Yorkshire Tea Ceremony - CoCA

Yorkshire Tea Ceremony

Centre of Ceramic Art in York Open now until December 2023

The collection of W.A. Ismay MBE (1910 – 2001) is remarkable. The UK’s most prolific collector of post-war British studio pottery. Ismay accumulated over 3,600 pieces by more than 500 potters between 1955 and 2001. Upon his death, he left his collection and its associated archive to the City of York. It has been 20 years since the W.A. Ismay Collection moved from private to public ownership, and the Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA) are celebrating that anniversary.

Dr Helen Walsh, Curator of Ceramics at York Art Gallery, commented: “It’s exciting to be able to display over 250 pieces from this incredible collection of post-war ceramics for the first time in the Centre of Ceramic Art. Without his generous gift, CoCA would not exist.

“He led an extraordinary life, and so did his collection. As well as being able to admire the beautiful variety of pots, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about how Ismay lived with and used his collection in his ‘Yorkshire Tea Ceremony’.

“Ismay was passionate about supporting potters through their careers, and never saw himself as the owner of his collection, more as a temporary custodian. He loved the social side of collecting and was keen to share his family of pots with others. It seems fitting that, to mark the 20 years since the collection arrived in York, the key works from his collection can be displayed together for all to see and enjoy in this free-to-visit exhibition.”

Items from Ismay’s vast archive documenting his life and ceramics collection are on public display for the first time, offering visitors the chance to learn more about his remarkable life. The eclectic collection on display includes objects created by many of the most significant potters working in the UK, such as Lucie Rie, Hans Coper, Bernard Leach and Michael Cardew, as well as examples of work by lesserknown makers. Themes explored include competitive collecting, functional ceramics and domestic display. There is a focus on key artists in the collection, particularly those working in Yorkshire, such Barbara Cass who had a studio on The Shambles, York and Sheffield-born Jim Malone, the potter whom Ismay collected the most works by.

‘The Yorkshire Tea Ceremony’ is now open and is free to visit. Pre-booking is recommended at www.yorkartgallery.org.uk.

York Art Gallery Opening

Times: Wednesday –Sunday 11am-5pm

*See the review of the book on pages 31-32

Emerging Potters – 30 Yorkshire Tea Ceremony January – March 2023

Previous page: Dr Helen Walsh, curator of ceramics York Art Gallery. Photo: Anthony Chappel-Ross Above: W.A.Ismay in his kitchen, c.1990s. Copyright Janette Haigh. Photo by Janette Haigh.

Above: Alan Caiger-Smith, Teapot 1060 Copyright: Estate of Alan Caiger-Smith. Photo: Philip Sayer. Above right: Jane Hamlyn, Blue Curly Teapot, 1996-98. Copyright: Jane Hamlyn. Photo by Philip Sayer.