Welcome all, to spring rain and spring blossom – and spring activities for the Circle.

 The big event, of course, is the John Kenny Memorial lecture, where John Whitehead, international author, dealer and specialist in 18th century French decorative arts, will speak to us on Sèvres in the King’s private apartments at Versailles; how porcelain was used as royal interior decoration.

 This lecture will be held on the evening of Thursday 9th October, at a prestigious CBD location, and there are still a few spaces.  You can book via the link on our website at using this link and Andrew Dixon can assist if you have any issues.

 In August we heard from the ever-exuberant John Patrick, who presented on English Studio Pottery.  He discussed its source in vernacular Staffordshire pottery of the 17th and 18th centuries and its launch as art by William Staite-Murray, who regarded it as the interface between painting and sculpture.  He then turned to its expansion under the guidance of Bernard Leach, acknowledged as the true father of English studio pottery.

John detailed the rural inspiration and utilitarian, domestic focus of Leach’s works and those he inspired, such as Michael Cardew, Katherine Pleydell-Bouverie, Norah Braden and Leach’s own son, David.  John noted the influence of Japanese ceramicist Shoji Hamada and the gradual refinement and urbanisation of the aesthetic during the 20th century, seen in the output of Robert Fournier and Joanna Constantinidis, which reached its apotheosis in the sublime works of Lucie Rie and Hans Coper.  John also kindly brought along many pieces for us to handle.

 In September we had our annual three-speaker-evening and Margaret Robinson kicked it off with a brief tour of Iznik ceramics, the pottery of Anatolia, produced from the late 15th to the late 17th century. She noted the four broad colour palettes, blue and white, also with turquoise, the early polychrome palette and the later, brighter one with its range of brilliant colours, showed us interesting forms, including a mosque lamp and a rose-water bottle, and highlighted the use of mysterious Islamic scripts and naturalistic imagery of roses, tulips and carnations.

 Philip Williams then took us through the life and works of the early 20th century French artist and glass maker, Maurice Marinot, who first appeared as a painter of the Fauvist moment, but was by the 1910s making and exhibiting glass.  By the 1920s he was producing dramatic, heavy pieces using challenging techniques, such a manipulating the bubbles, layering colours and applying hydrofluoric acid.  Marinot’s works were a critical success and the examples that Philip brought along for us certainly demonstrated why.

 I finished the evening speaking about The Poignant Repair, the target of collectors who value pieces that reflect the attachment to them felt by previous owners, as demonstrated by the nature and visibility of the repair.  Examples include fragments tied together with lead wire, or secured with multiple, meticulously applied metal staples, spouts replaced by ormolu or silver substitutes, tin-smith made replacement covers and the world of Japanese gold and silver lacquer repairs, designed to highlight and celebrate rather than hide an object’s life experiences.

 Looking forward, our international speaker, John Whitehead, will also present at our October meeting, on Sèvres and the Marchands Merciers, the dealers who made the porcelain even more beautiful. This will continue the fascinating discussion of 18th century interior design, luxury, and shopping!

In November we’ll hear from Greg Hill, a leading authority on Australian colonial pottery, presenting on Victoria’s Earliest Potteries: our convict era potters.  Greg's research has revealed previously unknown information about the colony's first pottery businesses, which operated during the convict era, and he will cover forgotten potteries and change our understanding of that period.

                                                                                                            Genine Wallinga
                                                                                                            President,  September 2025