Irish John ffrench Craftwoker Ceramic Cup Plate c1962 Start Price USD 65.00 Current Price USD 65.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, November 16, 2008 End Time Sunday, November 23, 2008 Location West Coast of Clare See more about 'Irish John ffrench Craftwoker Ceramic Cup Plate c1962' Description   Irish John ffrench Craftwoker Ceramic Cup Plate c1962   Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  This rare item is one of the very first designs made in the Arklow Studio Pottery which was set up by John ffrench in September 1962.  He used stock forms that were produced in the Arklow Pottery on which he and his helpers hand-painted contemporary designs.  The pleasant amber ground colour has a design of zebra stripes in black which reflects ffrench’s training in Italy in the early 1950s. ffrench is one of the pioneers of contemporary studio pottery in Ireland and his introduction of Italian ceramic ideas into Ireland in the 50s influenced the direction in which Irish studio pottery would develop. John is a remarkable man coming up to his eightieth birthday and still hand making individual pottery items with love and affection. His present work is lively, bright and airy and guaranteed to put a smile on your face! See enlarged images (including a black and white photograph of John himself) and see below. John ffrench (1928 - ) Born in Castlefrench near Ballinasloe in County Galway, John studied at the National College of Art and Design and first exhibited his paintings and pottery in 1948. Since then his remarkable career has led to a considerable international reputation. The artist has worked in the Brogi Studio,Florence; the Ring Ceramic Studio, Kilkenny, The West Bengal Design Studio, Calcutta and the Dolphin Studio in Massachusetts. He is the pioneer of contemporary pottery in Ireland - known for his bright colours and unusual shapes.  His work has always been popular and, on at least two occasions in the 1950s and 1960s his exhibitions in Dublin completely sold out, at the moment of opening.  Yet his name today is relatively unknown in his native Ireland because he has lived abroad for much of his life.  No published study of his many scattered works has ever been made.  Ffrench executed his earliest Irish work in Kilkenny in the early 1950s, introducing into Ireland a modernist style of pottery that was new and exciting.  His work was colourful and decorative in a Mediterranean way as he had lived and worked in Florence in 1951 – 1955.  His shapes were very experimental and took the Irish commentators by surprise, ‘too obstinately asymmetrical’ said one, ‘almost wickedly provocative’ said another, ‘tortured ashtrays at three guineas a piece’ said Myles na Gopaleen.  But this was the spirit of the age and ffrench was influenced by the contemporary Italian ceramics of, for example, Guido Gambone and Salvatore Meli.  Their work was sculptural, brightly coloured and very different from the studio pottery then being made in these Isles; the ‘little brown pots’ of the Bernard Leach School.   He was also influenced by Miro, Matisse and the Cubist paintings of Braque and Picasso, whose distortions liberated his generation from the constraints of tradition.  One of the pioneers of studio pottery in this country, John founded Arklow Studio Pottery in 1962, and in later years established his own ceramic studio near Kinvara in County Clare . He also taught ceramics for many years before his retirement. Arklow Pottery was taken over by the Japanese company, Noritake in 1976. This company ran into financial difficulties and liquidators were called in August 1998. Production ceased in April 1999, with the loss of 145 jobs. Measures:   Saucer diameter:  6.90".  Cup: 4.50" X 3.00". Condition:    Very Good. Please note below world wide fixed shipping rate.  IF YOU ARE ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND - HALF THE QUOTED RATE. Add $9.00 for insurance, packing and shipping. Good Luck! Payment       I accept the following forms of payment: PayPalPersonal Check       FREE scheduling, supersized images and templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager.  FREE scheduling, supersized images and templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager. Over 100,000,000 served. Get FREE counters from Vendio today! Place a Bid!