Isaac Button, the last true English Country potter - 44 minutes Video

[lakesidepottery]

See video, story and how the studio looks like now: Isaac Button, Soil Hill Pottery, Halifax, England | Biography & video (44 minutes)

We (Patty and Morty) were riveted by this 44 minute video that documents the dexterity of Isaac Button, a country potter, and we wanted to pass this piece of history along. Isaac Button retired in 1965 just a few months after the last segment of the movie was filmed. He died in 1969 -- one of the last masters of this difficult craft. If you are an aspiring or accomplished potter, a teacher of art and crafts or interested in history of ceramics - this movie is a "must see".

Mr. Isaac Button was a one of the last true if not thee last true English Country Potters and he was renowned for making a ton of clay pots in any 1 day. In fact, he was once timed from throwing the lump of clay onto the potters wheel, producing an excellent pot and then cutting it off using a wire cutter which in total took him 22 seconds. This would translate into 120 pots in any 1 hour and up to 1200 in any 1 day.
By 1900 England had only around 100 country potteries and sadly by the end of the depression no more than a dozen. At Soil Hill there has been a pottery facility since the 17th century and before the first world war this pottery shop employed 13 men. As time passed, Mr Button ended up working the pottery business on his own becauseo he could not find anyone to take an apprenticeship with him. He passed 18 years on his own.

Note: The hope you like the Beatles music sound track we have added to this silent movie

For the full story and more details: Isaac Button, Soil Hill Pottery, Halifax, England | Biography & video (44 minutes)

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