Fire, Wood and Clay: What’s in an Aesthetic?

WLC featured image fire wood clay jpg webp Fire, Wood and Clay: What's in an Aesthetic? Svend Bayer

There can be no denying it: there’s something about wood-firing that produces special pots. But what is it about the wood-fired aesthetic (if there even is one) that captivates? Where does our appreciation for it begin? And, perhaps most important of all: is it still relevant today? Is the wood-fired aesthetic right for our age? … Read more

Shells in Ceramics

WLC featured image shells jpg webp Shells in Ceramics Svend Bayer

Sebastian Blackie explores elusive answers to a simple question: who first used shells when firing their pots? When clay is heated to stoneware temperatures, in a kiln fired with wood, ash will combine with the clay to form a glaze. Fly ash contains the glass forming mineral silica, as well as ‘fluxes’, such as potassium, … Read more

An Embarrassment of Riches

Acr23884162188736 2994714 jpg webp An Embarrassment of Riches Svend Bayer

But what he had achieved, agreed Gil Darby, late curator of ceramics at the Victoria & Albert Museum, matched the finest Sung Dynasty pottery held in international collections. After six years shipwrecked on the ‘Isle of Despair’, some 40 miles from the mouth of the Orinoco river, Robinson Crusoe fashions himself a masted canoe and … Read more

Exhibition | Svend Bayer | His Final Show

svend ex jpg webp Exhibition | Svend Bayer | His Final Show Svend Bayer

On Saturday 21st March 2020, Goldmark Gallery, Uppingham opened Svend Bayer’s final exhibition, with work that represented the very best he has made over the last three years. Bayer, 74, had been a potter for over 50 years and said that these pots were the last he would ever make. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the gallery was unable to receive visitors but set up the show nevertheless and it went on to become the most successful exhibition that both the gallery and Svend Bayer had ever had. Join Max Waterhouse in an exhibition walk-though.

Documentary | Svend Bayer | Potter

svend bayer documentary slate wlc jpg webp Documentary | Svend Bayer | Potter Svend Bayer

Born in Uganda in 1946 to Danish parents, Svend Bayer spent his childhood in Tanganyika. It was during his time at university that Bayer discovered pottery, and a gift from his girlfriend of Bernard Leach’s A Potters Book introduced him to the pots of Michael Cardew. On leaving university Bayer wrote to Cardew, and after being invited for an interview, was taken on.

Bayer took inspiration from the village potteries in Southeast Asia, streamlining their practices and using his focus and determination to produce pots at high speed to fill his huge kiln. His work is held in major collections worldwide. He has received the John Ruskin award, held workshops all over the world and had residencies in America & Australia.

Talking Pots | Svend Bayer | Pitchers or Jugs

Screenshot 2018 07 03 10.37.40 jpg webp Talking Pots | Svend Bayer | Pitchers or Jugs Svend Bayer

Svend Bayer talks about the most important shape he makes, the pitcher or jug. Heavily influenced by Michael Cardew’s North Devonshire pitchers, Bayer talks about the necessity for the shape of the handle to follow that which the hand makes when it picks up a pitcher. He also talks briefly about celadon glaze and wood firing.