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.

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.

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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.

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"

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!

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

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

Strawser's Majolica Auction - October 29th & 30th

Two day Majolica Auction with George Jones, Minton, Holdcroft, Wedgwood, Etruscan and many other pieces of majolica. Michael Strawser will offer the private collection of Marla Chaiken and another prominent mid-west collection of Staffordshire which includes many rare Staffordshire figures such as pair of wash basket spaniels, pair of zebras, pair of cows with calves and much more.

Two day live on-site auction begins:
Friday, October 29, 2010 at 3:00 PM EDT
Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 9:00 AM EDT

Location:
501 Hatfield Road, Alderfer Auction Center, Hatfield, PA 19440

Ph: 260-854-2859
info@strawserauctions.com

Visit Majolica Auctons

Peacock UPDATE:

SOLD at auction on September 23, 2010. Price Realized £109,250 or $171,413. Price includes buyer's premium.

A strong price compared to a past result of 1998, when Christie's west London, offered an example of the Minton peacock with a £15,000 to £20,000 estimate and it made £95,000.

More on this RARE BIRD! One has roosted at the Walker gallery in Liverpool since 1891. Visit this story.

Victorian Majolica

Victorians have the reputation for humorlessness and a duty above all, but their choice of pottery and dishes displayed a strong sense of irony and downright whimsy! iTaggit Blogs has the entire article