On This Day 18th January 2012 Ray Finch died
Ray Finch was one of the most respected British studio potters of the last half century and was born at 49 Buckleigh Road, Streatham in 1914
He was internationally admired for work that expressed the more traditional values of his craft – superbly glazed functional pots – and for running a legendary workshop at Winchcombe, in Gloucestershire. Winchcombe Pottery produced not only well-designed domestic ware, but trained dozens of potters over the years, many of whom became distinguished in their own right.
Finch recognised that the key to their particular success was the close-knit team ethos; he disliked publicity that drew attention to his own status. He wanted, in the spirit of the teachings of his hero Eric Gill, to maintain a more anonymous workshop collective that simply made beautiful objects to enhance modern experience.
David Whitting- Guardian obituary 31 January 2012 and Image Musing about Mud
Ray Finch was one of the most respected British studio potters of the last half century and was born at 49 Buckleigh Road, Streatham in 1914
He was internationally admired for work that expressed the more traditional values of his craft – superbly glazed functional pots – and for running a legendary workshop at Winchcombe, in Gloucestershire. Winchcombe Pottery produced not only well-designed domestic ware, but trained dozens of potters over the years, many of whom became distinguished in their own right.
Finch recognised that the key to their particular success was the close-knit team ethos; he disliked publicity that drew attention to his own status. He wanted, in the spirit of the teachings of his hero Eric Gill, to maintain a more anonymous workshop collective that simply made beautiful objects to enhance modern experience.
David Whitting- Guardian obituary 31 January 2012 and Image Musing about Mud
