09/09/2026
This 1970's piece has a history: It was a personal gift from Bernard Rooke to one of his dearest friends; the mother of a neighbouring family with children of similar ages. Made especially for her and is hand signed
Having spotted it on-line, I rushed down to Ipswich to get it on Monday, from the loveliest lady, selling on behalf of the family.
I just love the story, the brutalist form and its soft muted palette, so it's joining our collection of Rookes at home.
As you know, I'm obsessed with BR and had the privilege of interviewing him for the Suffolk Magazine earlier in the year.
Rooke was born in Ipswich in 1938 and studied at the Ipswich School of Art during the 1950s .
After Rooke had completed his studies at the Royal College of Art (1958–1960), he moved to Forest Hill, South London and established his first pottery workshop, sharing space with Alan Wallwork.
By 1963, he relocated again to Greenwich, moving to larger premises as his practice expanded.
In 1967, he returned to Suffolk, to a large mill building in Swilland. This became his main studio and gallery (the Bernard Rooke Gallery), where his family managed production .
Bernard is still living in Suffolk and his work is held in numerous public and private collections, including major institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum (UK), Cleveland Museum of Art (USA), Paisley Museum (Scotland), Röhsska Museum (Sweden), and Trondheim Kunstmuseum (Norway) .
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