Fake Bernard Leach, St Ives, tea bowl

Can anyone help with a date for this piece please.
Many thanks

Personally, I have my doubts about this "stash" of Bernard Leach cups that has suddenly appeared in Japan, without any information about when or where they were made.

To me they have all look to having been made in the 21st Century.

It does look Very 'Modern', As though it came out of the kiln yesterday. Bearing in mind it should be at least 60years or so old. Could you tell us where you obtained it?

philpot wrote:It does look Very 'Modern', As though it came out of the kiln yesterday. Bearing in mind it should be at least 60years or so old. Could you tell us where you obtained it?

She bought it from a Japanese dealer online (or possibly from someone that has bought this from him and then sold it on). The Japanese dealer has listed over 30 such "Bernard Leach" items gradually over the past few months. They are all with different glazes and some with typical Bernard Leach decoration and others glazed using glazes that I have never known Bernard to use.

On eBay but been advised it’s not genuine. Hard lesson learnt in this instance. I did think the mark was a bit too crisp.

As you bought it from someone on eBay, who lives in this country and states that it is by Bernard Leach you could take out a case against him for a refund via eBay. Clearly philpot and I are not the only people that suggested that it might be a fake and, if needed, I would be happy to back you up in any way possible.

PS "nicolasmaster" did buy it from the Japanese dealer that I mentioned.

Yes I’ve contacted him and plan on getting a full refund hopefully. Very many thanks for your input

I have my doubts about this one too.
I've seen a number of Bernard Leach pots from Japanese dealers that look very dodgy. Some have wooden boxes with 1960s dates that were unlikely to have been made or signed by Bernard Leach because he was very elderly by then and too infirm to pot.

The seller has issued a full refund which is great. Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to comment, lesson learnt

I think everyone needs to be wary all of the time and the important point is to use your knowledge and experience to remind yourself that, if you are not certain about an item, then move on. Even when buying at a top auction house or from a specialist dealer, as we can all be conned.

In your case the eBay dealer has done what any respectable dealer/auction house should do.

Yeh he has definitely done the right thing. I need to learn from this, and do my research a bit better

Most studio pottery is not worth forging, as it is not worth much!
Personally  I have always felt a but unsure about Bernard Leach's work. It being seemingly  not uncommon practice at the Leach pottery in the later years for Bill Marshall to do the throwing, and Bernard Leach to do the 'decoration'. Then sell them as Bernard Leach. Now where does that start and where does it stop??

Best to handle as much studio pottery as possible. Years ago I picked up what the owner told me was one of Bernard Leach's last thrown pots.  I can't remember exactly what it was but it was quite small and fully stamped so I'm sure it was legit. It was quite wobbly, which makes me doubt all these pots coming out of Japan with his marks that he supposedly threw in the 60s when he would have been in his mid to late 70s and already getting frail