a magnificent lakes cornish pottery truro medusa vase
height 195mm x width 160mm
makers stamp to the base
a magnificent lakes cornish pottery truro medusa vase.
w.h. lake and son founded their pottery in truro, cornwall in 1872. the company produced attractive earthenware pots for a variety of domestic purposes, everyday essentials.
in 1920 when bernard leach established his new pottery in st.ives, he cited a lakes pot as the type he would like to make. on regular visits to truro, bernard leach his sons and the apprentices would watch the two potters barry pascoe and henry venn working. barry pascoe would pull the handles and henry venn would throw the pots. bill marshall who went on to become one of britains finest throwers and bernard leach's first apprentice, was in awe of the truro potters.
henry venn had previously owned his own pottery in truro, but after the first world war and the shortage of manpower he went to work for lakes taking barry pascoe with him.
after bill lakes death his wife continued the running of the pottery until sadly it was destroyed by fire in the 1990's
