Mudbilly Lustre Pottery
by Steve Allen

Steve Allen Click here to email me
I am a master potter who has been developing my skills and creative techniques over a number of years. I have also taught extensively and exhibited in the Illawarra. I have a extensive knowledge of both classical Oriental and Persian techniques, especially. After many years of work in the Oriental tradition, I have chosen a different direction. My latest path is in the Persian style of smoke reduced lustre.

Among those with whom I have worked, have been Robert Hawkins, Beryl Ryan, Bill Samuels, Shigeo Shiga and Lawrence Mearing, with whom he has jointly exhibited. I recount my special involvement with Alan Caiger-Smith, Alan Peascod and Robert Reid. I naturally acknowledge the influence of Peter Rushforth, whose friendship and influence is dear to me coming to me from Peter's influence on so many of my teachers who are now significant potters.

In following a new direction I am working in the style and technique of that of the master Islamic potters, who found such favour with the early rulers of the Ottoman Empire, especially Suleyman the Magnificent. That direction is into the world of smoke reduced lustre. I have been a student of Alan Peascod who, himself, had studied and worked with Alan Caiger-Smith. Alan has done so much to bring smoke reduced lustre into the main stream of modern ceramic art.

In Lustre Pottery A.Caiger-Smith writes ..."The technique of lustre has been the inspiration for some of the most beautiful pottery in the world. ... The potter's quest has been to produce wares possessing the qualities of gold and having strong links with alchemists"

“Judge the art of a country, judge the fineness of its sensibility, by its pottery; it is a sure touchstone. Pottery is pure art; it is art freed from any imitative intention.”

"Pottery is at once the simplest and the most difficult of all arts. It is the simplest because it is the most elemental; it is the most difficult because it is the most abstract."

... Herbert Read.