Bernard Leach

Autograph Letter Signed (‘Bernard Leach’) to Reynolds Sharp, on the attractive printed stationery of The Leach Pottery in St. Ives, Cornwall. The renowned potter, regarded as the ‘father of British studio pottery’, informs his relative that he has not been having an easy time and feels ashamed of his silence, ‘my wife & I have come to a sad parting of the ways – no, not a third party complex this time – just incompatibility of temperaments’, adding that he therefore doesn’t feel in a position to accept an invitation, and further remarking ‘Also son David is teaching in London for a term so I’ve got plenty to occupy me’ before concluding ‘I’m going to the U.S.A. for exhibitions & lectures early next year but hope to get to Bodmin to see you & Michael Cardew before that’. Accompanied by the original envelope.

Leach makes reference in the present letter to the separation from his second wife, Laurie Cookes.

Size: two pages, oblong 8vo (19.5 x 12.5 cm)

Place and date: St. Ives, Cornwall, 3rd October 1949

Condition: Some light age wear as to be expected, otherwise very good.