| IMPORTANT NEWS FOR 2011 |
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| After 44 years of making pottery Tony, The Secret Potter, has now retired from his studio in St. Ouen's Village. He has destroyed all his recipes, records, moulds, clay and special equipement. |
A brief history
In 1969 Tony Bouchet took up the challenge to be the first potter to successfully produce and perfect what must be the Holy Grail of pottery. Now as he looks back over 44 years of dedicated work he can see why agateware has never been successfully produced before. In short, it is almost impossible to make. At every stage of development normal pottery practice had to be abandoned and new ways that could cope with the complexities of the pottery had to be developed. Numerous new techniques have been developed by Tony, some so advanced that they have never been used before. Colours have been formulated and mixed - the mixing process alone required over 2000 experiments. This does not include the formulation of a new clay body structure (mixed on the premises), an innovative mould making system, the forming process, drying, glazing and firing techniques – all of which came about only after years of experimentation. |
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Exceptional Pottery
Experts and those with a special interest in pottery may well say agateware has been made before. Very valuable examples of this pottery form can be seen in museums and much is in the hands of private collectors. All of these pieces can be considered rare but, at the same time, most are fairly crude and flawed. This is the reason why potters were not encouraged to go on to perfect a procedure for the manufacture of agateware.
Limited Editions
In recent years the term 'Limited Edition' has been used to describe all manner of mass-produced reproductions simply because they bear a number. In contrast every piece of Bouchet Agateware is an individual work of art, personally hand-made by Tony Bouchet. Even when made from the same batch of clay each piece is unique in it's patterning which, in simple terms, means no two pieces can ever be identical.
Collectors
The pottery pieces and thimbles will never be available again, but for a limited period the jewellery will still be available in Jersey at many of the Genuine Jersey markets. |
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A personal message from Tony
"I would just like to thank everyone who has helped in the success of Bouchet Agateware Pottery from all the staff who helped in the smooth running of the pottery to, and especially, all those collectors who have supported me throughout my career.
Thank you all."
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Agateware: An Arcunum
Agateware, the reproduction of natural agate stone achieved by marbling white clay with metal oxides, is a pottery form that has fascinated and tested the skills of may potters since the first century AD in ancient China.
La Maison du Potchi
La Rue des Marettes
St Ouen
Jersey JE3 2HW |
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| www.genuinejersey.com |
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