Regular readers will know that we’re big fans of the work of Island Potter, Andrew Dowden. Together with his wife Lisa, they have written this fascinating book, A Century of Ceramics. Lisa tells us more about the book and what you can expect to find in it. Ed

The Island is rich in ceramics heritage – from the first pottery found on the Island in Neolothic times, up to the present day.

In particular, a great diversity of work emerged throughout the 20th century. In the early 1900s terracotta sculptures and enrichments were created by Harry Edmund Pritchett, with rich running glazes and geometric designs from the Isle of Wight Handcraft Pottery (often referred to as ‘Saunders’).

Holidaymakers crowded onto trains and buses in the 1950s, many of them taking home the perfect souvenir from the ‘Lester’ potteries – rainbow-coloured dishes and vases, just the right size to take home.

Broken down in five parts
All of these potters and potteries – and more – are featured in the Isle of Wight pottery book – ‘A Century of Ceramics’. Structured in five parts – Part One ‘A New Century’ 1900-c.1949, Part Two ‘Beautiful Island’ The 1950s, Part Three ‘Changing Times’ The 1960s and 1970s, Part Four ‘Re-creating an Ancient Craft’, The 1980s and 90s, Part Five ‘Another Century – A New Millenium’ – this book has been designed to gently guide the reader through the 20th century, evoking an atmosphere for each period, and acquainting them with the potters and their work.

Twenty-seven Island Potters
Twenty-seven Island makers are profiled, each profile detailing background history of the potter or pottery, with production dates and potters’ marks. The 17-page Introduction includes details about the Island, Island clay, and ancient Island pottery. Pertinent quotations are spaced throughout the book from pottery artists and writers such as C F Binns, Tony Birks, Michael Cardew and Dora M Billington.

With 256 glossy pages, and over 350 colour and black and white images, at 8.5 inches wide and 11 inches high, ‘A Century of Ceramics’ packs in a lot of information.

Extensive research
An awful lot of research and hard work went into this book. Apart from archaeologists’ journals on ancient pottery, and a few newspaper and magazine articles, there was nothing published at all about the Island’s potters. Everything had to be sourced. I literally picked up the telephone book and starting phoning people.

My very first phone call was to Don Beckley of Seaview Pottery, and we were fortunate to be able to meet him and his wife Berta soon after. I spent months and months trawling through magazines, microfiches, anything I could get my hands on that might have a scrap of information about Isle of Wight pottery.

I remember one photograph in particular which took me over two years to track down the copyright owner!”

But was it worth it?
Oh yes, definitely. I’ve typed and re-typed so many drafts a part of me is in this book. The book and Isle of Wight pottery will be part of my life forever. Over the years Andrew and I have met and come to know so many lovely pottery people. I was committed to continue writing and finishing it, not only for me but for them too – I didn’t want to let them down.

‘A Century of Ceramics’ is the first book to be dedicated to potters and potteries in the Isle of Wight, and the first book for writers Lisa and Andrew Dowden.

They also designed the book from the size of the pages to the quality and thickness of paper, and the book layout. Andrew designed the book cover – literally – from the choice of images to the number of millimetres to be wrapped around the edge of the card and dust jacket.

“The whole experience was a huge learning curve”, says Andrew. During the eight years of research Andrew was inspired to take up ceramics himself.

Research into Island pottery is still ongoing for Andrew and Lisa, and their website aims to highlight the work of Island potters past and present, through images, features, news and events. Any information from the public on Isle of Wight pottery is always welcomed.

‘A Century of Ceramics’ is a unique record of the Island’s pottery heritage. Copies are still available from Andrew and Lisa Dowden, in hardback or paperback.

The hardback limited edition copy (print-run 500), comes with signed and numbered bookplate at £35 plus postage and packing. Paperback copies have now been reduced from £28 to £15 plus postage and packing. (Andrew and Lisa are happy to arrange delivery or collection on the Isle of Wight.) You can contact Andrew and Lisa on 01983 867505 or email: ilonatracey(at)hotmail.com (replace the (at) with an @ sign).

Click on images below to see larger versions

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