Auction alert: Troika

TROIKA AZTEC DOUBLE SIDED FACE MASK

An online studio pottery auction is currently underway. The sale, Troika subtitled, “A remarkable single-owner collection of Troika Pottery”, ends on 23rd July 2023 at 6pm.

We’ve covered Troika on our blog in the past, we’re longstanding fans of the pottery. This sale includes many rare and special pieces (such as the Aztec face masks) by artists such as Alison Brigden, Penny Black and Avril Bennet. There are 47 lots in total, we’ve highlighted just a few of them below.

Absentee and live bids can be placed via the Elstob & Elstob website at no additional charge. However, there’s a buyer’s premium of 25% (ex. VAT).

Elstob & Elstob’s sales are also available to bid on via the following online platforms (please note the additional charges on top of the buyer’s premium):

PENNY BLACK FOR TROIKA POTTERY, AN AZTEC DOUBLE SIDED FACE MASK

Lot 2004: PENNY BLACK FOR TROIKA POTTERY, AN AZTEC DOUBLE SIDED FACE MASK

Decorated in shades of brown, blue, white and green, painted mark. 25.5cm high, 19cm wide. Tiny fleck of paint loss but in otherwise good condition without chips, cracks or restoration.
Estimate: £300 – £400

TROIKA POTTERY DRUM BOWL

Lot 2009: A TROIKA POTTERY DRUM BOWL

Decorated with a geometric pattern in shades of blue and brown, painted marks. 16cm diameter. No chips, cracks or restoration. In very good condition.
Estimate: £40 – £60

ALISON BRIGDEN FOR TROIKA, A CORNISH TIN MINE LAMP BASE

Lot 2029: ALISON BRIGDEN FOR TROIKA, A CORNISH TIN MINE LAMP BASE

Decorated with a green, blue and brown glaze, painted marks. 21cm high. No chips, cracks or restoration. In excellent condition.
Estimate: £300 – £500

ALISON BRIGDEN FOR TROIKA POTTERY, A CHIMNEY VASE

Lot 2034: ALISON BRIGDEN FOR TROIKA POTTERY, A CHIMNEY VASE

Decorated in shades of blue and brown, painted marks. 19cm high. No chips, cracks or restoration. In excellent condition.
Estimate: £150 – £250

Pair of Troika ashtrays

Lot 2035: TWO TROIKA POTTERY ASHTRAYS

The first white-glazed by Anne Lewis, the second brown-glazed by Avril Bennett. (2) 12cm square. No chips, cracks or restoration. In excellent condition.
Estimate: £100 – £150

TROIKA AZTEC DOUBLE SIDED FACE MASK

Lot 2040: A TROIKA AZTEC DOUBLE SIDED FACE MASK

Decorator’s mark indistinct (possibly Annette Walters), decorated in shades of blue, green, brown and white, painted marks. 25.5cm high, 19cm wide. No chips, cracks or restoration. In excellent condition.
Estimate: £300 – £400

ANNE JONES FOR TROIKA POTTERY, A LARGE FOOTED CUBE PLANTER

Lot 2043: ANNE JONES FOR TROIKA POTTERY, A LARGE FOOTED CUBE PLANTER

Decorated in shades of blue, brown and white, painted marks. 17.5cm high, 14cm wide. No chips, cracks or restoration. In excellent condition.
Estimate: £100 – £150

Auction alert: British & continental paintings – to include Bernard Rooke sculptures

framed three dimensional ceramic and canvas contemporary sculpture by Bernard Rooke

A sale of British & continental paintings – to include Bernard Rooke sculptures is being held on Friday 26th May 2023, from 10am.

The sale is being run by Stacey’s Auctioneers & Valuers who are based at the Essex Auction Rooms in Rayleigh. However, this event will be held at Baddow Antique Centre, The Bringey, Great Baddow, Chelmsford CM2 7JW.

251 lots will be going under the hammer,  26 of which are works by Bernard Rooke. We have history with Bernard Rooke, we own a stunning floor lamp by him (very similar to lot #218) – for which we’ve been trying to source an original lampshade. If you have one knocking about in a loft or basement, please let us know! If you’re wondering what one looks like, have a look below at lot #223.

The buyer’s premium applied to these lots is 25% including VAT. You can leave bids via the Stacey’s website or you can bid live either on The Saleroom or EasyLiveAuction websites – added fees will be charged for the live bidding services.

If you are the winning bidder on any items, Stacey’s recommend the following shipping companies:

framed three dimensional ceramic and canvas contemporary sculpture by Bernard Rooke

Lot 201: A framed three dimensional ceramic and canvas contemporary sculpture by Bernard Rooke

With raised earthenware fragments on a white ground in a pine frame. 89 x 74cm
Estimate: £200 – £300

framed contemporary three dimensional moulded and painted picture by Bernard Rooke

Lot 205: A framed contemporary three dimensional moulded and painted picture by Bernard Rooke

Signed lower right in pencil. 89 x 70cm
Estimate: £150 – £200

large floor standing contemporary ceramic floor standing lamp sculpture by Bernard Rooke

Lot 218: A large floor standing contemporary ceramic floor standing lamp sculpture by Bernard Rooke

Height, not including light fitting and shade, 118cm
Estimate: £300 – £500

contemporary ceramic lamp by Bernard Rooke with a black shade

Lot 219: A contemporary ceramic lamp by Bernard Rooke with a black shade

Height, including shade, 46cm
Estimate: £100 – £150

contemporary ceramic lamp, decorated with moulded butterfly and moth and with foliage

Lot 220: A contemporary ceramic lamp, decorated with moulded butterfly and moth and with foliage

With an internal light by Bernard Rooke. Height, 32cm
Estimate: £100 – £150

contemporary ceramic lamp with raised insects by Bernard Rooke with shade

Lot 223: A contemporary ceramic lamp with raised insects by Bernard Rooke with shade

Height, including shade, 67cm
Estimate: £60 – £100

Auction Alert: Country House Attic Sale

A 'God Speed the Plough' earthenware loving cup etc

The Country House Attic Sale (part of the larger Antique and Collectors Sale) is being held by Mellors & Kirk on Thursday 16th March 2023 from 10am. It consists of 99 interesting lots of mainly antique earthenware and transferware.

We have a very small collection of antique creamware, mainly consisting of a few transfer printed nursery mugs and a trio of graduated blue & white meat plates. I’d love to grow our collection – and this sale is a great opportunity to do just that.

It’s a shame that the auction house doesn’t organise postage – however, they recommend a number of companies that offer the service.

Buyers are charged a premium of 24% (plus VAT) in addition to the hammer price. Subject to a minimum charge of £6 per lot plus VAT

Live bidding platforms attract additional costs as detailed below:
mellorsandkirk.com – 1.5% (plus VAT)
Easyliveauction.com – 3% (plus VAT) on the hammer price of all lots purchased, or a flat fee of £3.00 is taken by Easyliveauction. Note: This fee will be taken regardless of whether you bid on or purchase lots.
the-saleroom.com – 4.95% (plus VAT)

A pearl ware baluster jug, possibly Leeds et al

Lot 1105: A pearl ware baluster jug, possibly Leeds, c. 1800
Printed in puce with verse on commerce, strap handle, 14.5cm h, eleven later 19th century earthenwares, transfer-printed with scenes and maxims of agriculture and commerce, comprising a loving cup, mugs and jugs, the largest 20cm high, (12). Pearl ware example with restored spout, some crazing, otherwise good general condition with wear. Others in mixed condition and not individually examined, some wear and light repairs.
Estimate £30 – £50

Miscellaneous ceramics Including a quantity of Spode's

Lot 1107: Miscellaneous ceramics
Including a quantity of Spode’s Italian pattern table ware, etc.
Estimate £40 – £60

A collection of 19th c blue and white transfer-printed wares

Lot 1117: A collection of 19th century blue and white transfer-printed wares
Including a John Meir & Son Korea pattern ash bowl, 32cm diam, a drainer, 38cm w, further bowls, plates, sauce tureens, mugs and other vessels, etc., (approx. 20). Meir & Son bowl cracked. Drainer with riveted repair. The other pieces in mixed condition, not having been examined individually, crazed – at times discoloured, slight wear, occasional chips, etc.
Estimate £30 – £50

Two boxes of 19th c transfer-printed earthenware

Lot 1121: Two boxes of 19th century transfer-printed earthenware
Occasional bone china, comprising jugs, children’s and other mugs and cups, some with didactic messages, Chinese Tree pattern dinner and dessert plates, etc. Mixed condition. Though each piece has not been examined individually, each has expected wear, etc. Some are also crazed, cracked, &/or repaired.
Estimate £30 – £40

A collection of 29 Delft tiles, 18th c and later

Lot 1123: A collection of 29 Delft tiles, 18th century and later
Principally Dutch, including biblical narratives and figural tableaux, painted in underglaze blue or manganese, some framed as groups, mixed sizes. Mixed condition. Some repaired as clearly seen in images. Further surface wear as expected, etc.
Estimate £150 – £200

A collection of 19th century earthenware

Lot 1124: A collection of 19th century earthenware
Including nursery plates, children’s cups and mugs, advertising and colour-printed Victorian pot lids, novelties, agricultural interest, etc., (approx. 20). Mixed condition, some wear, losses, and/or occasional repairs. Please note each piece has not been individually examined.
Estimate £30 – £50

Three mid-19th c earthenware mugs etc

Lot 1126: Three mid-19th century earthenware mugs
Monochrome printed and picked-out in polychrome enamels with railway locomotives, the largest 10cm h, a Staffordshire lustre Bacchus jug, 19th century, 12.5cm h, further earthenware, including mocha and banded wares, an Edge, Malkin, & Co blue and white mug, another, similar, in black, etc., (15). Each of the train mugs with various portions of restoration, one of which is also profoundly cracked, etc. Bacchus jug with discoloured crazing and chipped. Mocha ware with faults. Edge, Malkin, & Co mug cracked and crazed, the handle restored. Further examples not individually examined but all with faults or wear.
Estimate £30 – £50

A Sunderland lustre jug, early-mid 19th c

Lot 1128: A Sunderland lustre jug, early-mid 19th century
Printed with a named-view of the Iron Bridge Wermouth/Sunderland, verse to verso, 18cm h, a similar tub, later, dated 1859 within the print, 14cm w, a Crimean War commemorative plaque, mid-19th century, a Industry Produceth Wealth jug, 14cm h, etc., (12). The jug with faults, multiple cracks, discoloured crazing, chip, etc. The tub chipped, crazed and discoloured, further wear. Crimean plaque with extensive riveted repair. Industry jug generally good with some wear. Further pieces not examined individually, but with surface wear, stains, and/or crazing, etc.
Estimate £30 – £50

A pair of Burgess & Leigh Asiatic Pheasant pattern meat dishes etc

Lot 1132: A pair of Burgess & Leigh Asiatic Pheasant pattern meat dishes
A quantity of Spode’s Italian blue and white dinner ware, etc
Estimate £40 – £60

A 'God Speed the Plough' earthenware loving cup etc

Lot 1152: A ‘God Speed the Plough’ earthenware loving cup, mid-19th century
Transfer-printed in black, 12cm h, five other earthenware loving cups, principally Staffordshire, including three frog examples, plus three further frog mugs, (9). The God Speed the Plough cup with a repaired handle, crazed and unevenly printed. The large blue and white example with restored handles and base, chipped, with further portions of restoration. The others with similar wear. The three frog mugs in various condition, cracked, crazed and worn.
Estimate £30 – £50

Designer Desire: John Ward

Montage of John Ward ceramic pots

 

Born in Islington in London, John Ward (b. 1938) embarked on his career by attending a part-time course in ceramics at East Ham Technical College whilst he worked as a BBC cameraman. He then went on to attend Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts from 1966 to 1970.

During the 1970s he had two workshops in South East London, one in Anerley and the other in Charlton. In 1979, he moved to Dyfed in Wales, living at the foot of the Preseli Hills, just a few miles from the coast.

Being near to the sea has had an effect on the decoration I use reflecting the movement of water and the dips and folds of the strata revealed on the cliff faces. This in turn affects the development of the form, they evolve together.

John Ward was inspired by ancient pre-glaze pottery found in China, Egypt, Persia and the Cyclades. To create his signature matt finish, Ward’s pieces are scrapped and burnished with a pebble. Finally, Ward only uses matt glazes, with most of his pots twice-fired in an electric kiln. Ward’s hand-built pots have earned him a place as one of Britain’s foremost potters.

…the apparently contrasting qualities of drama and quiet reflection, is one of the most engaging aspects of his work. This sense of balance, of the tension between pushing and pulling, light and shade, movement and rest, makes Ward’s work distinctive, distinguished and intriguing. Emmanuel Cooper

Examples of his works can be found in the permanent collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and MoMA in New York. His wok can be purchased at auction or  1stDibs and Oxford Ceramics.

The Pottery of John Ward written by Emma Crichton-Miller and published in late 2022 is available via Amazon, Waterstones and WHSmith.

Portrait of John Ward, ceramicistcredit

Additional image credits:
Barnebys | Maac London