Specialist Skills Course: Lidded Vessels & Teapots
Across 2024 – 2025 the Leach Pottery is undertaking capital building works to improve the site for future potters. Find out more here
“In Autumn 2025 workshops will commence in our newly built Learning Studios. It is possible that any courses booked for September – December 2025 will be taught in the new studios instead of Bernard’s Studio. Participants will receive an email shortly before the start of their course to confirm which studio they will be attending.”
Once the move to the new studios has been made, restoration works will render the Leach Pottery museum closed. During this period courses will be begin with a 30 min introductory talk about the story of the Leach Pottery.
A teapot is about the most difficult article a potter is called upon to make. In comparison with a vase of equal size it requires in addition, a lid, a handle, a spout, and perforations to retain tea leaves.
A Potter’s Book, Bernard Leach. 1940
This is a 5 Day practice-based throwing lidded vessels and teapots course aimed at those with intermediate throwing experience. This course is taught to a small group of 4 participants in Bernard’s Studio.
The course covers:
- form and the key elements in achieving good design and functionality of lidded vessels and teapots
- lids; exploring a range of lid styles with an aim to achieve strong galleries and well-fitting lid systems
- spouts; how to make a spout, attach it to the pot in the correct position for a good pour, and convenient placing for water levels and drainage
- handles, including how to pull both a standard and a loop handle, and briefly look into handles made from alternative materials and how to make and attach lugs for these.
The workshop includes an introductory assessment of needs, plus one-to-one tuition with one of our professional potters.
When: Monday 3 – Friday 7 March 2025 or Monday 19 – Friday 23 May 2025
Where: Bernard’s Studio
Places: 4 per course. (Unfortunately, courses held in Bernard’s Studio are inaccessible for wheelchair users)
Duration: 5 days. Core teaching hours: 10am - 4pm and 10am – 3.30pm on the last day.
Please arrive at 9.30am on the first day of your course to take part in a tour of the museum
Equipment & materials: Clay and a basic tool kit is provided: we focus on building core skills and working directly with the clay to get the most from a central selection of tools. Please bring additional tools if you wish to use them along with an apron and hand towel
This course will: Teach you specific skills in throwing lidded vessels and teapots
You will leave with: One piece that is within the footprint of 20 x 20 x 20cm that will be glazed and fired at the Leach Pottery and sent to you* up to 12 weeks after the course has finished. You are welcome to take one or two pieces of unfired work home if you wish. Please bring boxes and packaging for safe transport
Level: Intermediate - to do this course, you will need to be able to centre well with clay, produce cylinders, and be able to achieve the forms that you aim for
*if the address that you would like your work posting to is non-UK, extra postage will apply.
We are delighted to offer one 10% discount in our Shop for the duration of your course.
Specialist Skills Course: Lidded Vessels & Teapots 2025
2025 dates sold out to be added to the waiting list please email Charmaine charmaine.orkamfat@leachpottery.com
Any questions? Please visit our FAQ page
Please be aware, only assistance dogs are allowed in the Learning spaces.
Our courses are popular, we do our best to add more dates when we can.
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