Wheel Workshops (Tauranga Only)
The Pottery Studio is offering a unique opportunity to enjoy the use of kick wheel using the famous Leach wheels and we have 6 of them! perhaps more than anyone else in New Zealand. Most now will be using electric wheels but our aim is to take you back on a journey to the true artists of pottery. Make no mistake this is a rare opportunity.
How They will Work
We are having 2 set workshops per week not always on the same evening. (Tauranga Only)
The workshops will consist of up to 8 people maximum and you will be able to attend as an individual. As a group you can also attend these set times workshops although as a party with a min of 4 you can book these at any time day or night 7 days a week. Prices are different for wheel parties.
Prices for Individuals for the set times is $75 per person.
For the private wheel parties 4 persons $95 per person, 5 persons $90 per person, 6 person $85 per person, 7 persons $80 per person, and the full 8 persons $75 per person. Private parties can be booked for any time
A Little History of the leach Wheel
The Leach Wheel is the famous famous pottery wheel used by thousands of potters throughout the world. Bernard Leach himself was born in Hong Kong and his own work has a huge influence from countries such as Japan, Korea and China. You can still visit the leach Studio in St Ives Cornwall where he set the studio up in 1920 with other people. Lots more information on Wikipedia.
Originally designed by Dicon Nance it was then improved by Bernards son David, with his grandson Simon Leach still a renowned studio potter and teacher of pottery. He uses and actively promotes the Leach treadle wheel design in his work to this day.
The design and license to build the leach wheel was obtained by Seaboard Joinery during the 60s so they were made in New Zealand from that time. At the time they could only be purchased through them. The company was certainly around till 2016 but stopped making the wheels in the early 1970s due to a reclassification to a machine.
The Leach Wheel is now difficult to to find so we are so thrilled to be able to offer these and the wonderful cowley wheels in our Tauranga studio.