LONDON.- Bonhams Decorative Arts sale at the Knightsbridge saleroom in London on Wednesday 19 June offers a strong selection of works by women studio potters, some long-established and others with growing reputations. A number of pieces were made especially for the sale.
For many years Bonhams has led the way in encouraging up-and-coming studio potters to offer their work at auction. Kitty Shepherd and the Irish artist Grainne Watts have produced pieces specifically for this sale, and Ursula Morley-Smith, who rarely consigns her work to auction, is also taking part.
Pieces include:
Bindu: A Stoneware and Ming Porcelain Work executed in 2019 by Grainne Watts. Estimate: £4,000-5,000
Beetle (Cydianirus ornatus): A Large Slipware Vase, by Kitty Shepherd executed 2019. Estimate: £1,500-2,000
Butter Fly Mouth Form, circa 2017 by Ursula Morley-Price. Estimate: £2,000-3,000.
Flame Head, a large bust made by Oriel Harwood in 2017. Estimate: £1,800-2,000.
A Sculptural Vessel executed in 1983 by Kenyan/British potter Magdalene Odundo. Estimate £10,000-15,000.
Bonhams Director of 20th century Decorative Art, Mark Oliver, said, Auctions are a great way of introducing the rising stars of studio pottery to a wider audience of collectors. Weve been doing this successfully for many years to the benefit both of our clients, who see work they might otherwise miss, and of course, of the artists themselves.
Images of all the works by the contemporary ceramicists mentioned here are available by following the link in the top left hand corner of this briefing.
The sale also features pottery by Dame Lucie Rie (1902-1995), one of the best known British studio potters of the last century. Her work is in numerous UK and international musuems and galleries, and is keenly sought after by collectors. Pieces include:
A Footed Bowl, circa 1975. Estimate: £20,000-25,000
A Large 'Knitted' Bowl, circa 1980. Estimate: £15,000-20,000