ART OF THE POTTER

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31976, 1 May 1969, Page 13

ART OF THE POTTER

Just off the main road at Richmond, some five miles from Nelson city, is an individualistic local industry which has created interest as far away as the United States. • ; -

This is the. pottery establishment of Jack Laird (illustrated on the right at work) which has grown to export proportions in eight years, having started as a true cottage industry with Mr Laird and his wife alone. Today, Waimea Craft Pottery, Ltd, has a staff of 14 and an order book which is

filled by March for the rest of the year. By ordinary commercial criteria, Waimea Pottery is ripe for expansion. But it will not be. expanding; Mr Laird likes his business the

a craftsman, and he declares that if he were to let his establishment grow any bigger he would lose an indefinable touch in ms product which goes right to the spirit of his work. New Staff

way It is. He has a small private company, and he hu every intention of keeping it small. Mr Laird has this attitude because he is an artist and

He Is not Interested in production for its own sake. If, in the course of training new staff, he finds that the quality of his "pots'* is suffering he at once reduces the output. He slows production until the quality has returned to the standard he demands, and advances from there. Mr Laird and one other are master potters. Mr Laird designs his own pots and his staff reproduces these, paying due regard to artistic discretion—they are not expected to chase a slavish imitation.

Two Apprentices Waimea Pottery has two apprentices; and employs eight women on packing, glaze dipping, turning and assembly. In the old days Mr Laird and his wife would go out to the mountains to dig their own raw materials—the

clay, and marble and glaze material to be found within 70 miles of Richmond. But one of the advantages of an advancing business is that this chore can now be left to contractors, who gather and deliver the materials by the ton. Apple Wood Ash Mr Laird has one member of his staff fully engaged on mixing, refining, and generally preparing this material for the pottery studio. As a sidelight to the availability of local materials, the pottery uses among its glazing materials ash from apple wood prunings—of which there is probably a greater quantity than anywhere else in the country. Mr Laird says: “All Waimea pottery is handmade by craftsmen, and each piece reflects the vitality and liveliness of a master at his trade. Items bear the mark of the potter's fingers, and each piece is in this sense unique.” Strong Heat The stoneware is fired at 1300 deg Centigrade, giving it toughness and durability, and increasing its resistance to chipping and scratching.

Mr Laird has been potting for 19 years. His designs have influences from English. fourteenth and seventeenth century pottery. As a painter at the Chelsea School of Art 25 years ago Mr Laird was taught by some of the celebrated artists of his day. He came to New Zealand as arts and crafts organiser for adult education at Victoria University of Wellington. Direct Exports He now has his permanent home in Nelson; his pottery sells 40,000 pots a year; Mr Laird exhibits. He has direct exports to Australia worth $2OOO a year, and he is developing private exports to the United States.