Harry Memmott

Harry Memmott (1921-1991) was an Australian ceramic pottery artist.

Early life Harry Attridge Memmott was born in Brisbane, Queensland in 1921, the son of Harry Memmott, a bootmaker and his wife Amy Sandison. He spent his childhood in Annerley. His grandfather, J.T. Sandison, who had trained at Bendigo Pottery, owned a pottery works in Annerley and in addition to the kilns, they had a rich supply of local clay. Sandison was known for his speed of throwing and large pots, with most of his work in the creation of pots for gardens. He completed a Fine Art course at the East Sydney Technical College alongside John Rigby, Margaret Cilento and Margaret Olley. Mass production of pots overseas closed most of the commercial Brisbane pottery firms in the early 1950s. In the mid-1950s, Memmott took over a section of the works and produced studio pottery and a range of souvenir wares for commercial markets, featuring Aboriginal designs and other works designed for the holiday souvenir market, fired in an electric kiln. His wife took over the studio pottery business.

In 1970 Memmott published The Australian Pottery Book - a way with clay: the comprehensive guide to pottery. He returned to Brisbane in 1977, and continued to work as a potter until 1985. He died in 1991.

Legacy The Sandison Pottery site was sold and a housing estate known as Potter's Place was proposed for the area to honour its legacy. Memmott's pieces are marked with 'Harry Memmott' on their base and are sought after by collectors and galleries.