Margaret Milne

Margaret Milne (née Quigley, 21 May 1917 – 16 February 2005) was a New Zealand potter.

Early life and family

She was born in New Zealand in 1917.[1] In 1936 she married electrical engineer Mitchell "Mick" Milne in the Auckland suburb of Parnell.[2][3]

Pottery career

Taught by potter Patricia Perrin, Milne began pottery making at the age of 40. She worked largely with earthenware, stoneware and the Japanese Raku technique.[4]

In an interview with Doreen Blumhardt and Brian Brake, Milne said, “I feel I’m one who simply drifted into a potter’s world, without any aim or direction, other than a general interest in craft work...I believe strongly in technique, because of the disciplines necessary for competent craftsmanship, but I just can’t work to a set plan or design. Only to an idea.”[5]

In the 1960s, she formed Waterford Potters with Guy and Jocelyn Mountain, establishing a studio in Remuera in the 1970s. Milne was also an early member of 12 Potters, an Auckland-based pottery co-operative.[4]

She spent some time working and travelling in Japan and maintained a close relationship with Japanese potter Takeichi Kawai.[5]

She has exhibited with the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and The Group.[1]

Further sources

• Cathy Kenkel, Margaret Milne: Two Hands, Craft New Zealand 41, Spring 1992

References

1. "Milne, Margaret". Find NZ Artists. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
2. "Weddings: Milne–Quigley". New Zealand Herald. 13 August 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
3. "Centenarian's electrifying career". Central Leader. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
4. Baskett, Pat (25 February 2005). "Obituary: Potter pioneer in her craft'". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
5. Blumhardt, Doreen; Brake, Brian (1976). New Zealand Potters: Their Work and Words. Auckland: A.H. & A.W. Reed. pp. 89–97. ISBN 0589009532. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014.