Bernard Rooke bottle
Bernard Rooke butterfly vase
Bernard Rooke butterfly vase (mark)
Bernard Rooke chunky vase
Bernard Rooke chunky vase (base)
Bernard Rooke frog lamp
Bernard Rooke frog lamp (detail)
Bernard Rooke frog lamp (label)
Bernard Rooke frog vase
Bernard Rooke frog vase (mark)
Bernard Rooke holey pot
Bernard Rooke holey pot (mark)
Bernard Rooke lamp
Bernard Rooke lamp (mark)
Bernard Rooke pot
Bernard Rooke pot (mark)
Bernard Rooke wheel lamp
Early Rooke lamp base
Early Rooke table lamp
Early Rooke vase
Glazed Rooke lamp base
Glazed Rooke lamp base (mark)
Heavy Bernard Rooke lamp
Heavy Bernard Rooke lamp (mark)
Large Rooke bowl
Large Rooke bowl (mark)
Large Rooke lamp
Large Rooke lamp (back)
Medium Rooke cylinder
Modern Rooke vase
Modern Rooke vase (mark)
One-piece Rooke lamp base
Rooke 6-section lamp base
Rooke 8-section lamp base
Rooke 8-section lamp base (mark)
Rooke blue striped pot
Rooke blue striped pot (back)
Rooke bottle vase
Rooke bowl
Rooke bowl (mark)
Rooke cylinder vase
Rooke cylinder vase (mark)
Rooke dragonfly vase
Rooke dragonfly vase (mark)
Rooke frog
Rooke frog (mark)
Rooke globe pot
Rooke globe pot (mark)
Rooke globe vase
Rooke globe vase (mark)
Rooke lamp
Rooke lamp (lit)
Rooke lamp (mark)
Rooke lamp base
Rooke lamp base (mark)
Rooke lugged vase
Rooke lugged vase (mark)
Rooke moth vase
Rooke musician bowl
Round Rooke vase
Round squat Rooke pot
Round squat Rooke pot (mark)
Small Rooke lamp base
Small Rooke lamp base (mark)
Small Rooke pot
Small Rooke pot (mark)
Squat Rooke vase
Squat Rooke vase (mark)
Toroidal Rooke bottle
Toroidal Rooke bottle (mark)
Wood-clad Rooke lamp

Bernard Rooke

Bernard Rooke painting

Bernard Rooke
painting

Bernard Rooke was born in 1938. He studied at the Ipswich School of Art before moving on to the Goldsmiths' College, London. It was here, in his last year, that he decided to take up pottery.

In 1960 he set up his own workshop in Forest Hill, London, sharing the premises with Alan Wallwork. Progressive designs were readily accepted in London at that time, and Rooke applied his efforts to making pieces of a sculptural nature. To supplement his income during this period he lectured at London University and at Goldsmiths' College.

Bernard Rooke

Bernard Rooke

The early pieces were mainly fashioned by hand using coils and blocks. Rooke found that whereas a work might not find a market as a piece of sculpture, if made into a lamp base it was more readily acceptable to the public. The lamp bases were, indeed, popular and have proved a mainstay until the present day.

Rooke's philosophy is that he needs to make two types pottery; that which is easily produced and will find a ready commercial market, and that which exercises his artistic talents to the full. Both are necessary for each other - one providing the independence for the other to survive and one providing designs for the other to continue.

Aaron Rooke

Aaron Rooke

In 1963 the pottery moved to larger premises in Greenwich, but ever in need of more space, Bernard moved to Swilland, near Ipswich, Suffolk in 1967, to a huge mill building.

Bernard's son, Aaron, manages production at the pottery now, leaving Bernard to divide his time between potting, painting, making digital photo-collages, and making music. You can visit the Bernard Rooke web site at http://www.bernard-rooke.co.uk/



 
You can buy this book on line
North America
 
North America
Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks - Choose your bookseller Europe
 
Europe
Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks by Geoffrey A. Godden

Please support our sponsors and help offset the cost of maintaining this site by clicking on the banner links.

Leauger elephant