
This week we will be featuring ceramicist William Plumptre as the highlighted artist within our Reflection Series and looking at a selection of his work.
William Plumptre studied ceramic design at Chelsea Art School. He lived for two years in Mashiko from 1985 where he worked for a year in the workshop of Tatsuzo Shimaoka: a National Treasure of Japan. He returned to England and settled in the Lake District producing his own work which is now exhibited widely throughout the country.

“I have returned four times to Japan and still draw on my experiences there. I was curious to learn the technique of Zogan the inlay of slip on clay and rope decoration on the surface of clay which is the main reason why I went to study under Tatsuzo Shimaoka. I love the surface texture created by this method and the use of different types of wood ash glaze to bring out the rope patterns.”
William Plumptre

Thrown tea bowl inlaid slip
William Plumptre
3 x 4 inches
£130Sake cup inlaid slip with copper
William Plumptre
2 x 3 inches
£80 eachPaddled vase with inlay and enamel
William Plumptre
12 x 6 x 6 inches
£800Thrown bowl inlaid slip
William Plumptre
4 x 7 inches
£165Tile inlaid slip with tenmoku
William Plumptre
9 x 6 inches
£130Thrown bowl inlaid slip with iron
William Plumptre
3 x 14 inches
£850