Auction alert: Modern Living sale

The Mallams Modern Living sale takes place on Wednesday 17^th Aug 2022 from 10am at their Oxford premises. Up for sale is a good selection of quality, European mid century modern and later art, furniture and homewares. We’ve selected a few to showcase in this week’s Auction Alert.

The Buyer’s premium is 30% (inc. of VAT) of the hammer price. Bidding online via the Mallams website doesn’t incur any further charges. However, if you bid and win items via the-saleroom.com costs an extra 4.95% plus VAT of the final selling price.

Mallams do not have in house packing or shipping facilities but can suggest companies to assist with this.

Lot 48: Maurice Burke (20^th Century) for Arkana
Pair of ‘Tulip’ white stools or tables, stamped ‘Arkana’ to metal disc on the base, 45cm x 51.5cm (2). Overall wear, scuffs and scratches. Consistent with age and use. Otherwise ok.
Estimate: £100 – £200

Lot 50: Light elm rectangular coffee table, with Ercol circular label to the underside
104cm x 36cm x 47cm. Overall with signs of wear and use. Some watermarks and staining to the top.
Estimate: £100 – £200

Lot 67: Pair of lamino lounge chairs
Teak, with patterned upholstery, designed in 1956, stamped to the underside ‘Swedese, Yngve Ekström, Made in Sweden’, 100cm high overall (2). One chair has a split and repair. Is now very sturdy. Overall signs of wear and some scratches. Upholstery is not original. Very comfortable. Otherwise seems ok.
Estimate: £500 – £800

Lot 77: Vico Magistretti (1920-2006) for Cassina ‘Veranda’ black leather reclining armchair, with fold out footrest
108cm high with the back extended, 94cm wide overall x 63cm deep without the footrest. Note: The matching sofa and a matching armchair is also available as separate lots in this sale. Overall wear, some scratches and scuffs as expected. Consistent with age and use. Some indentations to the leather. The folding mechanism is very stiff, but does open and close as seen in photographs. Some indentations to the leather.
Estimate: £150 – £300

Lot 86: Alessandro Albrizzi (1934-1994) glass and chrome coffee table, with purple coloured glass
Top measures 152cm x 76cm, the base measures 143cm x 61cm. The glass is not fixed to the base, it just sits on top. Overall wear and some scratches, consistent with age and use. Some small chips to the edges/corners in places.
Estimate: £300 – £500

Lot 87: Merrow Associates Ltd glass topped table and four chairs
Estimate: £300 – £500
The smoked glass top measures 117cm across, 71.5cm high overall, the chairs measure 74cm high approx overall (5). Overall wear, scratches and scuffs as expected, consistent with age and use. Small chips to the glass table top in places.

Lot 233: David Shrigley (b.1968) Fruit and Vegetable series
‘If you don’t like tomatoes’, ‘The moment has arrived’, ‘They were too long’, ‘You win this mushroom’, ‘When life gives you a lemon’, offset lithographs, unframed, 80cm x 60cm (5)
Estimate: £400 – £600

Lot 299: David Sharp at Rye Pottery slipware charger
Decorated with a tree, incised signature to the reverse ‘David Sharp Pottery, Rye, E. Sussex, England’, 29cm across. Overall seems ok with minimal glaze faults.
Estimate: £50 – £80

Lot 336: Lisa Larson (b.1931) for Gustavberg (sic) ‘Thalia’ ceramic vase
With impressed mark and label to the base, 25.5cm high. With damage and repair to the rim. Overall wear and some minor firing flaws as expected.
Estimate: £40 – £60

Lot 342: Kitty Kahane (b.1960) for Rosenthal collection of ceramics
Comprising of: a teapot, 22cm high overall, pot with cover, 14cm high, large bowl 30cm across x 13cm high and a smaller bowl 20cm across x 9cm high overall (4). Overall ok with minimal signs of wear and use.
Estimate: £50 – £100

Lot 343: Scheurich Fat Lava (West Germany) ceramic vase with red glaze
Estimate: £50 – £100
Marked ‘517-38 W. Germany’ to the base, 38cm high. Crazing to the glaze, minor display marks and wear, otherwise seems ok.

Lot 384: Geoffrey Baxter (1922-1995) for Whitefriars
‘Pineapple’ tangerine glass vase, pattern no 9731, unmarked, 18cm high, ‘Totem’ pewter glass vase, pattern no 9671, unmarked, 27cm high and a ‘Random strapping’ tangerine glass vase, pattern no 9797, unmarked, 18.5cm high (3)
Estimate: £100 – £200

Iden seek!

We love a bit of Iden Pottery – the subtle colours, interesting patterns and tactile surfaces. You may need to be a bit selective however, some of the early hand made studio ware is gorgeous.

We bought this fabulous lamp base a while ago, but still haven’t married it up with a suitable shade. We’ve been keeping an eye out for a cream or beige Hessian shade but alas, nothing of the right size or shape has appeared on our travels. We need to make a more determined effort – perhaps an internet trawl is required. It’s such a shame to leave this lovely piece languishing in a storage box.

Iden Pottery was founded by Dennis Townsend when he left Rye Pottery in 1959. The wares were sold by Harrod’s and Heal’s and are well regarded for their quality of design and finish. Their pared back subtlety means that they don’t scream at you from a distance – so keep your eyes peeled for hidden gems on flea market stalls or charity shop shelves.

Larger objects such as the lamp base work well as stand alone pieces in a variety of interior styles. We like grouping smaller pieces in groups alongside other pieces of Iden – or as part of a general collection of studio pottery from the same era.