Lyon & Turnbull
Lot 17
partially impressed artist's seal and pottery seal, stoneware, incised Willow Tree design, tenmoku glaze36cm high, 17cm wide (14.1in high, 6.7in wide)Footnote: One day in fine weather I went round to the Penwith Society of Art and there I saw a large tall brown Bernard Leach pot and immediately decided I would buy it, went up to the curator (Kathy Watkins) and told her I would bring in the cheque tomorrow (£35).I walked down the gallery studying at Bernard's small porcelain pots and was joined by some Americans. We got talking and I so fired them with my enthusiasm I sold some there and then to the Americans. Returning to the curator to confirm I was coming in tomorrow. Kate Nicholson was standing beside her 'Too late' said the curator 'Too late' said Kate, ‘you should be quicker I have just bought it!’I was furious but kept control and left the gallery.Who should I meet coming up from Barnaloft about to cross the road but Bernard and his housekeeper, Trudi Scott, Bernard half blind waving his stick at me said 'And what is the matter with you?’ I told him the story and mentioned the artist, to my surprise Bernard roared and roared with laughter saying 'Typical, Typical!!’ meaning the Nicholson family getting into the front row. I stamped off.Some time later just before one of his trips to Japan, I think, Bernard walked in to my studio with a large pot and placed it on my shelf in the lower studio, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, meanwhile I was shrieking 'Bernard that is just like the pot I wanted' and Bernard replied (still standing with his back to me and facing the sea) 'Well you had better hurry up this time!’ adding 'Make the cheque to the Leach pottery' the price was less the commission of the Penwith (£23).I could not believe he had made it specially for me! But he had! Sometime later the Central Office of Information requested to photograph this pot, Bernard decided to be photographed holding the pot at my studio Barnaloft, so he came in and was photographed holding it and the Central Office of Information suggested another photograph was taken, this one to be taken of us together.
