Widely considered the most important and influential artist-potter of the 20th century, Bernard Leach pioneered the revival of the English studio pottery movement, setting up the St Ives pottery, with the help of his friend Shoji Hamada, in 1920. It was Bernard's elder son David who gave stability to the pottery by introducing a range of hand-thrown standard ware. He also engaged students and apprentices who helped to produce the range. Amongst them was John, Bernard's eldest grandson who was an apprentice from 1960-1963 enabling him to continue the family tradition, making honest, hand-thrown pots in his own 16th century, thatch-roofed pottery at Muchelney in the beautiful English West Country. His range of stoneware kitchen pots using local clays has been in constant production for over 40 years.