Richards, Anthony
 

Anthony Richards, 2001

Anthony Richards, born in Richmond, Surrey in 1924, moved to Cornwall in 1949. He had studied art at Kingston Art School and had developed an interest in pottery. He worked at Lamorna Pottery with Bill Pickard for a while, where he learned to throw and started Penzance Pottery in 1951. He met Christiane, an accomplished decorator, who had recently come to England from her native France in 1954 and married her in 1957.

In 1955 he opened Arch Pottery in Hicks Court, off The Digey in St Ives and in 1960 Christiane set up Cellar Pottery in nearby Island Square.

After eleven years at The Digey Anthony closed Arch Pottery and he and Christiane moved to Cripplesease on the Penzance Road and set up Penderleath Pottery. At Penderleath Pottery Anthony and Christiane were often hosts to the other potters from the St Ives and Penzance areas and the parties at the Engine Inn, across the road from the pottery, are still spoken of.

In 1980 Anthony and Christiane moved to Cockwells, just down from White Cross on the Hayle to Penzance road, and established Countrylane Pottery at No 1, Front Row Cottages. Today they have settled to a routine similar to the one they enjoyed forty years ago in St Ives. Anthony doesn't do so much throwing now, but Christiane decorates terracotta pots glazed and fired by Anthony.

Countrylane Pottery
 

Countrylane Pottery was set up by Anthony Richards when he sold Penderleath Pottery.

For many years Anthony threw earthenware pots, usually brush decorated. Nowadays he seldom throws, but fires bowls, plates and planters that are decorated by his wife, Christiane. The work is very similar to what they produced in the 1960s when Anthony ran Arch Pottery and Christiane the Cellar Pottery. He uses a 20 cu ft electric kiln.