The Aardvark Blog

The wonder of Phil Rogers, Exciting Presteigne Festival, New sale items every day
27/07/2025

As the year moves on I am getting more and more excited about our forthcoming exhibition of the work of Phil Rogers - 'Phil Rogers the Possession of Wonder'. As I may have written before, the title is a contraction of a quote from Anais Nin in which she emphasizes that because one knows how something is achieved, does not remove our sense of wonder and mystery. 

Yesterday I was discussing Phil with another potter who had come into the shop and he was agreeing that Phil was amongst the most generous of potters, and his Ash  Glazes book in particular was a great gift to generations of potters including him. Sometimes when I look at his glazes, particularly his extraordinary green ash glazes, I am struck by how extraordinarily skillful he was, and how much variation there is in the colours that he achieved. I particularly like the way in which the glazes thicken towards the bottom of his bowls, creating a seeming glass ocean into which I can't help but stare.

Many of the works will be for sale, and so there will be an opportunity to take one of his masterpieces home with you. Also available will be copies of the new edition of the Ash Glazes book. A suitable memorial for a once in a generation talent.

But before H.Art we have the small matter of the Presteigne Festival, and I am more than delighted that the festival is honouring our beloved late customer Barry Gavin with both a talk and a concert. We will certainly be present for both, and the talk/discussion, is being chaired by another friend of the bookshop Michael Berkeley, who is apparently writing his memoir as I write this. I cannot be the only person who is planning to demand a copy of this for Christmas 2026, as I know from talking to Michael over the years that there will be a cornucopia of stories - all related with his customary charm.

Finally every day I am adding items to our sale, as customers take a way piles of amazing bargains. Help us reduce the ever growing book mountain that is Aardvark Books, by purchasing the best value items you will find in any shop. Numerous books on Art, Interiors, Sothebys and Christies Cats, books on birds, war and much more. Sale ends on the 17th of August so there are only a few weeks left.