Hanz Coper

Hanz Coper was a German-born British studio potter who worked during the later half of the 20th century. Coper is known for creating vessels that were wheel-thrown, then altered to create very simple, minimalistic forms.

Coper prefered very neutral colored and rough surfaces on his pieces. He is well-known for using Manganese oxides in his glazes, the mishandling of which many believe was directly responsible for his death from heavy-metal poisoning.

I've been told on several occasions that my own pottery is reminiscent of Coper's work, which is what led me to look at his work in more depth. We both follow similar processes in creating our work and share a love for stark minimalism. I however handle toxic materials with a bit more care, so hopefully I will not share his ultimate fate.