The History of Ceramics

Episodes

• Lucie Rie & Hans Coper - Clay, Courage and Reinvention - Part 2 16.07.2026 43m

  This week we continue the story by following the extraordinary journey of Hans Coper, a man who arrived in Britain as a refugee with no experience of pottery, yet went on to become one of the greatest ceramic artists of the modern age. Forced to flee Nazi Germany as a teenager, Hans Coper rebuilt his life from scratch in wartime Britain. When he began working in Lucie Rie's studio, he discovered not only a new craft but an entirely new way of expressing himself. Although Rie taught him the fundamentals of working with clay, Coper soon developed a powerful artistic language all his own creating bold, sculptural vessels that blurred the boundaries between pottery and sculpture. In this episode, we explore Coper's remarkable transformation from refugee to internationally celebrated artist, the creative partnership and lifelong friendship he shared with Lucie Rie, and the innovations that changed the direction of modern ceramics forever. More than a story about beautiful objects, this is a story of resilience, identity, and the extraordinary power of art to reshape a life. Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the life and work of Hans Coper and discover how a man who began with no training in ceramics became one of the defining voices of twentieth-century studio pottery. IMAGES FOR HANS COPER EPISODE: Lucie Rie, Bronzed bowls from the 1980s Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Hans Coper, A group of Cycladic forms, late- 1970s – early-1970s Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Hans Coper, Early composite form, c.1950 and Large jug, c.1953 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Hans Coper, Portrait of Lucie Rie, conceived c.1953 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Hans Coper, Ovoid pot c.1970, Small ovoid pot, c.1972 and Ovoid pot, c.1972 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Monumental Altar Candlesticks, Coventry Cathedral, by Hans Coper, Image courtesy of Julian Osley – CC BY-SA 2.0 ADDITIONAL WORKS: Bernard Leach, Thrown Bowl, 1973 Provided by York Museum https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 Bernard Leach Studio St Ives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ Henry Moore, Three Way Piece No. 2 ( The Archer), 1964-65 On display in front of Toronto City Hall since 1966 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/sa/1.0/ Henry Moore, Large Reclining Figure 1982 (LH 192b), fibreglass. As of 2004 sited outside the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. On loan from the Henry Moore Foundation. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ Brâncuși's Paris studio, 1920,  Photograph by Edward Steichen, Public Domain Constantin Brancusi, The Kiss, 1907-08, Public Domain PHOTOGRAPHS: Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion Mews, 1950s Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Image Courtesy of the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion (B&W) Mews, early 1950s Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, 1959-69 (in vehicle) Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Hans Coper, Albion Mews, c.1956 Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Hans Coper, Albion Mews, c.1967 Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation ‘Lucie Rie / Hans Coper: Life at the Wheel’ will be at Offer Waterman in London from 18 September - 31 October 2026. For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Fraser Watson Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Hans Coper Arrives at Lucy Rie's Door 00:01:49 Hans Coper's Early Life: A Comfortable Beginning in Germany 00:03:04 The Nazi Rise: A Childhood Shattered 00:06:04 Escape from Germany: Hanging from a Moving Train 00:09:13 Internment and the Pioneer Corps: Survival in Canada and Britain 00:12:53 Gone with the Wind: The Day That Changed Everything 00:13:33 The Button Factory: A Hive of Refugee Activity 00:17:39 Learning the Potter's Wheel: A Natural Talent Emerges 00:22:11 The Relationship: Big Sister, Younger Brother 00:27:48 Two Different Visions: Potter vs. Sculptor 00:30:29 The Aesthetic: Delicate Bowls and Textured Monuments 00:34:47 Teaching Philosophies: Steel Fist vs. Graceful Integrity 00:38:43 Architectural Commissions: From Pots to Coventry Cathedral 00:41:28 Legacy: Changing the Direction of British Ceramics
• Lucie Rie & Hans Coper - Clay, Courage and Reinvention - Part 1 08.07.2026 50m

  This week on The History of Ceramics, we begin the remarkable story of two artists who transformed the course of modern ceramics. Our journey starts with the extraordinary life of Lucie Rie. Born into the rich cultural world of Vienna, Lucie Rie was already an accomplished ceramic artist when the rise of Nazism forced her to leave everything behind. Arriving in London as a refugee in 1938, she faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding her life and career in an unfamiliar country. Yet through determination, technical brilliance, and an unmistakable artistic vision, she would become one of the defining figures of twentieth-century ceramics. In this episode, we explore Rie's early life in Vienna, the artistic influences that shaped her distinctive style, and the resilience that carried her through exile and war. We discover how her elegant forms and luminous glazes challenged traditional ideas about pottery, and how her tiny London studio became the birthplace of a revolution in ceramic art. This is more than the story of a remarkable potter. It is a story of courage, reinvention, and creativity flourishing against the odds. Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the life and work of Lucie Rie—and discover how one extraordinary artist helped redefine the possibilities of clay. Featured Images: Lucie Rie, Bronzed bowls from the 1980s,  Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Hans Coper, A group of Cycladic forms, late- 1970s – early-1970s Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation  Lucie Rie, Teapot Designed and Made for Ernst Plischke, 1928 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Lucie Rie, Early London period bowl, c.1945  Lucie Rie & Hans Coper, Early London period cylindrical lidded pot, c.1947  Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artists/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation  Lucie Rie, Vase from the 'Black Firing', 1981 and Composite vase, known as the 'God Pot', c.1980 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Lucie Rie, Vase with sgraffito design, c.1982 Footed bowl, c.1978 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Lucie Rie, Pink footed bowl, c.1980 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Bernard Leach, Thrown Bowl,, 1973 Provided by York Museum  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 Bernard Leach Studio St Ives  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ PHOTOGRAPHS: Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion Mews, 1950s Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Image Courtesy of the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion Mews, early 1950s Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, 1959-69 (in vehicle) Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Lucie Rie, Albion Mews, c.1960 (at wheel) Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation  Lucie Rie, Albion Mews, c.1960 (at wheel with pot) Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Lucie Rie, Albion Mews, c.1967 (in studio) Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation ‘Lucie Rie / Hans Coper: Life at the Wheel’ will be at Offer Waterman in London from 18 September - 31 October 2026.  For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks.    Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Jim Fuller & Fraser Watson Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Lucy Rie and Hans Coper - Titans of Studio Ceramics 00:03:31 Vienna's Golden Age: The Wiener Werkstätte and Gesamtkunstwerk 00:10:03 Lucy's Upbringing: An Intellectual Jewish Family in Vienna 00:17:18 World War I and Tragedy: The Loss of Her Brother 00:20:53 Discovery of Clay: Finding Her Medium at the Kunstgewerbeschule 00:29:23 Marriage and Early Success: Building a Career in 1920s Vienna 00:32:40 The 1937 Paris Expo: Career Triumph and Rising Darkness 00:36:07 Flight from Vienna: Escaping the Nazis in 1938 00:38:37 Starting Over in London: Albion Mews and the Button Business 00:48:28 A Knock on the Door: Hans Coper Arrives
• The Terracotta Warriors 01.07.2026 44m

  In 1974, a group of farmers digging a well in rural China made one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in history: an underground army of thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors, standing silently in battle formation for more than two thousand years. But why was this extraordinary army created? Who was the powerful ruler it was built to protect? And what does it reveal about the ambitions, beliefs, and astonishing technological achievements of ancient China? In this episode of The History of Ceramics, we explore the story behind the Terracotta Army and the remarkable reign of Qin Shi Huang, the emperor who unified China and transformed its future. We uncover the extraordinary craftsmanship behind the figures, the vast workforce that produced them, the secrets still buried beneath the emperor's mausoleum, and the ongoing archaeological discoveries that continue to reshape our understanding of one of the world's greatest ceramic masterpieces. From imperial power and military might to artistry, innovation, and the enduring legacy of clay, this is the story of how an army that was never meant to be seen became one of the greatest treasures of human civilisation. Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the fascinating history behind the Terracotta Warriors—and discover why these silent guardians continue to captivate the world over two millennia after they were made. All artworks included in this episode are courtesy of: Creative Commons license Zero, Public Domain Dedication For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Joe Little Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Greatest Ceramic Project Ever 00:00:52 Discovery in 1974: Farmers Uncover a Lost Army 00:04:55 The Secret Keeper: Zhao Kangmin and the Cultural Revolution 00:08:11 Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China 00:11:16 Fear of Death and the Quest for Immortality 00:13:09 Building an Army for the Afterlife 00:15:07 The Mausoleum Complex: The Size of Manhattan 00:22:41 Industrial Scale Ceramic Production 00:29:27 Individual Faces: Eight Types, Infinite Variations 00:34:38 Color and Paint: The Lost Vibrancy 00:39:43 The Emperor's Death and the Fall of Qin 00:42:04 Fire and Destruction: The Tomb Under Attack 00:43:39 Legacy: From Fear to Forever
• George E. Ohr - The Mad Potter of Biloxi 24.06.2026 53m

  Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel to the American South at the end the 19th C to explore the life and work of George E. Ohr - otherwise known as the Mad Potter of Biloxi. Overlooked for much of his life this eccentric character worked tirelessly creating innovative, wild and exquisitely crafted art pottery. He was a renowned showman using slogans, banners and sales gimmicks to market his wares and was the self proclaimed "world's best art-potter". His life’s work remained undiscovered gathering dust in a garage for decades before an antiques dealer happened upon them in his son's auto shop. Today his legacy is firmly recognised as a founding father of the art pottery movement and there is a museum in his name, designed by Frank Gehry, in his hometown of Biloxi. Images of artworks and photographs in this episode: Pitcher, 1889-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y. Vase (Blue/Twist), 1987-1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y. Vase (Red), 1895-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y. Vase (pink/purple/pinched), 1897-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET, N.Y. Photo of George E. Ohr – The Mad Potter of Biloxi (1857-1918) Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – outside studio with signage Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – studio with “Greatest Potter on Earth” signage Photo of George E. Ohr (1857-1918) – inside studio with pots George E. Ohr, The Mad Potter of Biloxi. Harpers Magazine, 1892-1893 Burnt Babies, 1894, George E. Ohr Burnt Babies, 1894, George E. Ohr Vase (Red), 1895-96, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET Tea Pot, 1897-1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET Pitcher (Brown/Gold/Pinched), 1896, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET Photo of George E. Ohr (1895-1918) - workshop Bowl (Green/Gold), 1897-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET Bowl (Pinched Clay), 1898-1910, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET Vase (Black/Blue), 1900, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET Vase (Red/Brown), 1890-1905, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET Pitcher (Green), 1890-1905, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMet Clockface and Vase (Pink), 1898, George E. Ohr. Image courtesy of TheMET. (TBC) Photo of Ohr and O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, Mississippi – architect Frank Gehry. For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Joe Little Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Mad Potter of Biloxi 00:04:20 Early Life and Civil War Era Biloxi 00:07:01 The Misfit: Education and Early Jobs 00:10:50 Discovery of Clay: The Duck Finds Water 00:12:04 Research Journey and Return to Biloxi 00:14:10 Building a Life: Marriage and Early Success 00:20:08 World's Fairs and the Great Biloxi Fire 00:26:26 The Golden Age: Reinvention and Masterworks 00:31:29 The Mad Potter Persona and World's Fair Recognition 00:38:51 Rejection and the End of Production 00:44:29 The 50-Year Wait and Miraculous Discovery 00:48:17 Legacy: From Forgotten to Greatest Potter on Earth
• Funk and Nut Art with Clayton Bailey 17.06.2026 45m

  Stephanie Rozene and curator Garth Johnson pick up the story of Funk Art and look at the life and work of artist Clayton Bailey who would go on to form the breakaway movement called Nut Art. Taking ceramics into a new realm of world making, eccentricity and humour, Bailey would inhabit an alter egos, stage pranks with the press and take the museum world on an unexpected journey. 00:00 Introduction: Clayton Bailey and the Nut Artists 00:52 Peter Volkos and the Abstract Expressionist Revolution 02:32 Harvey Littleton, Clayton Bailey, and the Wisconsin Connection 04:12 The First Funk Object: Caterpillar with Flying Buttresses 10:01 The Night Pots: Sex, Function, and Subversion 08:38 Make It Ugly: Building a Ceramics Program in Whitewater 13:24 Connecting with Robert Arneson and Moving to California 17:23 The Vermilion Festival and Experimental Education 23:59 Port Costa and the Birth of Nut Art 25:47 World Building and Imagination: The Nut Art Aesthetic 28:10 Dr. Gladstone and the Science of Kaolism 31:54 The Bigfoot Discovery and Media Pranks 32:38 The Wonders of the World Museum 35:36 Performance Art and Compression Testing 37:52 Partner in Mischief: A Personal Relationship 44:06 Legacy: The Greatest Conceptual Ceramic Artist
• Robert Arneson - Funk Art 10.06.2026 1h 13m

  Join Stephanie Rozene and guest Garth Johnson as they travel back to 1967 and the West Coast of America where an exhibition named Funk would showcase ceramics as a provocative art form. Using humour, satire, colour and form these Funk artists critiqued the world around them and changed ceramics forever. No longer utilitarian vessels - this was art that shocked. Artwork in this episode: Banded White Bottle, 1958, Robert Arneson Spouted Footed Vase, 1959, Robert Arneson No Deposit, No Return, 1961, Robert Arneson Jack and John Trophy, 1964, Robert Arneson His and Her’s, 1964 , Robert Arneson John with Art, 1964, Robert Arneson Typewriter #1 (Touch System) 1965, Robert Arneson Self Portrait of the Artists Losing His Marbles, 1965, Robert Arneson Alice House Wall, 1967, Robert Arnson Assassination of a Famous Nut Artist, 1971, Robert Arneson Portrait of George, 1981, Robert Arneson Other Images: Relax in Electric Chair (Dirty Guy),” 1965, Peter Saul Rocking Pot, 1956, Peter Voulkos, Hole in One, 1978, Peter Voulkos, Bottle, circa 1955. Antonio Prieto Fur Rat, 1962, Joan Brown Cakes, 1963, Wayne Thiebaud For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Fraser Watson Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
• Hector Guimard - The Father of French Art Nouveau 03.06.2026 1h 4m

  How Art Nouveau transformed Parisian Architecture. In this episode we travel to France to meet Hector Guimard the father of French Art Nouveau and the sweeping organic forms that came to define one of the most exciting eras in European culture. We’ll be exploring how ceramic tiles became a key element in the architecture at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and we venture underground, down into the Paris Metro where to this day tiles continue to reign supreme. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Hector Guimard, 1867–1942 Café-Restaurant Au Grand Neptune, 1888, Hector Guimard Tassel House, Brussels, 1892—93, Victor Horta Photo: kat_hly.1608 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Illustrations to Salome by Oscar Wilde, Aubrey Beardsley The Art Nouveau Bing Pavilion, Paris Exposition, 1900, Siegfried Bing Courtesy of V&A Museum Castel Béranger, 1895—98, Hector Guimard Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 1.0) Alexandre Bigot, 1862—1927 Photo: Absecon 59 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Inside Castel Béranger, 1895—98, Hector Guimard 29 Avenue Rapp, Paris, 1899—1901 Photo: marsupilami92 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Photo: Pline / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Maison Coilliot, 1898—1900 Illustrations to Salome by Oscar Wilde, Aubrey Beardsley Porte Dauphine Metro Station, Paris, 1900 Photo :Jean-Pierre Dalbéra / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Abbesses Metro Station, Paris, 1913 Hector Guimard — Andrzej O / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) Thesupermat / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Porte Dauphine Metro Station, Paris, 1900 For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Hector Guimard and French Art Nouveau 00:25 Tile as Architecture: The Third Component of Ceramics 03:57 Guimard's Early Life and Training in the Decorative Arts 08:34 The 1889 Paris World's Fair and New Technologies 10:38 Travels to London and Brussels: Discovering Art Nouveau 12:54 Defining Art Nouveau: Curvilinear Lines and Organic Forms 18:06 Art Nouveau as the First Modernism 19:48 Castel Béranger: Guimard's First Major Building 22:03 The Golden Age of Tile: Technology and Innovation 29:43 Alexandre Bigot: The Chemistry Teacher Turned Ceramic Artist 36:17 Maison Coilliot: Ceramic Architecture in Lille 43:51 The Paris Metro Commission: Art for the People 46:55 Designing the Metro Stations: Cast Iron and Subway Tile 52:38 Controversy and Politics: Art Nouveau Under Fire 55:20 The Decline of Art Nouveau and Rise of Nationalism 1:00:23 Guimard's Later Years and Legacy
• Josiah Wedgwood - Part 2 - Turning Pottery into Politics 27.05.2026 45m

  How did Wedgwood combine pottery with politics? Paul Greenhalgh is joined by Sir Tristram Hunt to discuss the life and work of potter and abolitionist Josiah Wedgwood who created one of the most famous ceramic companies in British history. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Dinner Plate ‘Frog Service’, 1773, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Plate ‘Frog Service’, 1773–1774, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Portland Vase, 1790, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Vase (Creamware), 1764–68, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum The Founding of Australia. By Capt. Arthur Phillip R.N., Sydney Cove, Jan. 26th 1788 Algernon Talmage Medallion, 1790–95, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Vase (Black Basalt), 1775–80, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Milk Jug, 1785—95, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Saucer, 1795—1810 , Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Portrait Medallion, 1775–80, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Vase, Circa 1800—10, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Dancing Hours Plaque, 1778, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons and John Flaxman Courtesy of V&A Museum Dancing Hours Salt Cellar, 1786—90, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons and John Flaxman Courtesy of V&A Museum Vase, Circa 1800—10, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Teapot and cover (Black Basalt), 1810, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Bust (Black Basalt), 1770–80, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Teapot (Caneware), 18th Century, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Edward Gibbon, 1737–94 Portland Vase, Circa 1–25 AD Portland Vase, 1790, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Josiah Wedgwood statue, Stoke-on-Trent, 1862–3, Edward Davis Anti-slavery medallion, Circa 1787, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Josiah Wedgwood - Turning Pottery into Politics 00:01:32 The London Shop and Marketing Genius 00:04:26 Art Meets Commerce: Wedgwood's Philosophy 00:06:12 Global Ambition: 80% Export Market 00:11:29 Countering Porcelain: Creamware vs European Tradition 00:13:09 Black Basalt and the Innovation of Jasperware 00:15:40 John Flaxman and Ceramics as High Art 00:20:03 The Portland Vase: Artistic Triumph and Commercial Challenge 00:22:03 Free Trade and Empire: A Businessman's Contradictions 00:24:34 Radical Patriotism: Politics and Revolution 00:29:24 The Abolition Badge: Pottery Against Slavery 00:35:37 Legacy and Decline: After Josiah's Death in 1795 00:40:27 The Wedgwood Brand: Surviving 200 Years of Mismanagement 00:43:16 Conclusion: Wedgwood's Enduring Importance to Ceramic History
• Josiah Wedgwood - A Giant in the History of Ceramics - Part 1 20.05.2026 51m

  How did Wedgwood create one of the most famous ceramic companies in British history?  And what fueled his obsession with science and experimentation?  Join Paul Greenhalgh is joined by Sir Tristram Hunt to discuss 18th century England and  the life and work of potter, scientist and abolitionist in part 1 of a 2 part series on Josiah Wedgwood. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Josiah Wedgwood, 1730—17 Soup Tureen with Lid (Creamware), Circa 1770—80, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Terrine With Lid and Saucer (Creamware), Circa 1800—15, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Platter (Creamware), Circa 1780., Josiah Wedgwood & Sons The First Day's Vase (Black Basalt), 1769, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Dinner Plate ‘Frog Service’, 1773, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Platter ‘Frog Service’, 1773—74, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum Plate ‘Frog Service’, 1773—74, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Courtesy of V&A Museum "To see this and all our episodes go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks" Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro  Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac
• Sèvres - Power, Porcelain & Prestige 13.05.2026 56m

  In this episode Paul and Stephanie discuss how Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour, and Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's passion for porcelain created one of the most famous and revered names in the history of ceramics, Sèvres. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Tureen (Japanese Kakiemon style), 1725–51, Chantilly Porcelain Manufactory Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Tureen, 1749–50, Vincennes Porcelain Manufactory Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Madame de Pompadour, 1756, François Boucher Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Madame de Pompadour, 1759, François Boucher Postcard – Sèvres – National Sèvres Manufactory – Gilding Workshop Wikimedia Commons (French Open Licence 1.0) Dinner Plate, 1788, Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory Tureen (Rococo Style), 1758, Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory Courtesy of The Met Collection Bleu Céleste Vase, 1779, Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory Walters Art Museum, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Circa 1890 Charles Louis Müller Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) Bleu Céleste Dinner Plates (Manchester Service), 1776–83, Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory The Louis XVI Dinner Service, 1783—93 , Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory "To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks" Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Power, Porcelain and Prestige at Sèvres 00:02:02 The European Porcelain Race and France's Soft-Paste Experiments 00:07:07 The Birth of Vincennes: Defectors and Royal Patronage 00:09:25 Madame de Pompadour: The Power Behind Sèvres 00:13:30 The Move to Sèvres and Royal Ownership 00:14:43 Inside the Sèvres Factory: Division of Labor and Craftsmanship 00:24:42 The Rococo Style: Opulence and Decadence 00:27:38 Porcelain as Diplomatic Currency: The Bedford and Manchester Services 00:31:46 Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette Take the Throne 00:40:10 The Most Extravagant Service Ever Made 00:45:59 Revolution and the Fall of the Monarchy 00:48:44 Sèvres Survives: From Royal to National Manufactory 00:52:40 Napoleon and the Continuing Legacy of Sèvres
• Secret Formula - The Race for Porcelain - Part 2 06.05.2026 1h 1m

  How did an alchemist discover the recipe for porcelain? And why did his discovery ultimately drive him mad? Join Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene as they pick up the story of Europe’s obsession with porcelain and the race to discover its secret formula. Stranger than fiction this is another great story in the history of ceramics. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: King Augustus II the Strong, 1670–1733 Johann Friedrich Böttger, 1682–1719 Friedrich Zorn, 1711–89 King Frederick I of Prussia, 1657–1713 Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, 1651–1708 Plate, Circa 1730–35, Meissen Manufactory Courtesy of The Met Collection Vase with cover, 1725, Meissen Manufactory Courtesy of The Met Collection Vase, 1710 –13, Meissen Manufactory Courtesy of The Met Collection Tea caddy, 1710 –13, Meissen Manufactory To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Race for Porcelain Continues 00:02:21 Augustus the Strong: The Porcelain-Obsessed Ruler 00:06:37 Enter Johann Friedrich Böttger: The Young Alchemist 00:12:11 The Fateful Demonstration and Escape to Saxony 00:15:12 Imprisoned by Augustus: The Gold House Laboratory 00:19:13 Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus: The Scientific Mind 00:20:44 Dark Days: Failed Promises and Attempted Escape 00:28:41 The Turning Point: Discovery of Kaolin 00:31:41 The Breakthrough: Creating European Porcelain 00:41:46 Freedom and Legacy: Böttger's Final Years 00:44:51 The Ironic Twist: China's Secrets Revealed
• White Gold - The Race for Porcelain (Part 1) 29.04.2026 41m

  How did Europe become obsessed with porcelain?  And who would win the race to discover the secret formula for this “white gold?”  In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel from Marco Polo’s China to the courts and palaces of Europe, where this mysterious material bewitched all those that encountered it.     Artworks featured in this episode: King Louis XIV King William III & Queen Mary II A late 17th-century engraving of a porcelain room in the style popularised by Mary II Courtesy of The Met Collection Porcelain Room, Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin, Germany Marco Polo Unglazed Ewer (Earthenware) 9th–10th century Courtesy of The Met Collection Francesco de' Medici, 1541—87 Bowl with Variation of 'Baba Nakkas' Design, Circa 1500—25 Courtesy of The Met Collection Iznik Mosque Lamp (Turkey) 1585—95 Courtesy of The Cleveland Museum of Art Potpourri jar (France)Circa 1690—95 Courtesy of The Met Collection Terracotta Jug, Circa 1400–1190 BC Courtesy of The Met Collection Maiolica Plate (Italy), Circa 1500 Courtesy of The Met Collection Handled Vase (Spain), 17th Century Rouen Faience Jug (France), Circa 1720 - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Pilgrim Flask (Italy), Circa 1580, Medici Porcelain Manufactory King Augustus II the Strong, 1670–1733 To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: White Gold - The Race for Porcelain 00:01:00 Porcelain Fever: Europe's Obsession with China 00:04:12 The Magical Properties of Porcelain 00:06:20 Status Symbol of Monarchs: Porcelain Rooms and Collections 00:08:34 The Portuguese Trade Route and China's Monopoly 00:09:57 Marco Polo and the Mystery of Porcelain 00:15:02 What Porcelain Actually Is: The Science Revealed 00:19:04 Early European Attempts: Medici Porcelain and Soft Paste 00:21:36 The Failed Experiments: Grinding Shells and Burying Clay 00:25:58 Tin Glaze Traditions: Maiolica, Faience, and Delftware 00:30:02 The Race Intensifies: Setting Up for Discovery
• The Ceramic Wars 22.04.2026 51m

  Why were Korean potters kidnapped and held hostage by Japanese invaders? And how did they transform the history of Japanese ceramics? In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene explore the complicated relations between Korea and Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries, and show how ceramics became a major factor in the bitter conflict between the two of them during what has become known as the Ceramic Wars. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Maebyeong Vase, Late 13th Century Stoneware carving and filling with white and black slip. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Cropped) - Wikimedia Commons Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Kodai Temple - Wikimedia Commons Toyotomi Hideyoshi on his horse - Wikimedia Commons Wine Ewer, First half of the 13th Century Shigaraki climbing kiln - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Water Jar, 17th Century Noborigama, Tokoname - Wikimedia Commons Raku Tea Bowl, Circa 1600 Ko Tamba Ware Water Jar, Mid 1500’s Shigaraki Ware Vessel, 15th Century Arita Ware Hexagonal Jars, Late 17th Century Shigaraki Ware Vessel, 15th Century Dish Depicting Lady with a Parasol, 1734—1737 Hagi Ware Tea Bowl, 19th Century - Freer Gallery of Art, Wikimedia Commons Hagi Ware Tea Bowl, 20th Century - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) "To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the HENI Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks" Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Ceramic Wars 00:01:05 East Asia in the 16th Century: Three Powers 00:03:55 Korean Ceramics: The Beauty of Seladon 00:09:33 Japanese Ceramics Before the Wars 00:09:54 Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Unification of Japan 00:15:10 The Japanese Invasions of Korea Begin 00:18:31 The Enslavement of Korean Potters 00:20:02 Korean Potters Transform Japanese Ceramics 00:23:08 Arita: The Birth of Japanese Porcelain 00:26:59 Satsuma Ware and Korean Innovation 00:30:54 Hagi Ware and the Tea Ceremony 00:37:15 Legacy and Lasting Tensions
• Picasso The Potter 15.04.2026 35m

  How did Picasso discover pottery? And how did he transform the fortunes of an ancient town in the process? Join Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene to discuss Picasso’s life in the South of France just after the Second World War where he found a new and exciting creative outlet bringing together painting and sculpture and in doing so transformed the history of art. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Guernica, 1937 by Pablo Picasso Head Plate, 1957 by Pablo Picasso "Tete au Masque" Plate, 1956 by Pablo Picasso Owl Pitcher, 1957 by Pablo Picasso Three Sardines, 1947 by Pablo Picasso Bull In The Arena, 1948 by Pablo Picasso Vase with Two High Handles, The Queen, 1953 by Pablo Picasso To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the HENI Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Picasso the Potter 00:00:53 The Dark Years: Picasso During World War II 00:05:27 Discovering Vallauris: A Holiday That Changed Everything 00:07:41 The Madoura Pottery and First Experiments 00:11:23 Working with Clay: Technique and Collaboration 00:14:04 Picasso's Ceramic Vocabulary 00:22:11 Domestic Life and the South of France 00:28:10 Jacqueline Roque and New Beginnings 00:31:42 Revitalizing Vallauris: Community and Legacy 00:34:29 What Picasso Did for Ceramics
• Adelaide Alsop Robineau - A Pioneering Potter 08.04.2026 57m

  Who created the Mona Lisa of American Ceramics? And how was it stolen from under the noses of museum guards? In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel to the American Gilded Age at the end of the 19th C to discuss the life and work of Adelaide Alsop Robineau, the pioneering potter who fought to make her own work her own way, and went on to win the top prize at the prestigious World’s Fair, putting American ceramics on the map. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Cup with beetles, 1901 by Adelaide Alsop Robineau Courtesy of The Met Collection Vase (Crystalline)1910 by Adelaide Alsop Robineau Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Staff of the University City Pottery and Art Institute, 1910 Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Archives Scarab Vase, 1910 by Adelaide Alsop Robineau Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Cinerary Urn, Circa 1929 by Adelaide Alsop Robineau Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Stolen Art Alert Poster International Foundation for Art Research Courtesy of the Everson Museum of Art Archives To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the HENITalks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Adelaide Alsop Robineau and the Scarab Vase 00:01:37 America's Gilded Age and the Rise of Art Pottery 00:03:10 Adelaide's Early Life 00:04:56 China Painting: A Technical Note 00:07:20 Meeting Samuel Robineau and Starting Keramic Studio Magazine 00:09:25 Syracuse: A Hub of the Arts and Crafts Movement 00:11:37 The Magazine Empire and Teaching Women 00:16:47 The Radical Switch from China Painting to Porcelain 00:21:50 Learning from Taxile Doat: Porcelain Secrets Revealed 00:25:10 Mastering Crystalline Glazes 00:29:30 The First Female Studio Potter Working in Porcelain 00:30:19 University City and the Dream Team of Potters 00:32:58 Creating the Scarab Vase: 1000 Hours of Carving 00:38:38 Catastrophic Cracks and Miraculous Repair 00:41:35 The Grand Prix at Turin 1911 00:43:30 Return to Syracuse and Teaching Legacy 00:45:02 Final Years and the Funerary Urn 00:49:08 The Great Scarab Vase Heist of 1989 00:52:27 Recovery: David Rago and the Polaroid Evidence 00:56:15 Adelaide's Legacy: Never Lacking in Self-Confidence
• The First Pot 01.04.2026 39m

  What was the first piece of pottery that humans ever made? What does it reveal about our earliest ancestors? In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene travel back to the earliest civilisations to find out how they created the very first ceramic objects and what that meant to the story of mankind. Ceramics and artwork in this week’s episode include: Venus of Dolní Věstonice, 29,000—25,000 BC Vestonicka venuse edit by Petr Novák, Wikipedia Source - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vestonicka_venuse_edit.jpg For the full legal code, see the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/legalcode.en Vestonicka venuse back by Petr Novák, Wikipedia Source - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vestonicka_venuse_back.jpg For the full legal code, see the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/legalcode.en Fire-Flame Cooking Vessel, 2750—2500 BC Deep Vessel with Decorative Handles, 3500—2500 BC Met Museum Bell Beaker, 2475–1800 BC Bell Beaker Rijksmuseum of Oudheden by Gary Todd Source - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bell_Beaker_Rijksmuseum_of_Oudheden.jpg For the full legal code, see the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en To see images of the artworks in this episode go to heni.com/thehistoryofceramics or visit the HENI Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Editor: Alessandro Ruocco Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: How Ceramics Changed History 00:02:13 Clay vs Ceramic 00:04:50 The Oldest Writing About Potters 00:06:58 The Venus of Dolni Vestonice: The First Ceramic Object 00:12:41 How Early Societies Discovered Ceramic Technology 00:15:32 The First Pots: From China to Japan 00:17:58 The Jomon People 00:19:24 Jomon Pots: Decoration, Function, and Meaning 00:25:01 Fire, Food, and Transformation 00:25:57 Nomadic Potters 00:32:00 Pottery as Archaeological Evidence 00:33:12 The Bell Beaker People of Britain 00:35:25 Ceramics as a Mark of Civilization 00:37:21 An Ancient Technology Still in Use Today
• Introducing The History of Ceramics 26.03.2026 2m

  The History of Ceramics brings together British art historian & curator Paul Greenhalgh and U.S. maker and academic Stephanie Rozene as they reveal the most compelling and often surprising stories from this often-overlooked corner of art history.  Travelling around the world and through time, from the very first shards that shed light on early civilizations, to stories of power, political intrigue and espionage.  Famous artists, extraordinary characters, pioneers and rebels from the world of pottery, architecture and design who have all played a role in elevating ceramics to the heart of the art world but also into the homes and lives enthusiasts right around the globe.  Full of revelation, insight and practical expertise, The History of Ceramics offers an alternative history to our times.