▲ Ewen Henderson (British, 1934-2000) a large hand-built vessel

circa 1978, stoneware, constructed using coils and slabs, with painted surface glaze, 21cm wide, 17cm deep, 34cm high, Chiswick Auctions, July 2015, lot 128. Ewen Henderson was an influential British ceramicist and sculptor whose experimental practice challenged conventional approaches to form, material and technique. Describing clay as 'fluxed earth', Henderson explored its capacity to transform and evolve into expressive, abstract forms, embracing its natural irregularities rather than pursuing the symmetry and refinement associated with traditional pottery. Having studied at Goldsmiths' College and Camberwell School of Art under Lucie Rie, Hans Coper and Ian Godfrey, he developed a distinctive hand-building technique, abandoning the potter's wheel in favour of layering and combining different types of clay to create complex, fragmented structures. His work is characterised by splintered forms, rich textural contrasts and an intuitive approach to colour and surface, reflecting influences from ancient Mediterranean, Far Eastern and Pre-Columbian cultures, as well as modernist sculpture. For Henderson, form was never fixed but remained in a state of flux, continually evolving through the processes of making, assembling and firing, where the kiln itself became an agent of transformation. Treating clay as a means of three-dimensional drawing, he explored the shifting relationship between volume, space, surface and colour, creating works that blur the boundaries between ceramics, sculpture and painting. This painterly sensibility extended into his watercolours, gouaches and collages which shared the same experimental spirit and tactile quality as his ceramic work. Through his restless curiosity and willingness to push materials beyond their perceived limits, Henderson developed a highly individual practice that redefined the expressive possibilities of clay and established him as one of the most innovative figures in late 20th-century British ceramics. Condition Report, Condition Report, This lot does not have a condition report, if you would like further information, please click the 'Request A Condition Report’ button below. Request A Condition Report, Request A Condition Report

Estimate:£600

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