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/

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.

See the video!

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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!

Christine VIENNET: from July 21 to September 04

The Dock South Gallery will receive a distinguished ceramist, Christine Viennet

Christine VIENNET: from July 21 to September 04

The aquatic world is her world, a world of tentacles that twisted, globular eyes fixing on us.

The hands of this talented ceramicist creates oceans of sea creatures, all output of its imaginative creator. 
Christine Viennet was born in Norway in 1947. After a passage to the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Oslo, she worked in two large ceramic Norwegians, Rolf Hansen and Bente von Krogh. Passionate about the work of the French Renaissance ceramics, Bernard Palissy, she creates with exuberance, vases, dishes, basins, sculptures of amphibians, reptiles, faunas and floras.

Today, it is committed in the novel creation of sculptures modelled in clay, stoneware and porcelain. There are abundant species in the colours light and varied under different enamels and glazes, a marine sanctuary having already conquered from major museums and international collectors.

This beautiful collection will be accompanied by the works of her husband Jean Viennet's pastels, drawings and crayons. In to this universe figurative and surprising menu: scallops, prawns, lobsters, dream bubble and Angel of Bouzigues.

Information:
Gallery DOCK SUD
2 quai Aspirant Herber
34200 SETE

Phone: 04.67.74.00.77

http://www.raissac.com