Decorative Art

Jean (1913-92) and Jacqueline (1920- 2009) Lérat were artist ceramicists based in central France.

The collection of the original Troika moulds, referenced in ATG No 2564, failed to find a buyer in our monthly auction in October.

An old family collection of Martin Brothers stonewares, assembled with purchases from the Southall potters in the late 19th and early 20th century, was offered in Cambridgeshire.

A fine First World War silver presentation model of the Vickers FB5 or Gunbus made by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company (London 1916) was sold together with two related photographs plus a copied letter of provenance at Dominic Winter (20% buyer’s premium).

In collecting terms it is not surprising that a country such as Australia should have a tradition of interest in English ceramics – factories such as Royal Doulton and Moorcroft have a noticeable following.

Shelley first introduced the geometric Vogue and Mode shapes in 1930 – both the designs of Eric Slater who had worked at the factory since the end of the First World War.

The Birmingham silversmithing firm of Hukin & Heath received the approval of the progressive (if slightly pompous) writers of The Furniture Gazette when it signed a big name to produce some of its designs in 1878.

A pottery has stood in the Welsh village of Ewenny for five centuries but, with a few exceptions, the collecting market does tend to focus on the decorative slipwares produced under the influence of the Arts & Crafts movement.

Dealer Damon Revans-Turner of RTS Antiques in Liverpool has put a name and story to a rare Staffordshire figure that has hitherto evaded attribution.

An Arts & Crafts goblet soared over estimate last week to land in the stock of dealer Anthony Bernbaum of The Peartree Collection, who recognised it as the work of John Paul Cooper (1869-1933).

The most desirable of the varied wares produced by the small ceramics factory established by Vilmos Zsolnay (1828-1900) in the south-west Hungarian town of Pecs are those created after the 1890s.

Lalique glass and Travel & Vintage Posters (conducted in partnership with specialist firm Tomkinson Churcher) were offered at a recent Lyon & Turnbull (26% buyer’s premium) auction at the Mall Galleries.

British Modernist designer’s inter-war plywood creations are now seen as pioneering works

Walter Crane (1845-1915) designed seven red lustre vases for the Shropshire tile makers Maw & Co of Jackfield in 1889.

A record for Beswick pottery was set in Stoke-on-Trent this month when a rare variant of one of the factory’s best-known models sold for a five-figure sum.

Wedgwood design was made from clay found when the First Fleet landed in Australia.

Sixteenth century single folio manuscript displays orgiastic spree in graphic detail