Setting a new world auction
record was this teapot by George Ohr.
LAMBERTSVILLE, N.J. - Art pottery highlighted ceramics up for
bids at Craftsman's two-day sale January 18-19. Virtually every
maker, major and minor, European and American alike, was
represented at Saturday's Main Event and Sunday's New Collector
session (which offered numerous multi-piece lots). In all, 1,000
pieces of pottery found new homes.
Also offered were groups of lighting, metal, art glass and framed
art in a catalog event, conducted before full-house crowds at
David Rago's gallery. The event generated just over $1 million
with more than 90 percent of the lots sold - an affirmation of
the good health of this market.
While estimate-exceeding prices were registered by examples from
all major makers, George Ohr, Grueby and Newcomb College seemed
to perform with particular energy.
The sale's top lot, setting a new world auction record, was a
remarkable George Ohr 121/2 -inch teapot showing red and pink on
amber, which finished at $55,812. Not far behind was a rare, in
this size, 121/2-inch Grueby "oak tree landscape" tile designed
by Addison LeBoutiller, which also distanced estimates at
$43,125. Among the Newcomb, an 11-inch chocolate pot, 1907,
decorated with a landscape by Lucia Jordan reached $20,700 -
certainly a princely sum for any form other than a vase.
Similar sums were generated by rare pots produced by more obscure
but equally coveted makers. Tops among them were a sculptural
43/4-inch Losanti porcelain vase by Mary Louise McLaughlin in
glossy white that doubled estimates at $26,437, and a Redlands
pottery piece, this a small covered jar carved with swimming
sharks, that made a very large $15,525.
"I was, really, somewhat amazed by the success of this sale,"
said David Rago afterwards. "With our furniture business now back
in Pittsfield, we had the room to really load up on pottery,
glass, lighting and metal - and so we did. But looking at our
catalog, I had to wonder if the market could actually absorb so
much material in a single gulp. But well - gulp! - it could and
it did."
Grueby "oak tree landscape tile," $43,125.
Additional art pottery highlights from the Saturday session
included, by George Ohr, nearly 30 examples, many of which
finished above estimates. A four-inch vase showing a vivid
red/forest green speckled glaze made $35,250; a twisted nine-inch
bisque vase, carrying the verse "Mary had a little lamb & Ohr
had a little pottery," realized $23,500; and a bulbous five-inch
vase in green, gray and lavender cruised to $16,450.
About ten pieces of Grueby were offered and sold. A nine-inch
two-color vase finished over estimate at $6,462, despite minor
restoration, and a huge 161/2-inch matte green vase performed as
expected at $10,575.
Some 35 examples of Newcomb College were on hand, a highly
instructive exhibition as all periods of production were
represented. Finishing close behind the chocolate pot mentioned,
a 91/2-inch high glaze vase showing stylized artichoke blossoms,
1902, by Olive Webster Dodd bloomed up to $17,625, and a
nine-inch full-moon scenic by AF Simpson made a healthy $14,100.
Rookwood, about 35 examples, was typically well received, with
many lots exceeding estimates. A group of plaques was led by a
91/4- by 121/2-inch scenic, 1915, by Lenore Asbury that made
$9,400, and a 171/4-inch Jewel Porcelain vase by Arthur Conant,
1915, showing peacocks, which realized $12,925.
Prices continue to rise for the very best of Fulper. Among about
a dozen examples, a 13 1/4-inch buttressed vase pierced with
triangles at the neck and covered in Flemington green doubled
estimates at $3,818, and a bulbous 12-inch vase in gunmetal and
Chinese blue crystalline flambé finished at the same figure.
More than a dozen examples of Van Briggle were presented and
sold, with several finishing well over estimates. A ten- by
five-inch vase, 1903, with poppy pods under a green/ pink mottled
matte glaze, soared to $6,462, while an 83/4-inch gourd-shaped
vase, also 1903, with a frothy turquoise/ purple glaze, reached
$2,828.
Also on hand was a large and varied collection, about 30 pieces,
of Clifton pottery. The vast majority sold within estimates, with
a handful doing even better. At prices ranging roughly from $300
to $1,200, this maker's ware seems distinctly undervalued
according to the gallery.
Other American pottery highlights include a large, gilded John
Bennett vase, 1889, showing red hibiscus on cobalt, $5,287; an
orange/speckled green Walrath six-inch vase, $4,486; a surpassing
Ott & Brewer Belleek vase with gilded nasturtiums, $5,287 and
an eight- by nine-inch Hampshire bowl/vase sporting a leathery
blue/green glaze that doubled estimates at $2,782.
While there were any number of Tiffany art glass lots on hand,
all of which performed well, nearly 50 examples of European art
glass and pottery were also offered.
Among the pottery offered, a 51/2-inch Ruskin barrel-shaped vase
showing a blue/rose mottled glaze doubled estimates at $2,350; a
151/2-inch Royal Doulton vase etched with goats by Hannah Barlow
nearly tripled same at $2,585 and a heavily gilded 53/4-inch
Teplitz vase showing a pre-Raphaelite maiden soared to $2,350.
An array of art glass offerings by Galle, La Verre Francais,
Daum, D'Argental, Loetz and DeGue was well received. One example
was a 20-inch Galle cameo-cut example that distanced estimates at
$4,700.
European metal offered was also the object of attention, with
Liberty Tudric, pewter, having a good day: an embossed and
enameled eight-inch pewter desk clock reach $5,287.
Roycroft two-metal box with original lock and key, $34,500.
Among American metal and lighting lots, a small Roycroft
two-metal box with original lock and key roared to $34,500; a
candlestick lamp from this maker reached $2,350 and various
Gustav Stickley metal/lighting examples fared largely as
expected.
A handful of lighting highlights include a 19-inch Dirk Van Erp
table lamp of unusual form that made $11,750; a Handel table
lamp, $9,775; a Heintz boudoir lamp that doubled estimates at
$2,702, despite missing its silk shade liner; a Tiffany table
lamp with leaded dome, $8,225; and a Handel/Hampshire table lamp
that realized $3,035, also doubling estimates.
Both the Saturday and Sunday sales offered groups of framed art,
largely prints in the Arts and Crafts manner and Persian rugs of
varying age. Overall, these performed well and largely as
expected.
