James Walford (1913-2003)  British Studio Pottery ~16.5cm Small Leaf-Form Dish

A charming ~16.5cm small stoneware 5-lobed leaf-form crimped dish by renowned British studio potter, James Walford. The bowl is simply decorated with a plain light green or celadon crazed glaze. To the base is James's conjoined 'JW' impressed mark and this piece would date to the 1950's. 

James Walford was born in 1913 and studied painting at the Slade School of Fine Art and then the Royal College of Art. After 1945 he started evening classes in pottery with Dora Billington at Kingston School of Art and then crossed London to study in Woolwich with William Staite Murray's former pupil, Heber Matthews. He allegedly bought his first gas kiln directly from Bernard Leach in 1947 and from then until the late 1950s gained a considerable reputation as a potter making traditional thrown pots that were described at the time as "close copies of Chinese Song wares showing exceptional virtuosity". The very first pot that was bought by the Victoria & Albert Museum for the national studio pottery collection was a vase bought in 1954 directly from Walford. The V&A own seven of James's pieces, six of which are currently on display. He was also a founder member of the Craft Potters Association in 1958.

Excellent condition with no chips, cracks or scratches. Please see pictures for more information.

The dish is 3.3cm tall, 16.5cm diameter at the rim and weighs 347g.

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100% positive seller. Please see my other items which include a number of pieces of British and European studio pottery.

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#243754