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This May a selection of highlights from the collection, 40 ceramic works, will go on display in the museum with the full collection of nearly 80 works to be exhibited at the museum in later 2017.

Galerie Besson opened in the Royal Arcade in London in 1988 and was the first Bond Street gallery to show ceramics as fine art. The gallery quickly became an international point of reference for the greatest ceramic artists. A champion of contemporary ceramics, Anita Besson was known for her enthusiasm and energy as well as her excellent taste. She built her reputation on exhibiting only work that she loved, not work she felt she ought to show. Between 1988 and the gallery’s closure in 2011, Anita Besson showed more than 150 different artists in nearly 250 exhibitions, with many of the potters whose work she showed becoming close personal friends. Most of the works in her personal collection were made by these friends.

The bequest comprises 40 pieces by the significant studio ceramicist Lucie Rie who was awarded an OBE in 1968 and created Dame of the British Empire in 1990. Galerie Besson’s first exhibition in April 1988 was a solo show of Lucie Rie’s work and her work has continued to be the feature of many more prestigious exhibitions.

Another major international figure in 20th-century ceramics, Hans Coper, is represented in the bequest with 5 pieces. The rest of this exciting collection is made up of 9 pieces by Ian Godfrey, 4 by Ryoji Koie, 3 by Vladimir Tsivin, 3 by Shiro Tsujimura, 2 by Claudi Casanovas and 1 each from Bernard Dejonghe, Michael Cardew, William Staite Murray, Jacqueline Lerat, Ewen Henderson and Tatsuzo Shimaoka.

Andrew Renton, Keeper of Art, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, said, “We are delighted to be displaying this significant collection here in the museum and very grateful to the Derek Williams Trust for loaning this bequest to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum of Wales.  

This collection further enhances the work that is being done to promote contemporary ceramic practice in Wales and builds upon the growing reputation of National Museum Cardiff as a major venue for the presentation and interpretation of contemporary ceramics following on from previous exhibitions we’ve shown here.”

William Wilkins, Derek Williams Trust, said, “The Trust are honoured to have been chosen as the guardians and promoters of this great legacy of 20th century ceramics, the first bequest that has ever been made to the Trust . Anita Besson was hugely helpful in building up the trusts collection and she admired what we are doing. One of her particular interests was our emphasis on the importance of displaying all the work in our collection.”

National Museum Cardiff’s exhibition and activity programme has been supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Entry to the Museum is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales: National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Drefach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 

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For more information or images, please contact Lleucu Cooke, Communications Officer:

Tel: (029) 2057 3185 / Email: Lleucu.cooke@museumwales.ac.uk 

Web: www.museumwales.ac.uk

@museum_cardiff                       facebook.com/museumcardiff

Notes to Editors:

Amgueddfa Cymru’s collection

Amgueddfa Cymru holds one of the world’s major ceramics collections, both historic and contemporary, and including an outstanding collection of European porcelain from the 18th century. There is also a vast collection of pottery and porcelain from Swansea, Llanelli, Nantgarw as well as works by Pablo Picasso and many contemporary makers.