Mike Dodd Yunomi Bowl with Foliate Decoration

Mike Dodd Yunomi Bowl

A stoneware yunomi by Mike Dodd, decorated with impressed foliate motifs beneath a rich honey and iron glaze. The cylindrical form sits comfortably in the hand, while the carved decoration and flowing glaze create a surface that reveals more detail the longer it is observed. The interior is finished in a soft celadon-grey glaze, contrasting beautifully with the warmer exterior tones.

The yunomi occupies a special place in Japanese ceramics. Unlike a formal tea bowl used in the tea ceremony, a yunomi is an everyday drinking vessel intended for tea enjoyed informally at home. The form was admired by many British studio potters, particularly those influenced by Japanese and Korean traditions, because it combined beauty with daily use. For potters such as Dodd, the yunomi represented the ideal studio pottery object: functional, tactile and deeply personal.

About the Potter

Mike Dodd (born 1943) is one of the most respected figures in British studio pottery. He belongs to the generation of potters who followed Bernard Leach and Michael Cardew, embracing the belief that pottery should be integrated into everyday life rather than separated as fine art.

As a young man, Dodd encountered the work of Leach, Shoji Hamada and Cardew, whose pots demonstrated that ordinary domestic objects could possess extraordinary beauty. He later established Wellrash Pottery in Herefordshire, where he spent decades working largely outside the commercial art world, making pottery using local materials and traditional firing methods.

Dodd is known for producing his own ash glazes, often derived from materials gathered around the pottery. His work reflects a deep respect for the relationship between clay, fire and landscape. Collectors admire his pottery for its honesty, quiet confidence and connection to the traditions of both British and Japanese ceramics.

This yunomi demonstrates those influences particularly well. Its form derives from Japanese tea culture, while the earthy glazes and impressed decoration are unmistakably Dodd’s own, resulting in a vessel that feels both ancient and entirely contemporary.

Condition

Very good condition. Potters seal to base.

Dimensions

Height: 9 cm

Diameter: 8 cm