Antiques Roadshow

I readily confess that books, especially reference books, are my private passion, especially those that are profusely illustrated with delicious colour images of spectacular objects of desire whilst at the same time crammed full of useful facts and other enlightening information. I have just finished consuming a veritable feast of one such book with the title of ‘Halima Cassell 25’, the number 25 relating to the years during which the artist’s wonderful creations have astounded and beguiled an ever growing following. Alongside the generous helping of high-quality images the contents also offer several fascinating and well researched in-depth essays that include her early inspirations as a young artist and the salient factors that fuelled the relentless impetus that has since propelled her to the present-day global acclaim and the status she rightly continues to enjoy.
 
In short ‘Halima Cassell 25’ is a sheer joy of a book waiting to be devoured by both long-time enthusiasts and those just discovering the talent of this gifted artist and is now a welcome addition to my albeit overburdened office bookcase.
 
That Halima Cassell is a gifted artist is simply stating the obvious whilst those who encounter her creations for the first time might be forgiven for finding it difficult in deciding whether she is a potter, a sculptor or simply a clever geometrician. In truth she is all three and so much more. What is undeniable is that she is a ‘prodigy’ the likes of which I personally have not seen before and evidenced by her masterworks that grace ‘knowing’ museums across the globe alongside important private collections.
 
My first encounter of the Cassell kind took place well over 15 years ago at an exhibition in our native Northwest of England - but just where presently alludes me. What I do remember were her fascinating terracotta forms deeply carved with uncanny precision alongside black examples that appeared to have dense body and texture akin to volcanic rock. Such a bowl can be seen illustrated on page 100 middle right and aptly titled ‘Lava’. Having followed her career in subsequent years the fertility of her imagination and sheer skill now transcends to the mediums of carved wood, sculpted and polished marble and cast bronze – several created on a truly grand scale. Soaring to 14ft in height head for pages 146-7 to see ‘Light Catcher’ in situ standing majestically upon a hillside surrounded by the stunning Lancashire countryside that is the ‘Forest of Bowland’. Carved in solid oak the sculpture offers a gently contorted form that suggests the resistance and effect of the high winds it needs to regularly defy. The splendid landmark was commissioned as a celebration of the 50 years since ‘Bowland’ was designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty.
 
Whatever the medium her works never fail to both intrigue and please me but as a ceramicist I must admit that it is her pottery in whatever colour that sets my pulse racing. Trying to recognise her influences is a big ask whilst I have from time to time recognised the occasional nod to her distant Mughal ancestors especially when reflecting upon her wall panels and fireplace surrounds, the rest is pure Halima. As an occasional lecturer on cruise ships, I found myself having dinner on a P&O liner beside one of her panels which I feel sure is that titled ‘Eclipse’ introduced in 2010 and found at the top of page 187 a totally mesmerising complex artwork with instant ‘Wow’ factor. Furthermore, and upon reflection this is presently the nearest I have come to dining with the lady herself albeit I did manage to devour her landmark book.
 
For me Halima Cassell remains the closest human phenomena to a veritable force of nature and as such may the force continue to be with her for many more years to come.