Ceramic bowl, 1971. Made from porcelain.
Dimensions are: 4 1/2 cm. x 15 1/2 cm.
Image courtesy of: The Met
Mary Rogers is a British ceramics artist who forms paper-thin vessels which look as though they came from the ocean. After trying her hand at calligraphy and graphic design, Rogers became very interested in ceramics because of its translucent quality.
Rogers set up her studio in London, near where she studied ceramics at Loughborough School of Art. Prior to that, Rogers studied at Watford Art School in St. Martin’s, London.
Mary Rogers, along with Jacqueline Poncelet and Sheila Fournier, are key figures in reviving England’s interest in ceramics.
Image courtesy of: The Anthony Shaw Collection
Rogers was drawn to porcelain’s translucent quality. She forms her vessels by directly pinching and modeling the porcelain. She finishes these paper-thin creations by scraping the piece once it has completely dried. To further decorate the surface, Rogers carves the edges and often times pierces the vessel’s body.
Flattened oval shape with a yellow (buff) body. Decorated with pattern of grey and brown ovals under a white crackle glaze that melds into blue and green on the ovals.
Image courtesy of: Aberystwyth University Ceramics Collection
Rogers’ bowls are among the most delicate pots of the 1970’s. Prior to that time, the style was for more solid and functional pieces. Especially unique to Rogers is the softness of her work which expresses nature’s fragility.
Rogers shapes are organic in shape… the pots beg to be held and cupped. Each vessel has its own pattern; our favorite ones look like they were caught in an ocean current.
“Convoluted Bowl”, Late 1970’s
Dimensions are: 12 1/2 cm. (height) x 13 cm. (width) x 12 cm. (depth)
Image courtesy of: Adrian Sassoon
Initially, Rogers made chunky, coiled stoneware pots that resembled carved stone. However, by the 1970’s, she grew excited about the curling and crumpled forms. She thought porcelain might be best suited to make these shapes and began to concentrate on small porcelain pinched bowls. We are glad she made that switch!
‘”Dark Open Spreading Bowl”, 1976. Hand-modeled porcelain bowl with brown tones.
Dimensions are: 15 cm. (width)
Image courtesy of: Adrian Sassoon
Since she retired from ceramics in the 1990’s, Rogers has become more and more admired throughout the world. Her pieces are extremely sought-after by collectors and museums.