 BCE, The Met Collection
Terracotta bridge spouted jar, Minoan ware, 1900-1600 BCE, The Met Collection
Kamares Ware Jug, Protopalatial period (2100-1700 BCE). Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Kamares Ware Jug, Heraklion Museum, by Wolfgang Sauber, CC
Kamares wares in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion ca 1900 - 1700 BCE photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC 1.0 license
Kamares wares jugs, Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, 1900-1700 BCE, CC 3.0
Octopus Flask ca 1500 – 1450 BCE, Furman University, 3.0
Mycenaean-Minoan Ware, c. 1450, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Terracotta jar with three handles ca 1525 – 1490 BCE,The MetCollection
Terracotta stirrup jam with Octopus Helladic, Mycenaean, c.1200-1100 BCE, The Met Collection
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: The Minoans - Europe's First Great Civilization
00:00:54 Placing the Minoans in Greek History
00:02:37 Island Power: Geography and the Rise of Crete
00:04:56 The Legend of the Minotaur and King Minos
00:09:15 Heinrich Schliemann: Chasing Homer's Myths
00:11:35 Sir Arthur Evans and the Discovery of Knossos
00:13:32 The Palace at Knossos: Architecture and Bull Imagery
00:17:48 Linear A and Linear B: Decoding Ancient Languages
00:20:40 Giant Pithoi: Monumental Storage Vessels
00:24:23 Early Minoan: Vasiliki Ware and Beak-Spouted Jars
00:28:15 Middle Minoan: The Glorious Kamares Ware
00:33:47 Late Minoan: Marine Style and Octopus Jars
00:36:47 The Mycenaean Question: Trade or Invasion
00:40:51 The Bronze Age Collapse of 1177 BC
00:43:45 Legacy: The First Europeans Remembered in Clay
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Bernard Leach - The Making of A Master - Part 3
2026/09/02
How did Bernard Leach’s ideas travel from a small pottery in St Ives to influence generations of potters around the world?
In the final episode of our three-part series, we follow Leach as his influence spreads beyond Britain. We explore his relationship with American potters Warren and Alix MacKenzie, his travels across the United States, and his celebrated 1952 tour with Shōji Hamada and Sōetsu Yanagi.
From Black Mountain College to the emerging American studio pottery movement, we meet artists including Marguerite Wildenhain, Karen Karnes and Peter Voulkos, and discover how a new generation embraced, challenged and transformed Leach’s ideas.
This is the story of how Bernard Leach became an international figure — and how his philosophy helped reshape studio pottery for generations to come.
If you would like to see the images featured in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app.
Artworks and images in this episode:
Bernard Leach, David Leach, and students at the Leach Pottery, St. Ives, Cornwall c.1945
A Potter’s Book, by Bernard Leach, 1940
David Leach, 1911-2005
Standard Ware Bowls, Bernard Leach
Pottery Dinnerware, The LeachPottery, St. Ives
Michael Cardew, William Marshall, Bernard Leach, Picnicking at Cardew’s Pottery in 1970, Courtesy of Jeff Oestrich
Bernard Leach at Alfred University, 1950,
Warren & Alix MacKenzie, 1953,
Bowl, Warren MacKenzie, c. 1969-1970
Ceramics, Warren MacKenzie, 1924-2018
Hamada, Leach, Yanagi and Wildenhain at Black Mountain College, 1952
Sōetsu Yanagi, Bernard Leach and Shōji Hamada, 1952
Black Mountain College Seminar, 1952
Vases, Margaurite Wildenhain, c. 1940’s-50’s
Bottle Vase, Margurite Wildenhain, 1970
Vase, Bernard Leach, c. 1959
Shōji Hamada, c.1970
Sōetsu Yanagi, Bernard Leach, Rudy Autio, Peter Voulkos, Shōji Hamada, 1959
Covered Jar, Peter Voulkos, c.1954
Peter Voulkos kicking the potters wheel, 1952
Cup and Signed Box, Shōji Hamada
Robert Rauschenberg at Black Mountain College, c.1952
Bernard Leach, c.1920’s
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach's Later Life and International Impact
00:01:00 David Leach and the Standard Wares: Professionalizing the Pottery
00:03:09 The Apprentice Model: Learning Philosophy and Craft
00:05:26 Warren McKenzie: The First American Apprentice
00:10:29 Leach's First American Tour: Land of Money, Speed and Gadgetry
00:13:11 The Three Musketeers: Leach, Hamada and Yanagi Tour America
00:17:05 Black Mountain College: Clash of Philosophies
00:22:59 Hamada's Magic: Improvisation and Visual Language
00:25:38 Archie Bray Foundation: Meeting the Young Peter Voulkos
00:33:10 Legacy: Bernard Leach as Big as Wedgwood
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master - Part 2 - St. Ives
2026/08/26
How did Bernard Leach turn a small pottery in St Ives into the centre of a new ceramics movement?
In the second episode of our three-part series, we follow Leach as he returns to Britain with Shōji Hamada and establishes the Leach Pottery in St Ives. We explore the challenges of those early years, the development of his distinctive approach to making, and the ideas that would eventually be captured in his influential A Potter’s Book.
As Leach’s reputation grows, so does his influence. Through teaching, writing and a new generation of apprentices, his pottery becomes a meeting place for ideas drawn from East and West.
This is the story of how Bernard Leach helped transform the status of the studio potter — and began building a movement that would reach far beyond St Ives.
To see images of the pots being discussed on this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting apps.
Featured Artworks:
Bernard Leach 1913 early Raku Vase, The V&A Collection
Photo of Bernard Leach with Shōji Hamada and Sōetsu Yanagi, 1952
St. Ives Harbour and Porthminster Beach - Cornwall – UK
Cornwall - St. Ives, Back Lane - 1920's Photochrom Postcard
The Leach Pottery, St. Ives, Cornwall
Blueprint of “The Leach Pottery Japanese Style of climbing Kiln. Design by Tsurunosuke Matsubayashi”, 1923. Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts
Grade II Listed Climbing Kiln, Leach Pottery
Raku Firing Kiln
Bowl, early 20’s, Bernard Leach
Barbara Hepworth & Bernard Leach, 1968, St Ives Museum
1934 (relief), Ben Nicholson, 1934, Tate
Shōji Hamada, 1894-1978
Tsurunosuke Matsubayashi, 1894-1932
D W & L K Elmhirst,' 1893-1970, Dartington Hall Trust Archive
Two Bowls by Bernard Leach and Teabowl By Shoji Hamada
Herbert Read by Mark Gerson, 1967, The National Gallery
A Potters Book by Bernard Leach, 1940
Salmon Vase, Bernard leach, 1950
Slipware Plate, Bernard Leach, c. early 1930’s
Early Slipware dish, Bernard Leach, c. early 1930’s
Early Jar with Firing crack, Bernard Leach, c. early 1930’s, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Charger, 1929, Bernard Leach, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
The Mermaid dish, 1670-1689, Thomas Toft, The V&A Collection
A Dartington Pottery Salt Glazed Stoneware Flagon
Photo of David Leach, 1911-2005
Teapot, David Leach and Charger, Bernard Leach, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Vase, c. 1959, Bernard Leach, The V&A Collection, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Standard Ware, c. 1941, Bernard Leach, The V&A Collection, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach Returns to England
00:01:30 St. Ives: A Haven for Artists and Traditional Craft
00:07:48 Building the Pottery: Early Struggles and Failures
00:14:06 Hamada's Departure and the Kiln Rebuilt
00:15:02 The Elmhursts and Dartington: Patronage and Philosophy
00:17:36 Pottery as Art: Breaking Down the Barriers
00:22:25 The Leach Aesthetic: Japanese Meets English Slipware
00:30:44 A Potter's Book: The Ceramic Bible Published
00:35:44 David Leach Takes Over: Professionalization and Production
00:36:58 Legacy: The Apprentice Model and Global Influence
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master - Part 1 - Japan
2026/08/19
How did an English artist in Japan become one of the most influential figures in modern ceramics?
In the first of our three-part series on Bernard Leach, we explore the extraordinary early years that shaped his life and work. From his return to Japan and his first encounters with pottery to his friendship with Shōji Hamada, we discover how Japanese culture transformed Leach's understanding of what a pot could be.
This is the story of the meeting of East and West — and how the ideas Leach discovered in Japan would eventually help change the course of modern ceramics.
To see images of the ceramics being discussed in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app.
Featured Artwork:
Bernard Leach and bookcase, Tokyo, 1917-1919
Bernard Leach, A Potters Book, 1940
Bernard Leach with grandparents in Japan, c. 1890
Frank Brangwyn, by Reinhold Thiele, c 1900
John Ruskin, by W. & D. Downey, 1863
William Morris by Frederick Hollyer, 1887
Leaping Salmon Vase, c.1950, Bernard Leach; Okinawa Style Teabowl, c.1970, Shōji Hamada, Oxford Ceramics Gallery
Harmony in Blue and Gold, The Peacock Room, by James McNeill Whistler, 1834-1903, Public Domain
Temple of Heaven, Peking, 1916, printed signature in the plate Bernard Leach 1916, Public Domain
Photograph of rural Japan, C.1900, Public Domain
Early Raku Vase, Bernard Leach, c.1925
Raku Firing Kiln
Portrait of Ogata Kenzan VI, by Bernard Leach, 1924
Mokko-shaped Food Bowl, by Uruno Shigekichi, 1881-1923
Cup, Ogata Kenzan, 18th Century
Photo of Shõji Hamada, 1894-1978
Photo of Sõetsu Yanagi, 1889-1961
Photo of Bernard Leach with Shõji Hamada & Sõetsu Yanagi, Dartington 1952
Cup and Signed Box, Shõji Hamada
Large Dish, Shõji Hamada
Stoneware Bottle, Shoji Hamada
Hamada’s Kiln in Moshiko, Creative Commons License, CC3.0
Unknown Craftsman, Sõetsu Yanagi , 1972
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master
00:03:57 Early Life: Colonial Beginnings and Artistic Awakening
00:12:01 The Arts and Crafts Movement: Ruskin, Morris, and Moral Philosophy
00:15:15 Japan's Meiji Period: Transformation and Cultural Identity
00:18:10 Return to Japan: Teaching Etching and Finding Community
00:23:52 The Raku Party: A Life-Changing Moment
00:27:05 Training with Kenzan VI: Entering the Japanese Pottery Tradition
00:28:57 Hamada and Yanagi: The Birth of Mingei
00:30:57 Philosophical Foundations: Arts of the People
00:33:30 The Bold Decision: Sailing for St. Ives
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Secrets of The Japanese Tea Ceremony
2026/08/12
In 16th century Japan, a bowl of tea could get you killed. This episode traces the birth of the Ancient Japanese tea ceremony and the aesthetic of wabi-sabi, or the art of finding beauty in imperfection. Paul and Stephanie tell the story of tea master Sen no Rikyu, whose humble, handmade Raku bowls stood in defiance of warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi's golden excess, in a tale of philosophy, political power, and two tea masters who paid for their art with their lives.
To see the pots Stephanie and Paul are discussing in this episode, be sure to switch to video in your podcast app.
Featured Artworks
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, by Kanō Mitsunobu, 1598, Public Domain
Sen No Rikyū, by Tōhaku Hasegawa,1595, Public Domain
Sen no Rikyū's Tai-an Teahouse, Kyoto, Japan, 1952
Black Raku ware tea bowl, late 16th century, The Smithsonian, CC0
Black Raku Tea Bowl, Named “Kaedegure” (Twilight by the Maples), attributed to Raku Cojiro, late 16th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Furuta Oribe, c. 17th Century
Square Serving Dish with Bail Handle, late 16th century, Asia Society Museum, Public Domain
Sake Bottle (Tokkuri) with Decoration of Three-Leaf Arrowhead, Early 17th century, Public Domain
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Sound Mix and Engineering: Joseph Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Secrets of The Japanese Tea Ceremony
00:01:41 Origins of Tea in Japan: From Monasteries to Cultural Power
00:03:00 The Political Tea Ceremony: Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Vision
00:05:09 Wabi Sabi: The Perfection of Imperfection
00:09:23 Sen no Rikyu: The Master Who Stripped Away Ego
00:11:17 The Tea Ceremony Experience
00:14:45 Chojiro and Raku Ware: Hand-Built Tea Bowls
00:19:47 The Death of Sen no Rikyu: When Simplicity Threatened Power
00:24:03 Furuta Oribe: A Warrior's Energy Transforms the Ceremony
00:26:17 Oribe Ware: Chaos, Asymmetry, and the Happy Accident
00:32:35 The Second Suicide: Oribe's Violent End
00:35:23 Legacy: Wabi Sabi and the Birth of Studio Ceramics
Bernard Palissy - Obsession, Faith and Myth
2026/08/05
Bernard Palissy was an artist, scientist, inventor and one of the most extraordinary figures in the history of ceramics. Driven by religious faith, a fascination with nature, and an obsession to discover the secret of white enamel, he devoted years to relentless experimentation, sacrificing his fortune, and burning almost everything he owned in pursuit of perfection. In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene uncover the remarkable life of the French Renaissance potter whose distinctive rustic wares transformed European ceramics.
Featured Artworks:
Self Portrait in Faience, Bernard Palissy, 1862
Rustique figuline, attributed to Bernard Palissy, French c.1560, J. Paul Getty Museum.
‘Rustique Figuline’ Dish with a white background, Bernard Palissy, c. 1550, National Ceramic Museum
Maiolica Plate, Italian, ca. 1500, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Bowl, Majolica, Italian, 1480-1500, The V&A Collection
Dish, Bernard Palissy, 17th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Plaque depicting Bernard Palissy, Multiple Artists and Makers, 1846, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Pilgrim Flask, Bernard Palissy, 1556-67, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Still-life platter, Bernard Palissy, c. 1550,
Dish, Bernard Palissy, c. 1580,
Moule, Fragment, 16th century, Musee du Louvre
Grenouille de fontaine, Atelier de Bernard Palissy, 1565-1610, Musee du Louvre
Château de la Bâstie d'Urfé, France, 1550
Henry II, King of France, François Clouet, 1559
Catherine de' Medici, François Clouet, c. 1560
Fontaine en forme de dauphin, 1600-1650, Musee du Louvre
Ewer, Saint Porchaire Ware, c. 1550, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Mould of Palissy Basin, Musee du Louvre
Tazza with cover, Mid 16th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
La Nourrice, Guillaume Dupré (unconfirmed), c. 1640, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Plate, Manner of Bernard Palissy, Late 19th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Platter, Follower of Bernard Palissy, Last Quarter 16th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Platter, Manner of Bernard Palissy, 2nd half of 19th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Round Plate with Lobster, Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, 1889, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Turkey, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory,19th Century
Artichoke Jar, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory
Cabbage Ware, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory
Round Dish with Lobster and Shells, Thomas Victor-Sergent, 1870-80, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Large Basin with Snake, Ferns, and Bark, Charles-Jean Avisseau, C. 1850-55, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Sam Bond
Sound Mix and Engineering: Joe Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Palissy - Obsession, Faith and Myth
00:02:13 A Troubled Age: France in Religious Turmoil
00:04:24 Early Life: The Self-Taught Rustique
00:12:08 The Catalytic Moment: Falling in Love with a Cup
00:17:07 Obsession and Sacrifice: Burning the Floorboards
00:20:03 The Rustiques Figulines: Nature Cast in Clay
00:24:18 Royal Patronage: Catherine de Medici and the Court
00:26:16 The Saint-Porchaire Mystery: A Lost Attribution
00:29:20 Public Intellectual: Lecturer on Science and Nature
00:30:54 Dangerous Faith: The Huguenot Who Wouldn't Hide
00:32:41 The Bastille: A Tragic End
00:33:22 Legacy: From Sons to Revival
00:34:33 Attribution Challenges: Real, School, or Revival?
00:39:37 Eternal Inspiration: Palissy's Enduring Impact
The Ming Dynasty - When Porcelain Became Power
2026/07/29
This week Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene explore the extraordinary ceramics of the Ming Dynasty, the period that established China as the world's greatest producer of porcelain.
From the famous blue-and-white wares of Jingdezhen to magnificent imperial commissions and the global trade that carried Chinese porcelain across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, we uncover how Ming potters achieved levels of craftsmanship that have rarely been surpassed. We also discover how these exquisite objects became symbols of wealth, power, and cultural exchange, inspiring generations of potters around the world.
Emperor Hongwu (21 October 1328 – 24 June 1398) – Public Domain
Monks Cape Ewer, 1368-1644, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Bowl with Chrysanthemums, late 14th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Porcelain Plate with Animals, mid 14th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Jar with Dragon, 1426-1435, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Bowl with Pomegranates, lotus scrolls, and chrysanthemum Petals, early 15th century, Public Domain
Flask with Medallion, early 15th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Jim Fuller & Sam Bond
Sound Engineer and Mixer: Joe Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: The Ming Dynasty - When Porcelain Became Power
00:02:36 The Rise of Emperor Hongwu: From Peasant to Power
00:14:19 Technical Mastery: Copper Reds and Chrysanthemum Bowls
00:16:38 Infrastructure and Imperial Ambition: Building the Ming Empire
00:23:00 Emperor Yongle and the Golden Age of Blue and White
00:21:06 The Dragon Jar: Symbolism, Status, and Visual Mastery
00:28:11 Islamic Influences: Cross-Cultural Design and Pattern
00:33:13 The Great Voyages: Porcelain as White Gold
00:36:47 The Inward Turn: Crisis, Capture, and Conservative Retreat
00:41:54 Legacy: Jingdezhen and the Story Written in Glaze
The Tang Dynasty - Treasures from the Tomb
2026/07/22
This week Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene explore the remarkable ceramics of the Tang Dynasty, one of China's greatest periods of artistic innovation. We venture down into the depths of their magnificent tombs and discover the wonders of their funerary wares. Ceramics creations that capture life in the Imperial Court from dancers, polo players, concubines, warriors and magnificent horses. These treasures open a window into a golden period of Chinese history but also show how the Tang potters transformed the art of clay and influenced ceramic traditions around the world.
FEATURED ARTWORKS IN THIS EPISODE:
Emperor Li Yuan, 618-626, unknown, Public Domain
Excerpt from the handscroll Viewing the Pass List, c. 1540 by Qiu Ying
Tang Court Playing Polo, 706AD, Public Domain
Cosmetics Box, 8th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Figure of a Horse, 700-750, The British Museum, Public Domain
Amphora, Late 7th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Covered Jar, 8thcentury, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Set of Ten Entertainers and Two Dancers, 618-907, Miho Museum, Public Domain
Camel and Rider, 701-750, Art Institute of Chicago, Public Domain
Horse and Rider, early 8th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Camel with Musicians, 723, National Museum of China, Public Domain
Horse with Lead Glaze, 728, The British Museum, Public Domain
Seated Court Lady, 8th Century, the Met Collection, Public Domain
Female Attendant, Mid 7th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Female Attendant, 7th-8th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain
Seated girl holding Mirror, first half 8th Century, Art Institute Chicago, Public Domain
Polo Player, ca. 618-907, Public Domain
Young Female Polo Player, early 8th Century, Musée Guimet
Female Polo Player, c. 750, Musée Guimet
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Jim Fuller & Sam Bond
Sound Engineer: Joe Little Executive
Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Tang Dynasty - A Golden Age of Chinese Ceramics
00:00:35 Context: From Terracotta Warriors to Tang Dynasty
00:01:33 The Tang Renaissance: Arts, Innovation, and the Birth of Porcelain
00:07:27 Emperor Li Yuan and the Reunification of China
00:09:40 Cosmopolitan Influences: Turkish Origins and Foreign Ideas
00:10:27 The Qianling Mausoleum: Royal Graves and Funerary Traditions
00:16:37 Craft and Technique: How the Figurines Were Made
00:18:58 Sancai Glaze: The Three-Colour Ceramic Revolution
00:22:10 Masterworks: The Covered Jar and Ewer
00:24:00 Ten Musicians and Two Dancers: Capturing Movement in Clay
00:25:44 Colour Theory and Cultural Openness in Tang Art
00:26:47 The Silk Road and Sea Trade: Expanding Horizons
00:28:02 Camels and Foreigners: Depicting a Cosmopolitan World
00:29:07 What Makes a Tang Dynasty Piece? Poise, Pride, and Individuality
00:30:36 The Camel with Five Musicians: A Traveling Band
00:33:10 Heavenly Horses: The Prized Steeds of the Tang Dynasty
00:37:17 Court Life and Leisure: Snapshots of Tang Society
00:39:43 Women Playing Polo: Sport, Warfare Training, and Social Inclusion
00:40:55 Equality and Sophistication: Women in Tang Society
00:42:11 Conclusion: Windows into the Tang World
Lucie Rie & Hans Coper - Clay, Courage and Reinvention - Part 2
2026/07/16
This week we continue the story by following the extraordinary journey of Hans Coper, a man who arrived in Britain as a refugee with no experience of pottery, yet went on to become one of the greatest ceramic artists of the modern age.
Forced to flee Nazi Germany as a teenager, Hans Coper rebuilt his life from scratch in wartime Britain. When he began working in Lucie Rie's studio, he discovered not only a new craft but an entirely new way of expressing himself. Although Rie taught him the fundamentals of working with clay, Coper soon developed a powerful artistic language all his own creating bold, sculptural vessels that blurred the boundaries between pottery and sculpture.
In this episode, we explore Coper's remarkable transformation from refugee to internationally celebrated artist, the creative partnership and lifelong friendship he shared with Lucie Rie, and the innovations that changed the direction of modern ceramics forever.
More than a story about beautiful objects, this is a story of resilience, identity, and the extraordinary power of art to reshape a life.
Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the life and work of Hans Coper and discover how a man who began with no training in ceramics became one of the defining voices of twentieth-century studio pottery.
IMAGES FOR HANS COPER EPISODE:
Lucie Rie, Bronzed bowls from the 1980s
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Hans Coper, A group of Cycladic forms, late-
1970s – early-1970s
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Hans Coper, Early composite form, c.1950 and
Large jug, c.1953
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Hans Coper, Portrait of Lucie Rie, conceived
c.1953
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Hans Coper, Ovoid pot c.1970, Small ovoid pot,
c.1972 and Ovoid pot, c.1972
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Monumental Altar Candlesticks, Coventry Cathedral, by Hans Coper,
Image courtesy of Julian Osley – CC BY-SA 2.0
ADDITIONAL WORKS:
Bernard Leach, Thrown Bowl, 1973
Provided by York Museum
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
Bernard Leach Studio St Ives
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Henry Moore, Three Way Piece No. 2 ( The Archer), 1964-65
On display in front of Toronto City Hall since 1966 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/sa/1.0/
Henry Moore, Large Reclining Figure 1982 (LH 192b), fibreglass. As of 2004 sited outside the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. On loan from the Henry Moore Foundation. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
Brâncuși's Paris studio, 1920, Photograph by Edward Steichen, Public Domain
Constantin Brancusi, The Kiss, 1907-08, Public Domain
PHOTOGRAPHS:
Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion
Mews, 1950s
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Image Courtesy of the Crafts Study Centre,
University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion (B&W)
Mews, early 1950s
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, 1959-69 (in vehicle)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Hans Coper, Albion Mews, c.1956
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
Hans Coper, Albion Mews, c.1967
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans
Coper Foundation
‘Lucie Rie / Hans Coper: Life at the Wheel’ will be at Offer Waterman in London from 18 September - 31 October 2026.
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Fraser Watson
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Hans Coper Arrives at Lucy Rie's Door
00:01:49 Hans Coper's Early Life: A Comfortable Beginning in Germany
00:03:04 The Nazi Rise: A Childhood Shattered
00:06:04 Escape from Germany: Hanging from a Moving Train
00:09:13 Internment and the Pioneer Corps: Survival in Canada and Britain
00:12:53 Gone with the Wind: The Day That Changed Everything
00:13:33 The Button Factory: A Hive of Refugee Activity
00:17:39 Learning the Potter's Wheel: A Natural Talent Emerges
00:22:11 The Relationship: Big Sister, Younger Brother
00:27:48 Two Different Visions: Potter vs. Sculptor
00:30:29 The Aesthetic: Delicate Bowls and Textured Monuments
00:34:47 Teaching Philosophies: Steel Fist vs. Graceful Integrity
00:38:43 Architectural Commissions: From Pots to Coventry Cathedral
00:41:28 Legacy: Changing the Direction of British Ceramics
Lucie Rie & Hans Coper - Clay, Courage and Reinvention - Part 1
2026/07/08
This week on The History of Ceramics, we begin the remarkable story of two artists who transformed the course of modern ceramics. Our journey starts with the extraordinary life of Lucie Rie.
Born into the rich cultural world of Vienna, Lucie Rie was already an accomplished ceramic artist when the rise of Nazism forced her to leave everything behind. Arriving in London as a refugee in 1938, she faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding her life and career in an unfamiliar country. Yet through determination, technical brilliance, and an unmistakable artistic vision, she would become one of the defining figures of twentieth-century ceramics.
In this episode, we explore Rie's early life in Vienna, the artistic influences that shaped her distinctive style, and the resilience that carried her through exile and war. We discover how her elegant forms and luminous glazes challenged traditional ideas about pottery, and how her tiny London studio became the birthplace of a revolution in ceramic art.
This is more than the story of a remarkable potter. It is a story of courage, reinvention, and creativity flourishing against the odds.
Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the life and work of Lucie Rie—and discover how one extraordinary artist helped redefine the possibilities of clay.
Featured Images:
Lucie Rie, Bronzed bowls from the 1980s,
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Hans Coper, A group of Cycladic forms, late- 1970s – early-1970s
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie, Teapot Designed and Made for Ernst Plischke, 1928
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie, Early London period bowl, c.1945
Lucie Rie & Hans Coper, Early London period cylindrical lidded pot, c.1947
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artists/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie, Vase from the 'Black Firing', 1981 and Composite vase, known as the 'God Pot', c.1980
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie, Vase with sgraffito design, c.1982 Footed bowl, c.1978
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie, Pink footed bowl, c.1980
Photograph by Sylvain Deleu
© Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Bernard Leach, Thrown Bowl,, 1973
Provided by York Museum
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
Bernard Leach Studio St Ives
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
PHOTOGRAPHS:
Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion Mews, 1950s
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Image Courtesy of the Crafts Study Centre,
University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion Mews, early 1950s
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, 1959-69 (in vehicle)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie, Albion Mews, c.1960 (at wheel)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie, Albion Mews, c.1960 (at wheel with pot)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
Lucie Rie, Albion Mews, c.1967 (in studio)
Photograph by Jane Coper
© Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation
‘Lucie Rie / Hans Coper: Life at the Wheel’ will be at Offer Waterman in London from 18 September - 31 October 2026.
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks.
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Jim Fuller & Fraser Watson
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: Lucy Rie and Hans Coper - Titans of Studio Ceramics
00:03:31 Vienna's Golden Age: The Wiener Werkstätte and Gesamtkunstwerk
00:10:03 Lucy's Upbringing: An Intellectual Jewish Family in Vienna
00:17:18 World War I and Tragedy: The Loss of Her Brother
00:20:53 Discovery of Clay: Finding Her Medium at the Kunstgewerbeschule
00:29:23 Marriage and Early Success: Building a Career in 1920s Vienna
00:32:40 The 1937 Paris Expo: Career Triumph and Rising Darkness
00:36:07 Flight from Vienna: Escaping the Nazis in 1938
00:38:37 Starting Over in London: Albion Mews and the Button Business
00:48:28 A Knock on the Door: Hans Coper Arrives
The Terracotta Warriors
2026/07/01
In 1974, a group of farmers digging a well in rural China made one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history: an underground army of thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors, standing silently in battle formation for more than two thousand years.
But why was this extraordinary army created? Who was the powerful ruler it was built to protect? And what does it reveal about the ambitions, beliefs, and astonishing technological achievements of ancient China?
In this episode of The History of Ceramics, we explore the story behind the Terracotta Army and the remarkable reign of Qin Shi Huang, the emperor who unified China and transformed its future. We uncover the extraordinary craftsmanship behind the figures, the vast workforce that produced them, the secrets still buried beneath the emperor's mausoleum, and the ongoing archaeological discoveries that continue to reshape our understanding of one of the world's greatest ceramic masterpieces.
From imperial power and military might to artistry, innovation, and the enduring legacy of clay, this is the story of how an army that was never meant to be seen became one of the greatest treasures of human civilisation.
Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the fascinating history behind the Terracotta Warriors—and discover why these silent guardians continue to captivate the world over two millennia after they were made.
All artworks included in this episode are courtesy of: Creative Commons license Zero, Public Domain Dedication
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Joe Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: The Greatest Ceramic Project Ever
00:00:52 Discovery in 1974: Farmers Uncover a Lost Army
00:04:55 The Secret Keeper: Zhao Kangmin and the Cultural Revolution
00:08:11 Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China
00:11:16 Fear of Death and the Quest for Immortality
00:13:09 Building an Army for the Afterlife
00:15:07 The Mausoleum Complex: The Size of Manhattan
00:22:41 Industrial Scale Ceramic Production
00:29:27 Individual Faces: Eight Types, Infinite Variations
00:34:38 Color and Paint: The Lost Vibrancy
00:39:43 The Emperor's Death and the Fall of Qin
00:42:04 Fire and Destruction: The Tomb Under Attack
00:43:39 Legacy: From Fear to Forever
George E. Ohr - The Mad Potter of Biloxi
2026/06/24
Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel to the American South at the end the 19th C to explore the life and work of George E. Ohr - otherwise known as the Mad Potter of Biloxi. Overlooked for much of his life this eccentric character worked tirelessly creating innovative, wild and exquisitely crafted art pottery. He was a renowned showman using slogans, banners and sales gimmicks to market his wares and was the self proclaimed "world's best art-potter". His life’s work remained undiscovered gathering dust in a garage for decades before an antiques dealer happened upon them in his son's auto shop. Today his legacy is firmly recognised as a founding father of the art pottery movement and there is a museum in his name, designed by Frank Gehry, in his hometown of Biloxi.
Images of artworks and photographs in this episode:
Pitcher, 1889-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.
Vase (Blue/Twist), 1987-1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.
Vase (Red), 1895-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.
Vase (pink/purple/pinched), 1897-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y.
Photo of George E. Ohr – The Mad Potter of Biloxi (1857-1918)
Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – outside studio with signage
Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – studio with “Greatest Potter on Earth” signage
Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – inside studio with pots
George E. Ohr, The Mad Potter of Biloxi. Harpers Magazine, 1892-1893
Burnt Babies, 1894, George E. Ohr
Burnt Babies, 1894, George E. Ohr
Vase (Red), 1895-96, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Tea Pot, 1897-1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Pitcher (Brown/Gold/Pinched), 1896, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Photo of George E. Ohr (1895-1918) - workshop
Bowl (Green/Gold), 1897-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Bowl (Pinched Clay), 1898-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Vase (Black/Blue), 1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Vase (Red/Brown), 1890-1905, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET
Pitcher (Green), 1890-1905, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMet
Clockface and Vase (Pink), 1898, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET. (TBC)
Photo of Ohr and O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, Mississippi – architect Frank Gehry.
For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks
Credits:
Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene
Editor: Joe Little
Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction: The Mad Potter of Biloxi
00:04:20 Early Life and Civil War Era Biloxi
00:07:01 The Misfit: Education and Early Jobs
00:10:50 Discovery of Clay: The Duck Finds Water
00:12:04 Research Journey and Return to Biloxi
00:14:10 Building a Life: Marriage and Early Success
00:20:08 World's Fairs and the Great Biloxi Fire
00:26:26 The Golden Age: Reinvention and Masterworks
00:31:29 The Mad Potter Persona and World's Fair Recognition
00:38:51 Rejection and the End of Production
00:44:29 The 50-Year Wait and Miraculous Discovery
00:48:17 Legacy: From Forgotten to Greatest Potter on Earth
Podcast reviews
Read The History of Ceramics podcast reviews
Melias123 2026/09/02
Fascinating
A wonderful and fascinating podcast. Even the episodes I thought I might skip, turned out to be very interesting. My only criticism (and it’s a minor ...
Trish 30# 2026/08/31
I’ve been waiting for this!
I am thrilled to see this content. Real art historical treatment of ceramic history. Really enjoying every minute of this!
jerusalem gurl 2026/06/17
What is history?
I was so looking forward to this podcast. Pitched as the history of ceramics, I assumed there would be some order to the casts. Alas not. They are all...
extremecraft 2026/04/03
Where has this podcast been all my life?
Where has this podcast been all my life? Finally a podcast with the ambition to tackle such a rich, complex topic. I can’t wait to see how this unfold...
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