Ilja Chapoff, Australia

Ilja Chapoff, (1912-1989)

Georg Ilya Chapoff, A 20th Century Potter’s work who you will rarely come across, but which I find captivating. The image below is the only example of his work I have come across, and  I haven’t been able to find any other examples online, in libraries or periodical magazines of the time.

Ilja Chapoff (b1912 Novorossijsk, Russia – d 1989 Australia). Was a talented craftsman who worked as a Potter, Painter and Carver/Sculptor (of both marble and wood). He worked in New South Wales and the A.C.T. (Canberra)…and taught classes in Sculpture in the Canberra region. I am guessing he immigrated to Australia around WW2.

I was able to find only 1 record of an exhibition he was involved in at the Society of Arts & Crafts of N.S.W in 1974 – but there were no images. His name is listed on the Australian Artists database, but that goes no further.

What an all round talent this man was.  I love the style of the pattern on this stoneware piece pictured here  – obviously a reference to Russian Easter Egg designs which Ilja would have known so well.

If any readers ever come across any information, or a piece by this Artist, please contact me, as I would love to see it and build up some sort of visual library of this work, before it slips from our history.

Ilja Chapoff – Australia, Vase 1970s