Auction alert: Troika

An online studio pottery auction is currently underway. The sale, Troika subtitled, “A remarkable single-owner collection of Troika Pottery”, ends on 23^rd 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):

The Saleroom – 4.95% (plus VAT) surcharge
Invaluable – 5% (plus VAT) surcharge
Live Auctioneers – 5% (plus VAT) surcharge
EasyLiveAuction – 3% (plus VAT) surcharge or the option of a flat fee of £3.00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A sale of British & continental paintings – to include Bernard Rooke sculptures is being held on Friday 26^th 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:

Jentel – 01268 776777
Chelmsford MBE – 01245 262527

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Designer Desire: John Ward

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.

_credit

Additional image credits:
Barnebys | Maac London

Winter Two Day Fine Art & Antiques Auction

The Winter Two Day Fine Art & Antiques Auction will be held by The Great Western Auctions Ltd Friday 9^th Dec 2022, from 10am.

431 lots will be up for sale; to include furniture, rugs & 20^th century design , ceramics, ethnic art , silver,  coins , whisky & wine. Christmas is coming up, so we’ve included a few items here that would make great presents.

Great Western charges a buyer’s premium of 28.8% (inc. VAT). The auction house offers an in-house postage & packaging service for appropriate items. Each request is assessed on an individual basis to determine the best method of dispatch and relevant costs.

Bid live via EasyLiveAuction (a 3% surcharge of the hammer price or a £3 flat fee in addition to the standard buyer’s premium will be payable) or The Saleroom (a 5% surcharge + VAT of the hammer price in addition to the standard buyer’s premium will be payable).

Lot 2037: AN E GOYARD PARIS LEATHER AND WOOD BOUND STEAMER TRUNK
with all-over printed design, leather edges and wooden ribs held by bronzed metal mounts, brass hinged handles to either end, metal casters to underside and original label to interior below tray, 35cm high x 103cm wide x 56cm deep
Estimate: £300 – £500

Lot 2042: AN EARLY 20^TH CENTURY LIBERTY OF LONDON STYLE LEATHER HIPPOPOTAMUS FOOTSTOOL
with glass eyes, 32cm high x 59cm long x 26cm deep
Estimate: £200 – £400

Lot 2044: A 19/20^TH CENTURY TEAK SHIPS CABIN WASH STAND
with three asymmetrical cabinet doors over fall front ceramic wash basin, 172cm high x 54cm wide x 32cm deep
Estimate: £100 – £200

Lot 2102: A MID 20^TH CENTURY MARIO BELLINI NEST OF FOUR STACKING TABLES
moulded from mustard coloured fibreglass with marks cast into underside, 26cm high x 52cm wide x 52cm deep
Estimate: £100 – £200

Lot 2119: A MID 20^TH CENTURY FABIO LENCI FOR GUZZINI ‘FOCUS’ ARC LAMP
with opaque spherical shade suspended from chrome arc support terminating in white painted weighted base, 239cm high
Estimate: £200 – £400

Lot 2156: A LOUISE JINKS FOR TROIKA POTTERY WHEEL VASE
with incised and relief decoration, in shades of brown, cream and green, signed to base, 16.5cm high
Estimate: £200 – £400

Lot 2491: AN EARLY 17^TH CENTURY NORWEGIAN SILVER SPOON
with a plain fig-shaped bowl, with engraved decoration, the wrythen stem with punched decoration, with a ball-knop finial, maker’s mark AR?, 13cm, 25gms / 0.8toz
Estimate: £200 – £400

Lot 2680: QUINTA DO NOVAL PORT VINTAGE 1978
Warre’s port vintage 1983, Taylor’s port vintage 1987, Graham’s port vintage 1977 and Gonzalez Byass & Co port vintage 1970 (6)
Estimate: £200 – £300

Lot 2689: MOUTAI KWEICHOW 2012 BAIJU 50CL
In a presentation case with two glasses, Wu Liang Ye Baijiu 500ml (2)
Estimate: £300 – £400

Lot 2690: RENAUDIN BOLLINGER EXTRA QUALITY EXTRA DRY 1952 CHAMPAGNE
By appointment to Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II
Estimate: £200 – £300

H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: studio pottery