Lucie Rie & Hans Coper - Clay, Courage and Reinvention - Part 2

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This week on The History of Ceramics, we tell the remarkable story of Hans Coper, who arrived in Britain as a refugee with no experience of pottery and became one of the defining ceramic artists of the twentieth century.

We explore his creative partnership with Lucie Rie, the bold sculptural forms that made his work unique, and the lasting legacy he left on modern ceramics.

Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they discover how Hans Coper transformed clay into one of the great artistic languages of the modern age." "This week on The History of Ceramics, we continue the story by following the extraordinary journey of Hans Coper, a man who arrived in Britain as a refugee with no experience of pottery, yet went on to become one of the greatest ceramic artists of the modern age.

Forced to flee Nazi Germany as a teenager, Hans Coper rebuilt his life from scratch in wartime Britain. When he began working in Lucie Rie's studio, he discovered not only a new craft but an entirely new way of expressing himself. Although Rie taught him the fundamentals of working with clay, Coper soon developed a powerful artistic language all his own—creating bold, sculptural vessels that blurred the boundaries between pottery and sculpture.

In this episode, we explore Coper's remarkable transformation from refugee to internationally celebrated artist, the creative partnership and lifelong friendship he shared with Lucie Rie, and the innovations that changed the direction of modern ceramics forever. We also examine why his work continues to inspire artists, collectors, and museums around the world.

More than a story about beautiful objects, this is a story of resilience, identity, and the extraordinary power of art to reshape a life.

Join Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh as they uncover the life and work of Hans Coper—and discover how a man who began with no training in ceramics became one of the defining voices of twentieth-century studio pottery.

Artworks:

Lucie Rie, Bronzed bowls from the 1980s Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, A group of Cycladic forms, late-1970s – early-1970s Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, Early composite form, c.1950 and Large jug, c.1953 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and HansCoper Foundation

Hans Coper, Portrait of Lucie Rie, conceived c.1953 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, Ovoid pot c.1970, Small ovoid pot, c.1972 and Ovoid pot, c.1972 Photograph by Sylvain Deleu © Estate of the artist/The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Monumental Altar Candlesticks, Coventry Cathedral, by Hans Coper, Image courtesy of Julian Osley – CC BY-SA 2.0

ADDITIONAL WORKS:

Bernard Leach, Thrown Bowl,, 1973 Provided by York Museum https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

Bernard Leach Studio St Ives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Henry Moore, Three Way Piece No. 2 ( The Archer), 1964-65 On display in front of Toronto City Hall since 1966 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/sa/1.0/

Henry Moore, Large Reclining Figure 1982 (LH 192b), fibreglass. As of 2004 sited outside the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. On loan from the Henry Moore Foundation. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Brâncuși's Paris studio, 1920, Photograph by Edward Steichen, Public Domain

Constantin_Brancusi, The Kiss, 1907-08, Public Domaiin

PHOTOGRAPHS: Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion Mews, 1950s Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation Image Courtesy of the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham

Lucie Rie and Hans Coper in front of Albion (B&W) Mews, early 1950s Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, 1959-69 (in vehicle) Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, Albion Mews, c.1956 Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

Hans Coper, Albion Mews, c.1967 Photograph by Jane Coper © Estate of Jane Coper /The Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation

"Lucie Rie / Hans Coper: Life at the Wheel’ will be at Offer Waterman in London from 18 September - 31 October 2026.

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