Auction alert: Harrisons Auction Rooms

Old enamel sign

Harrisons Auction Rooms is a family-run antique centre (with tea rooms) & auction house based in Thurnscoe, near Rotherham. Their next sale takes place on Sunday 20th February 2022 beginning at 10:30am and there are 793 lots.

Like most auction sales, there are lots of mixed, boxed lots that are just crying out to be rummaged through to uncover any hidden gems. If you’re in the area, physical viewing takes place on the Friday & Saturday before the auction date between 10am & 4pm.

Lots that caught my eye include two collections of vintage Hornsea Pottery; one Saffron and, the other two, Heirloom and Bronte. Hornsea is currently experiencing a renewed interest from vintage buyers and collectors.

Also, to go with the numerous home bars and carts that we’ve highlighted in this auction series, there are a few very affordable lots of vintage Wade Pottery wine & spirits barrels and glass soda siphons.

If you’re looking for a vintage teak side board, dining table or dressing table they have dozens available in this sale. My favourite item in this sale, though, is the slightly kitsch light in the shape of a television (lot 359)!

You can view the entire catalogue on the Easylive auction website. Once again, there are no detailed descriptions or dimensions given. Have a good look at the photos and take notice of the size of the item compared to its lot number label. Harrisons are happy to post items or prepare them for collection by a courier. Alternatively, you may collect in person.

Box Hornsea kitchen canisters & spice jars


Lot 14: Box Hornsea kitchen canisters & spice jars

Estimate: £15 – £25

3 Laundry boxes stamped Bentleys snowflakes, Hull

Lot 51: 3 Laundry boxes stamped Bentleys snowflakes, Hull
Estimate: £30 – £40

Tray wade gin whiskey barrels

Lot 55: Tray wade gin whiskey barrels
Estimate: £10 – £20

Soda syphons Britvic etc

Lot 116: Soda syphons Britvic etc
Estimate: £20 – £40

Large quantity of Hornsea dinner tea ware

Lot 120: Large quantity of Hornsea dinner tea ware
Estimate: £20 – £40

Quantity wade gin, rum barrels

Lot 195: Quantity wade gin, rum barrels
Estimate: £10 – £20

Rare vintage light in shape tv, working

Lot 359: Rare vintage light in shape tv, working
Estimate: £30 – £60

Old enamel sign

Lot 449: Old enamel sign
Estimate: £20 – £30

G-plan Fresco teak sideboard

Lot 461: G-plan Fresco teak sideboard
Estimate: £300 – £400

Ercol day bed

Lot 708: Ercol day bed
(blonde) (webbing A/F)
Estimate: £400 – £600

Ladderax

Lot 718: Ladderax
(inc spares) (one section is varnished)
Estimate: £100 – £150

Early 20th century dress makers dummy

Lot 740: Early 20th century dress makers dummy
Estimate: £60 – £80

Designer Desire: Jack Dadd

Montage of Jack Dadd ceramic designs

We’ve been buying & selling vintage pottery for at least a decade and a half; however, we never stop learning new things. It was only this week that we discovered that some of the vintage Hornsea Pottery mugs we’d previously attributed to John Clappison were actually the work of Jack Dadd.

Dadd was responsible for Hornsea’s newsprint Zoo (1975) and Zoodiac (1977) series of mugs (shown in the montage above). We have a couple of them still available for sale in our web shop.

He also created designs for Staffordshire Potteries including the lovely Zoo children’s breakfast set (top of montage).

I was going to write a couple of paragraphs about his background, but I’ve found the following extract taken from Dynamic Design: The British Pottery Industry 1940-1990 by Kathy Niblett.

Portrait of Jack Daddcredit

Additional image credits

Hornsea Aphrodite

Vintage Hornsea Aphrodite vase designed by John Clappison | H is for Home

We picked up this gorgeous piece of Hornsea Pottery this week.

Detail view of a vintage Hornsea Aphrodite vase designed by John Clappison | H is for Home

Aphrodite is her name and she was created by the amazing designer, John Clappison. It’s cast earthenware with a matt glaze. We love the pure, simple form of the vase – combined with the more intricate, stylised girl. The soft creamy white colour is lovely, too – and the way the relief decoration catches light or casts shadows.

Vintage Hornsea Aphrodite vase designed by John Clappison, lying no its side | H is for Home

It stands alone as a sculptural vase – or would also be perfect to display a small spray of pretty flowers.

Base view of a vintage Hornsea Aphrodite vase designed by John Clappison | H is for Home

It was originally produced by Hornsea in 1961 and came in 3 sizes. This one stands 10cm tall. The V&A museum actually have one in their collection and online archive. If you’d like your own example, this beautiful girl will appear in our web shop soon.

Hornsea horoscopes

Vintage horoscope mugs designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home

We had a wonderful start to the week on the buying front – acquiring a small collection of these zodiac/horoscope mugs on Monday morning.

Stack of vintage horoscope mugs designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home

They were designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery in the 1970s. His vintage pieces are becoming harder and harder to find – so getting hold of a few together was just great.

Vintage horoscope mugs designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home

Each mug features the zodiac symbol – and character traits for that star sign incorporated into newsprint lettering. As with most of his designs, they’re fabulous. They look even better when grouped together, so it’s tempting to hunt down all twelve now that we have a few!

Vintage Aries mug designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home Vintage Virgo mug designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home
Vintage Scorpio mug designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home Vintage Pisces mug designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home

Justin has just read his Aries traits – positive, enthusiastic, energetic, impulsive, enterprising, lively, the pioneer… Is he sure his birthday’s in April?!