John Bedding at the Glasshouse Gallery - Penzance

John Bedding

BIO
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JOHN BEDDING

'I began potting when I was seventeen in a small commercial South London pottery. I was drawn to pottery by its unique mixture of art, craft and chemistry. The balance of routine, experiment and discovery seemed to suit my character and my skills. . . '

John Bedding moved to St. Ives in the late 1960s. He worked with Bernard Leach, first as an apprentice and later, after a year in France, as a member of staff. During this period John Bedding was allowed to develop his own style and had three one-man exhibitions. In 1978 John Bedding became only the second potter sent to Japan by the Leach's.

There John Bedding worked for a year in the pottery town of Tachiqui part of the ancient province of Tamba with his friend from the Leach, Shigeyoshi Ichino. Part of the experience was to help fire the long wood fired naborigama kilns called dragon kilns, so named because of the flames that poured out of the rear end during the firing. John Bedding's year there culminated in a successful one-man exhibition in Osaka.

When John Bedding returned to England he set up his own pottery, firstly in Penzance, then Trencrom and finally in St. Ives itself - where in 1991 he established St Ives Pottery now known as St Ives Ceramics. John Bedding worked there until 1998, when he moved his workshop to The Gaolyard Studios. This allowed him to extend the Gallery space to include the CBS Collection and exhibit a wider range of pottery styles.

John Bedding now mainly works for exhibitions and stocking his own Gallery. This has given him an independence that allows him to experiment with a wide range of pottery styles and techniques. His recent exhibitions include Tate St Ives and Galleries in Cork Street, London. Last year “Sky Arts Channel” made a 30minute film of John’s working practice, techniques, and philosophy called “Fired Earth”

In 2004 much of John's time has been devoted to helping to save the Leach Pottery as a member of the shadow board for the Leach Pottery Restoration Project. Part of the proceeds of his most recent exhibition, showing of the work of ex Leach students, went towards this project.

JBE1245	Medium Cut Sided Vase - Chevron Design Height: 7.5" Porcelain White slip with projected design decoration
	£160
JBE1255alt	Height: 21" Earthenware see JBE1256
	£
JBE1240	Lidded Jar Height: 8.5" inc. Lid Earthenware Projected Design
	£275
JBE1239	Platter 13.75" sq Earthenware Projected Design
	£295
JBE1242alt	Very Large Round Box Diameter 20" Height:4.5" Earthenware Projected Design (alternative view of 1242)
	£650
JBE1242	Very Large Round Box Diameter:20" Height: 4.5" Earthenware Projected Design (see alternative view JBE1242)
	£650
JBE1249	Porcelain Box Diameter: 4.5" Height: 2" Porcelain Pale Celadon glaze, projected design decoration
	£85
JBE1246	Small Cut Sided Vase - Diamond Design Height: 6" Porcelain White slip with projected design decoration
	£75
JBE1256	Large Vessel Height: 21" Earthenware Projected Design (see alternative view JBE1256alt)
	£900
JBE1244	Vase, Fish Design Height: 9" Porcelain White slip with projected design decoration
	£160
JBE1243	Vase, Flower Design Height: 11.5" Porcelain White slip with projected design decoration
	£280
JBE1254	Squat Bottle Vase Width: 9" Height: 8" Earthenware Projected Design
	£220
JBE1251	Textured Bottle Height: 12" Width: 12" Earthenware Projected Design
	£480
JBE1252	Smoke Fired Bottle Height 10" Width: 7" Earthenware Projected Design
	£280
JBE1253	Smoke Fired Bottle Height: 14" Width: 13" Earthenware Projected Design
	£580
JBE1255alt	Very Large Flask Height: 22.5" Depth: 3.5" Earthenware Projected Design (see JBE1255)
	£
JBE1247	Small Cut Sided Vase - Paisley Design Height: 5.5" Porcelain White slip with projected design decoration
	£75
JBE1009	'Small Bottle Vase' Height: 8" Earthenware Burnished and Fumed
	£140
JBE1137	'Wide Shouldered Bottle Vase' Height: 11" Earthenware Burnished, Fumed and Incised Design
	£315
JBE1153	'Tall Ovoid Vase' Height: 20" Earthenware Projected Design
	£535
JBE1156a	'Gothic Planter in Stand' Height: 22" Earthenware Projected Design at Front
	£590
JBE1157	'Large Dish' Diameter: 17" Earthenware Projected Design
	£410
JBE1159	'Squat Lidded Jar' Height: 9" Earthenware Fumed, Burnished Decoration
	£215
JBE1164	'Very Tall Ovoid Vase' Height: 25.5" Earthenware Projected Design
	£590
JBE1164a	alternative view JBE1164
	£0
JBE1172a	'Very Large Dish' Diameter: 19.5" Earthenware Projected Design
	£410
JBE1175	'Tall Ovoid Vase' Height: 20.5" Earthenware Copper Decoration
	£430
JBE1182	'Pipes' Sculpture Height Overall: 14.5" Earthenware
	£195
JBE1188	'Squat, Squared Bottle Vase' Height: 9.5" Width: 9" Earthenware Projected Design
	£270
JBE1192	'Art Deco Shaped Vase' Height: 11" Width: 19" Earthenware Projected Design
	£625
JBE1195	'Large Cylindrical Lidded Jar' Height 17" Earthenware Eroded Copper Decoration
	£485
JBE1200	'Lidded Jar' Height: 9.5" Earthenware Incised and Projected Design
	£215
JBE1205	'Ring' Sculpture Height Overall 17" Earthenware White Slip Decoration
	£425
JBE1206	'Lidded Jar with Tall Handle' Height Overall 15" Earthenware Incised and Projected Design
	£195
JBE1208	'Pedestal VaseII' Height: 19.5" Earthenware Eroded Copper Decoration
	£390
JBE1209	'Pedestal Vase I' Height: 13.5" Earthenware Eroded Copper Decoration
	£260
JBE1217	'Bottle Vase' Height 8.5" Earthenware Projected, Resist Design
	£235
JBE1220	'Vase' Height: 10" Porcelain Celadon Glaze, Matt Decoration
	£250
JBE1221	'Vase' Height: 8" Porcelain Celadon Glaze, Projected Design
	£250
JBE1226	'Horns Sculpture' Height Overall: 17" Earthenware Burnished Brown Decoration
	£345
JBE1227	'Horns Sculpture' Height Overall: 11" Earthenware Copper Decoration
	£280
JBE1229	'Squat Lidded Vessel' Height inc. Lid: 8.5" Earthenware
	£300
JBE1236	'Ring' Sculpture Height Overall: 13" Earthenware Copper Decoration
	£425