Primavera Gallery

Primavera was founded in 1945 by Henry Rothschild and first opened its doors at 149, Sloane Street, London. From the beginning British craft was sought out, including country potteries, basket makers and studio potters. During the 1940s Primavera stocked crafts such as Winchcombe and Crowan stoneware, tin-glaze from the Cole brothers’ Rye pottery, moving onto tableware in 1948 contributed by Lucie Rie. In 1948 Primavera brought in textiles, and by the mid 1950s was an artistic centre for fine textiles. Around the same time Primavera began stocking furniture, both bought-in, and exclusively designed for Primavera. 1953 saw the first exhibition at Primavera in Sloane Street, which was devoted to two continental potters. Subsequent exhibitions were diverse: toy making, ceramics, sculpture and even Sicilian cart carvings and Dutch pastry moulds. A folk art exhibition held in 1963 included artwork from Peru, Mexico, Crete, Italy, India, Russia and Africa.

Since 1959 Primavera has been based at 10 and 11 King’s Parade in Cambridge, UK opposite King’s College Chapel. Its Charles Lamb gallery on the first floor, once the home of Charles Lamb the essayist and poet, and overlooking King’s College Chapel, provides a pleasant setting to view artwork, furniture and scupture, much of which is designed especially for Primavera. Primavera continues to have a relationship with The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. In 1995 a special exhibition was held at the Museum, entitled “Primavera: Pioneering Craft and Design”, and in 2001 a joint exhibition was held between the Fitzwilliam and Primavera entitled “Ceramics and Glass”, showcasing the work of Alan Caiger-Smith and Peter Layton.The gallery now exhibits mainly British artists, jewellers and potters, including Lucie Rie and Bernard Leach, who both sold their work personally from 10 King's Parade, when it was the centre of the Society of Designer Craftsmen. This is why Rothschild moved the gallery from London to King's Parade, Cambridge.

Primavera is now owned by Jeremy Waller, who, since 1997 is also the owner of First Edition Translations Ltd, which has worked with Rebo Publishers to create the Gallery of Great Painters series which includes books on Rembrandt and Degas. Other books published through the company include “Art and Architecture: Musée D’Orsay”, “Interior Design Atlas” and “ The Grand Atelier: Pathways of Art in Europe”.

References

(1) Fisher, Sue. “Gallery with a difference”. Cambridgeshire Life July 2003. 94-96

(2) de Bruyne, John. “John de Bruyne’s entrepreneur’s view”. Cambridge News May 2007

(3) Greg, Andrew. “Primavera: Pioneering Craft and Design 1945-1995”. Newcastle Upon Tyne: Tyne and Wear Museums, 1995

(4) Hobday, Alan, and Loxston, Rob. “The Fitzwilliam and Primavera: Ceramics and Glass”. Somerset: Field Print and Graphics Ltd, 2001

(5) Crossley-Holland, Joan. “Contemporary Crafts”. British Art and Antique Year book 1985. 71-74

(6) Gartner, Peter J. “Art and Architecture: Musée d’Orsay”. Oldenburg, Germany: Barnes and Noble, 2001

(7) Cerver Francisco Asensio. “Interior Design Atlas”. Colgne: Konemann, 2000

(8) [http://www.anglianpotters.org.uk/eventads/primavera2005.php Anglian Potters]