Small Bowl c. 1930

Curator: Here we have Michel Cardew’s 'Small Bowl,' held in the Tate Collections. I am immediately struck by its unassuming nature. Editor: There's a quiet, earthy quality to this piece. You can almost feel the clay between your fingers. The glaze has a beautiful depth. Curator: Cardew, who lived from 1901 to 1983, played a key role in reviving interest in traditional English pottery, particularly slipware. He saw craft as a reaction against industrial society, promoting handmade objects within it. Editor: Absolutely. Look at the way the glaze pools and drips; you can see the hand of the maker so clearly. This isn't mass-produced; it's honest labor transformed into something beautiful. Curator: It’s a conscious return to pre-industrial forms of production, questioning the increasing mechanization of daily life. Editor: Yes, it challenges our notions of value. A simple bowl, elevated through skill and attention. Curator: It invites a critical look at the culture of consumption and the political implications of choosing handmade over machine-made. Editor: Indeed, it’s more than just a bowl; it’s a statement. Curator: A quiet revolution, perhaps. Editor: Precisely, a vessel of both beauty and intention.