Feb 8
Derek Smith was a already an accomplished ceramic designer and art teacher in the U.K. when he moved to Australia in 1956.
He set up a studio and kilns while he was teaching at Bowral High School in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, near Sturt Pottery where Smith developed working relationships with the potters there at the time.
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.
Read moreEric Juckert was a prolific Australian Studio & Commercial Potter and Artist/Painter who had studied with Una Deerborn in South Yarra, Melbourne. He worked as a potter and painter from around 1949 to 1992 in Victoria. His pottery was also sold by the department stores Myer and David Jones under the trade name “Jacqueline”.
It is worth reading a well researched biography on his life on the Australian “Rameking” blog HERE . A selection of his work showing the wide variety of styles he produced can also be seen at the local museum in Cowes, Victoria.
Juckert was a highly skilled potter, and well respected amongst his peers both nationally and internationally. I especially love his use of expert use of glaze colourants and surface texture. Even the smoothest of his glazes have a luxurious, tactile quality about them.
The pieces you will probably come across most often by Juckert in Australia are the small bottles with impressed circle designs, and the white “splatter” glaze commercial ware.
Eric Juckert Bud Vase with impressed circles and crackle glaze
Eric Juckert – Bud Vase with impressed design
Eric Juckert – Bud Vase, Manganese Glaze, Impressed Circle Design
Eric Juckert Glaze Detail
Eric Juckert Signature
