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Start your membership at: membership invitation

Friday, April 20, 2012

Majolica Bowl Reported Stolen In Lanesborough, MA, USA

 Apr 20th, 2012, Lanesborough, Mass.

 
Most likely stolen on Easter Sunday, a French barbotine majolica bowl, with hand-applied birds and flowers, was reported taken from a home here. The bowl is approximately 14 inches tall with a diameter of about 20 inches.

The item pictured above is exactly the same as the stolen bowl in its style but the stolen bowl has the same birds and scenery above the same colored bowl, as well as on the sides. It also has no glaze or color on the bottom of bowl, and is numbered on the bottom.

Anyone with information on the bowl is asked to contact the police department at 413-443-4107 or 413-442-6714.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Shrewsbury, England Auction: Mintons Stork Fountain - April 18, 2012

At auction April 18, 2012 is a rare Mintons majolica fountain basin, date code for 1883, after a design by John Thomas, formed as a large turquoise glazed scallop shell supported on the wings of a stork and surrounded by bulrushes, water lilies and calla lilies, on a moulded plinth in green, yellow and blue glazes, (at fault) overall height 84cm, 65cm wide.

This stork fountain basin was originally designed in 1858 by John Thomas (1813-1862) in conjunction with Prince Albert for Minton's scheme for the Royal Dairy at the Model Farms, Frogmore, which the Illustrated London News praised as 'a perfect gem of taste and art'.

It was later translated into the 'St. George and the Dragon' fountain made by Minton for the London International Exhibition of 1862. The fountain was 36 feet high and constructed of stone and majolica and surmounted by a figure of Saint George and the Dragon, consisting of 379 pieces. Below the central monumental Saint George and the Dragon sculpture were smaller majolica fountains supported by heraldic British lions and on the next tier, stork and shell fountains similar to this present lot.

A stork fountain was also featured in the Philadelphia Exhibition of 1876 and then Christies sold a similar or perhaps the same Philadelphia, stork fountain, dated 1874, Lot 280, Sale 2210, New York, 20th October 2009.

See Marilyn G. Karmason and Joan B. Stacke, Majolica, A Complete History and Illustrated Survey, Harry N. Abrams, New York, 1989 pages 61-63 for an illustration of the London 1862 Exhibition fountain and accompanying text.

See also V & A Online Journal Issue No 3 Spring 2011 ISSN 2043-667X 'John Thomas and his wonderful facility of invention: Revisiting a neglected sculptor' by Ian Blatchford, Director, Science Museum, London.

Estimate £20,000-£30,000

Please do not hesitate to contact Meg Randell if you require any further information. Phone number is 01743 284 777, and I would be delighted to discuss the fountain.

With kind regards, Meg Randell

Halls Holdings Ltd
Welsh Bridge,
Shrewsbury, SY3 8LA
Tel: 01743 284777

email: meg@halls.to
http://www.hallsgb.com/

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Appraisal of Continental Majolica Plates, c. 1900

Watch David Rago's appraisal of Continental Majolica Butterfly plates, ca. 1900, from a Pittsburgh episode of PBS' Antiques Roadshow.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Majolica on Masterpiece Theater - Downton Abbey Series


Look what we spotted in the 2012 run of Masterpiece Theater's "Downton Abbey".
The year was 1916, and the servants were just at the end of their lunch in the servant's area. Carson was seated and Daisy was cleaning up the table. In her right hand is an English Pineapple Majolica Sardine Dish!
Great work Masterpiece Theater.

Monday, February 6, 2012

HADA Antiques Show & Sale, March 2 - 4

HADA 2012 Spring Antiques Show & Sale March 2 - 4
Friday and Saturday: 11am - 7pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm
George R. Brown Convention Center - Hall B, Houston, TX

Celebrate America’s oldest association of antiques dealers, Houston Antiques Dealers Association that was established in 1964. Support a beloved Houston tradition that gives back to the community. Shop one of the most recognized antique shows in the country and discover extraordinary treasures from museum-worthy furniture to brilliant objects of arts.

MIS Member Linda Ketterling will be showing over 200 pieces of majolica, including several rare woodland pieces by Hugo Lonitz, at the Spring HADA antiques show at the George Brown Convention Center on March 2-4, 2012. Please go to http://www.hadaantiques.com/ for more info or contact Linda at LK424@aol.com for a discount admission card.
_________________________________________________________________
MIS Members Jean Alonso Defrocourt & Philippe Meunier will also be showing at the Spring 2012 HADA Show along with their wonderful painting of Benard Palissy.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Glazed and Confused: Etruscan Majolica: Fact and Fiction

Glazed and Confused: Etruscan Majolica: Fact and Fiction is always a great site. If you have a chance run over to "To Glazed and Cofused" and see Jimbo's comments about the web article "Etruscan majolica Potteries Historic Phoenixville Ties"

See his insite of "Facts and Fictions"

Friday, January 27, 2012


Society members & majolica enthusiasts,
The first ever Joan Stacke Graham Lecture has been scheduled for April 24, 2012. Attached is the contact information and address. This lecture is a joint project by the Bard Graduate Center and the Majolica International Society.
Please save the date!

Strawser Majolica Auction, April 13 - 14, 2012

This extremely rare George Jones majolica comport has just been discovered and will be a part of our April 13 - 14, 2012 Spring Majolica Auction.
Majolica Auctions will be traveling along the east coast south to Florida, west to Texas, north to Missouri and back to Indiana picking up Majolica, Oyster Plates and other Antiques the first 2 weeks of February.

Contact Michael as soon as possible to schedule your appointment for him to pickup your items for the upcoming auctions.

Contact Michael at 260-854-2859 or email michael@strawserauctions.com

Etruscan Majolica Pottery's Historical Phoenixville Ties

In the late 19th century, Phoenixville was known far and wide for more than just iron. Here are the people and the stories behind its illustrious pottery past.

By J.F. Pirro Read the rest of the story!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Wedgwood Museum Saved!

It was announced just before Christmas that a judge at the High Court in Birmingham gave a verdict saying that the collection in the Wedgwood Museum, valued at £18 million, could be sold to help cover a £134 million pension deficit stemming back to the 2009 collapse of the Waterford Wedgwood pottery firm. This led to an outcry from the family, the local member of parliament, curators and ordinary Potteries folk, horrified by the idea that their region, which has already lost its pottery, coal and steel industries, could lose its proud heritage too. Experts believe any sale would undoubtedly see the collection broken up with the best items sold abroad.

Happily on Christmas Eve, the Daily Telegraph was able to report that billionaire John Caudwell, who was born into a working class family in Stoke on Trent in the 1950s and who made his fortune from selling his home-grown mobile phone company, had stepped forward offering to keep the collection intact, in place and open to the public.

Obviously there are many formalities to be gone through, but it looks as though the Wedgwood Museum has been saved.

More from the Telegraph

Friday, December 2, 2011

Sarreguemines majolica figure of Lorenzo de Medici - December 4th

Rare large antique Sarreguemines majolica figure of Lorenzo de Medici
Auction Date: 04 December 2011, 11:00 AEST
Rare large antique Sarreguemines majolica figure of Lorenzo de Medici 90cm high. Circa 1880. Impressed to the back Sarreguemines.

Special Estate Auction at Vickers & Hoad - Lot 35
Estimated Price: AUD 1,500 – AUD 2,500

Location: 89 Anzac Parade, Kensington, Sydney, Australia 2033
Phone: +61 (2)9663 2889
Fax: +61 (2)9663 3884
Email: info@vickhoad.com
Sydney, Australia


Viewing Notes:
2nd December 10am to 5pm.
3rd December 10am to 5pm.
4th December 10am to 11am.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Christies, New York, Rockefeller Plaza, Sale # 2486

Christies Auctions of New York at Rockefeller Plaza is having a November 22, 2011
Sale # 2486.


500 Years Decorative Arts Europe including Oriental Carpets
New York, Rockefeller Plaza
Several lots are Majolica and or Palissy items (lots 244 thru 254, documented on catalogue pages 178 thru 183).

Special attention will be drawned to this wonderful lot number 248. A large Hugo Lonitz Hawk, from the late 19th Century. The hawk is modeled perched on a rocky outcropping applied with ferns and branches, one talon raised, its eyes glass, on an entwined branch base.


23¾ in. (60.3 cm.) high
estimated at: $3,000 - $5,000 USD

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Youngest Majolica Dealer - Baltimore Summer Antique Show

Hi Majolica International Society,

We have returned to Ireland, from the Baltimore Summer Antique Show despite many flight and train cancellations.

Our daughters, Maeve & Lizzie helped Martine and I for the first time at a show. We all had a ball.

Earthquakes and hurricanes didn’t put off the youngest Majolica dealers on the block and although Baltimore was in lock down, the collectors who got to the show made the show successful.

Many thanks to all of them, Nic Boston

Monday, October 10, 2011

23rd Annual MAJOLICA HEAVEN

October 30, 2011, at 10:30AM - The Majolica International Society will open the doors to convention-goers for its 23rd annual MAJOLICA HEAVEN - Exhibition and Sale.

One hour later, at 11:30AM the doors will be open FREE to the general public.



The Convention and MAJOLICA HEAVEN headquarters are at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel, 220 South 17th St, Philadelphia PA 19103-6179, USA.This Victorian Majolica and Palissy ware exhibit and sale is presented by the foremost majolica dealers from around the world.



- Lisa Gaffney with Terramare
- Linda Ketterling with Linda Ketterling Antiques
- Jean Alonso Defrocourt and Philippe Meunier with Majolica and Barbotines
- Carmen Pattinson with Moorland Antiques
- David and Ben Tulk with Madelena Antiques
- Charles Washburne with Charles L. Washburne Antiques


See you there!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Special “Cinepuces” Event Friday - October 14, 7 p.m.

Aidjolate Antiquités, Laurence and Denis Vauclair are glad to invite you to the private soiree for the special “Cinepuces” event “Paul Bert & Serpette markets are making movies” on Friday October 14. from 7 p.m.

On this occasion, the French decorator Alain Tchilinguirian (Coco before Chanel, 2009) has decorated the Aidjolate stand in the style of the Visconti’s movie The Leopard.
Second Empire style, winter garden, majolica and Palissy’s followers are magnified in this amazing decoration.
Where? Marché Paul Bert, Allée 6, Stand 79.
See the program of this special event and the soiree on Aidjolate’s blog: http://aidjolate.blogspot.com/
For invitation, please ask us by e-mail at aidjolate@free.fr