author

George James Cox

1884–1946

A skilled potter, sculptor, and teacher, he wrote a practical 1914 guide that helped bring studio pottery techniques within reach of artists, craftspeople, and students. His work sits at the meeting point of art, craft, and hands-on instruction.

1 Audiobook

Pottery, for Artists, Craftsmen & Teachers

Pottery, for Artists, Craftsmen & Teachers

by George James Cox

About the author

Born in 1884, George James Cox is best known today for Pottery, for Artists, Craftsmen & Teachers, first published in 1914. In the book, he described himself as an instructor in pottery and modelling at Teachers College, Columbia University, and the volume was illustrated by the author himself.

The book was written in a clear, practical spirit. Rather than treating pottery as something mysterious or purely technical, he explained tools, forming methods, moulds, throwing, and other workshop processes for learners and practicing craftspeople. That straightforward teaching style is a big part of why the book has remained of interest long after its original publication.

Some modern catalog and bookselling sources describe Cox as an American engraver, ceramist, and sculptor. While not every detail of his wider career is easy to confirm from readily available sources, his surviving work as an author and instructor shows a maker deeply committed to craftsmanship and to passing useful knowledge on to others.