Letter: A potter's legacy

Letter: A potter's legacy

Sir: The name of the potter Bernard Leach is renowned throughout the world. He lived for a long period in Japan; in 1920 he returned to the UK and started Leach pottery at St Ives. After the Second World War he made standard ware in stoneware of excellent design and made individual pieces in stoneware and porcelain. He wrote A Potter's Book, which was translated into several languages.

In the Fifties he married his third wife, Janet. Janet Leach died last year. Her collection of pots and artifacts will be offered in a major sale at Bonhams, auctioneers, of London, in three sales taking place in one day on 16 September.

It is vital that important pots made by Bernard Leach and documents and books owned by him should stay in the public domain and not be bought by private collectors or museums abroad unless they are scrutinised by people who are competent to judge.

HENRY W ROTHSCHILD

Cambridge