Auction alert: The Art & Design Sale

Sir Grayson Perry CBE, RA, Lion Queen plate


Although we’ve known about Grayson Perry for years, mainly due to his famous penchant for cross-dressing, we didn’t really know much more about him and his work. Thanks to watching his 3 series of Grayson’s Art Club, he’s now a firm favourite (as is his wife, Philippa) in our house – for his work, his warm personality and his infectious laugh.

Today’s featured auction includes a pottery plate by him (pictured above) – and another by Philippa – both with very reasonable estimates. In addition, are a couple of pumpkins by ceramic artist, Yayoi Kusama, who we previously featured on our blog over 20 years ago.

The Art & Design Sale at Cheffin’s takes place on Thursday 23rd February 2023, from 10am. A total of 442 lots come under the hammer and we’ve highlighted eleven of our favourite ones below.

Bid live and online at The Saleroom where additional fees will be charged.

Rambouillet, a suite of 16 Lalique glasses

Lot 7: Rambouillet, a suite of 16 Lalique glasses
To include four water goblets, four Bordeaux wine glasses, four Sherry glasses and four Madeira glasses, each raised on twisted stems and spreading circular feet, acid-etched marks to underside. 13.5 x 10.5cm, 10.5 x 8.5cm, 9.5 x 7.5cm and 9 x 6.5cm
Estimate: £200 – £400

Norman Makinson for Wedgwood - Festival of Britain mug

Lot 37: Norman Makinson for Wedgwood
A Festival of Britain mug, 1951, printed factory marks and hand painted ‘C-6446 B’ to the underside. 7.5cm high
Estimate: £150 – £250

'Normal Life', plate by Philippa Perry

Lot 39: Philippa Perry (1957-), Normal Life
Produced for Grayson’s Art Club, earthenware plate decorated in blue and white, stamped marks to underside
. 27.5cm diameter
Estimate: £100 – £200

Sir Grayson Perry CBE, RA, Lion Queen plate


Lot 40: Sir Grayson Perry CBE, RA (1960-), Lion Queen plate

Printed with a design of Queen Elizabeth II as a lion set within a border of alternating E R initials and head portraits of Queen Elizabeth, printed marks to underside
. 22cm diameter
Estimate: £100 – £150

Julian Opie - 'Walking, Dancing, Undressing, Smoking' moving image print

Lot 77: Julian Opie (1958-), Walking, Dancing, Undressing, Smoking, 2006
A lenticular moving image print. 15 x 10cm
Estimate: £100 – £200

Yayoi Kusama, Yellow Pumpkin and Red Pumpkin

Lot 78: Yayoi Kusama (1929-), Yellow Pumpkin and Red Pumpkin
Two painted cast resin sculptures published by Benesse Holdings, Japan, each stamped to the underside and contained within their original presentation boxes. 10 x 8 x 8cm
Estimate: £600 – £800

A Louis Vuitton lady's hat box or square steamer trunk

Lot 100: A Louis Vuitton lady’s hat box or square steamer trunk
Circa 1940s, the leather-bound monogrammed body with lift-out ribbon Cage Paradis, stamped to hardware. 46 x 51 x 44cm
Estimate: £1,000 – £2,000

Carl Jacobs and Frank Guille for Kandya, a pair of Jason chairs

Lot 184: Carl Jacobs and Frank Guille for Kandya, a pair of Jason chairs
Each with bentwood one-piece seats raised on tapering beech legs, labels to underside. 
73 x 52 x 40cm
Estimate: £150 – £250

A counterpoise model single weight trolley lamp by Hadrill and Horstmann

Lot 201: A counterpoise model single weight trolley lamp by Hadrill and Horstmann
The adjustable chromed lamp stamped with maker’s mark
Estimate: £150 – £250

A bent plywood magazine rack

Lot 221: A bent plywood magazine rack
Of triangular form. 
27 x 41 x 30cm
Estimate: £80 – £120

Sir Peter Blake CBE, RDI, RA: "A for Alphabet"

Lot 442: Sir Peter Blake CBE, RDI, RA (1932-) A for Alphabet
Signed ‘Peter Blake’ (lower right); numbered 30/95silkscreen, unframed.102.5 x 77.5cm
Estimate: £150 – £250

A leaf out of our book

potato print of tree with birds
Our current series of blog posts is looking at the inspiration of nature on artists- previous themes being fish, birds and flowers.

leaf shaped art glass dish

This week we’re putting leaves & leaf-inspired designs into the spotlight. Sometimes it’s the whole object that takes the form of a leaf as with the glass dish above, but more often it’s the decoration.

Cathrineholm lotus pattern enamel kettle Cathrineholm lotus design enamel coffee pot

Lotus pattern enamelware designed by Grete Prytz Kittelsen for Cathrineholm of Norway – produced in many colours including green, yellow, blue, red, orange and black. Leaves lend themselves very well to simple, pared down designs.

detail of1950s waste paper basket detail of plate
1950s leaf detailing

The repeating pattern of leaves on a stem is very strong visually.

Iden Pottery vase Rambouillet plate
Iden Pottery vase :: Boch Rambouillet plate

tall jug by Villeroy & BochVilleroy & Boch jug

One of favourite designers, Stig Lindberg, used a very similar repeating leaf pattern to great effect in his Berså collection for Gustavsberg.

Berså Enamelware kettle designed by Stig LindbergBerså enamelware kettle

Grete Prytz Kittelsen and Stig Lindberg along with many other influential Scandinavian designers are covered in a great book – Scandinavian Design, Charlotte & Peter Fiell.
Designs were sometimes more free-flowing as in this 1950s Wade Pottery cup & saucer.

1950s Wade pottery cup & saucer

All the pieces above date from the 1950s, 60s and 70s – here are a couple of older examples. We love these rustic iron candle holders and have got quite a collection!

leaf shaped iron candle holder leaf shaped iron candle holder
Victorian candle holders

PS – We’re not sure precisely which day yet- but the H is for Home website is going live next week. We’ll be doing our next blog on the day we go live- so stay tuned!