Biography for Michael Cardew

Education

Michael Cardew read classics at Exeter College, Oxford (1919-23), learning pottery over summer vacations at the Brauton Pottery, Fremington run by W. Fishley Holland (the grandson of the traditional slipware potter E.B. Fishley (1832-1912)). In 1923 he visited the St Ives Pottery and took up a three year apprenticeship with Bernard Leach (1887-1979) one of the most dominant figures in Studio Ceramics.

Awards

MBE 1964
CBE 1981

Employment

In 1926 Cardew set up his own pottery at the then derelict Greet Potteries near Winchcombe making traditional slipware, the pottery became known as the Winchcombe Pottery. In 1939 Cardew left the pottery in the charge of Ray Finch (b.1914), later selling the business to him in 1945. Cardew set up another pottery at Wenford Bridge in 1939 with the intention of experimenting with new techniques. This closed in 1941 because of the war and he returned to Winchcombe, before taking up a teaching post as pottery instructor at Achimota College, Ghana, Africa (1942-45). In between return visits to England and working at Wenford Bridge, he worked in Vume, Ghana, and Abuja, Northern Nigeria (1951-1965) teaching wheel-making and stoneware to African students, whilst developing his personal work.