Jiri Duchek was born in Prague and, after studying ceramics for a time, worked in a production pottery. But by the late 1990’s he had quit his job and moved his family to the village of Mutejovice, about 60 kms west of Prague.

Largely self-taught, Duchek finds inspiration in the classic ceramics of East Asia, especially those of China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. There is a purity in his practice that is sparked by the elegant and refined Asian forms and glazes.

Duchek digs and collects his own clays and minerals from his forested property. This bowl was made from a mixture of two clays which were then wood-fired in reduction with his own celadon glaze.

And while Duchek refers to this as a bowl, it is small compared to Japanese tea bowls, and is more like examples from the Song dynasty. It was quite thinly thrown, and the delicate coating of celadon is covered in a very fine crazing. All together, Duchek’s proportions are perfect.

New from the artist’s studio.