Two Sculptures
Ruth Duckworth is best known as a modernist sculptor who worked in stoneware and porcelain, creating hand-built, minimalist, abstract organic forms.
Duckworth created a place for clay as a sculptural medium at a time when it was not a widely accepted. As her career developed her work became increasingly minimal. She is most well-known for the ultra-smooth, unglazed, white porcelain surfaces of her work; however, she occasionally added stains of ceramic oxides. Later in her life she began to cast forms in bronze.
In 1936, at the age of 16, Duckworth, barred with all Jews from attending university, left Germany for Liverpool, England. In England she moved through many jobs gaining a myriad of experiences. She carved wooden puppet heads, grave stone, and made molds for Lucie Rie?s ceramic button business.
At Rie?s studio, Duckworth met ceramist Hans Coper who was also involved with making buttons. She met sculptors Jacob Epstein and Henry Moore who encouraged her work. By the 1950s Duckworth was working in lead and bronze, welded and cast, as well as in wood.
Other works by Duckworth
Duckworth in other collections
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These records have been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced.
Last updated: April 22, 2026
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