WattsOS
P
Pot
1975 · Stoneware
17 1/2 × 13 3/8 in. (44.5 × 34 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Hans Coper was a British ceramicist whose abstract clay forms redefined pottery as a fine art medium in the postwar period. Working primarily in stoneware and earthenware, he created vessels and sculptural objects characterized by stark geometric profiles, asymmetrical proportions, and a restrained surface vocabulary of incised lines and matte glazes. His practice rejected functional ceramics in favor of formal experimentation, establishing the potter as an autonomous artist rather than a craftsperson. Coper's influence on contemporary ceramic practice remains fundamental.
Source: Moma Bulk 2026 05 04 · Trust score: 92% · Updated 26d ago