Christie's has some fabulous majolica items up for auction.

Sale # 2159 at Rockerfeller Center, New York.
19th Century Furniture, Sculpture, Works of Art and Ceramics
Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009
Lots 138 to 154 and lot 158
More information will be posted to their web as we get closer to the auction date.

Visit Christie's Online: Track lots, view condition reports, place bids, and watch auctions in real time with Christie's Live

Threat to Minton Archive by Martin Bailey

Reprinted from the March 2009 issue of the Art Newspaper, a British art periodical

Threat to Minton Archive, by Martin Bailey

Potteries Museums Mount Rescue Plan
LONDON. The Minton ceramics archive faces dispersal, following the financial collapse of the Waterford Wedgwood Group in January. Minton, founded in 1793, had been acquired by Royal Doulton in 1968, which in turn was bought by Waterford Wedgwood in 2005. Bonhams, which has been advising over the Minton archive sale, has valued it at around £6m. With material dating back to the late 18th century, the Minton archive ranges from painted designs for plates to financial records. Among the major 19th century designers represented are Augustus Pugin and Christopher Dresser. If the archive goes to auction, it would be divided into lots and dispersed. In the present situation, the Waterford Wedgwood administrators, Deloitte, are obliged to maximise the proceeds, and this might well involve breaking up the collection.

A rescue plan is now being mounted jointly by the Wedgwood Museum in Barlaston and the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on- Trent. The archive would be jointly owned, but would normally be stored at the Wedgwood Museum, which has modern facilities.

Discussions are currently under way on the price, since the museums feel that £6m is excessive; they have commissioned independent valuations suggesting a figure around half that sum. Approaches are being made to the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund.

The government appears supportive. Deputy chief whip Lord Davies said in the House of Lords on 11 February: we are "fully seized of the importance of the archive and we want to see it intact and, preferably, in the Potteries [area of Midlands]".

Wedgwood in the Nineteenth Century

By Anne Forschler-Tarrasch, published in The Magazine Antiques

The Wedgwood ceramics manufactory, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year and is one of the oldest potteries functioning today, has been the subject of numerous monographs, exhibition catalogues, journal articles, and even a novel. Read the rest of the story.

The Minton Archive saved from being SOLD

One of the world's most important ceramics archives has been saved from being sold at auction, The Sentinel can reveal. The Minton archive, which features drawings dating back to 1793, was set to go under the hammer at Bonhams in London this month following the collapse of owner Waterford Wedgwood. Read the rest of this story

Wedgwood collapse may shatter Minton Archive

A collection of ceramics drawings described as the crown jewels of the Industrial Revolution is on the brink of being broken up and sold after the collapse of Waterford Wedgwood. Read more at the TIMES ONLINE

What is Faience Earthenware?

Top Dinnerware Trends Site - Popularity of Faience earthenware resurged in the 1850’s and continued through the turn of the twentieth century for what is called Victorian majolica. Limited production of faience, majolica, and delft continues through the present. More from Top Dinnerware Trends.

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

Member Michael Strawser's Majolica Auctions - April 3 & 4 in Hatfield, PA

Michael has updated his web site and loaded a large number of photos for his upcoming Majolica Auction on April 3 & 4 in Hatfield, PA. He has
many nice pieces in the auction including Minton Monkey and Blackamoor garden seats, a rare George Jones quail game dish with chicks, Minton Heron walking stick stand, George Jones cobalt full size picket fence and daisy cheese keeper, Minton fountain, rare Minton oyster server, a nice selection of oyster plates and a large selection of "Tobaccoiana" which includes humidors, cigar holder and match strikers. Visit more photos.

Member Lisa Gaffney - Future Shows

Lisa Gaffney's Terra Mare Antiques will be showing at: The D.C. Spring Antiques Show, March 6-9, Booth 555. And then again March 14-15, Booth 3106 at The NYC Pier Show. Preview her show at Terra Mare Antiques

Member Laurence Vauclair - A Paris shop you shouldn't miss

Her gallery presents a unique panorama of nineteenth century ceramics: Suiveurs de Palissy (Palissy Ware), Majolica.

Amateurs and collectors worldwide meet here to see and appreciate exceptional pieces by the greatest ceramists of the time.

The Galerie is also a place where one can relate to the HISTORY and the RARITY of some pieces shown for the delight of the clientele.

Laurence Vauclair knows how to show her passion for ceramics and is eager to share information.

Member Jesse Davis @ Palm Beach Jewelry, Art and Antique Show

Jesse Davis Antiques, Booth #914, Majolica, 1860-1900 Read the entire article

Fab Flash: Top 10 Fall Colors Revealed

New York Fashion Week, the Pantone Color Institute has just revealed what it thinks will be the top 10 colors for Fall. Read the whole story about MAJOLICA BLUE.

Convention 2009 Invitation

MAJOLICA INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY

Dear MIS members,

I hope to see you at the annual meeting of the Majolica International Society in New York April 30- May 3, 2009. The annual meeting and the great opportunity to visit three private extraordinary majolica collections should not be missed.

The Hilton Hotel on 6th Avenue & 54th St will again be our centrally located “home.” It is within walking distance to just about the very best New York has to offer – theatres, museums, great shopping, fabulous antiques, and restaurants. It will be a great chance to be in an exciting city as well as enjoy sharing our love of majolica. The deadline for our excellent convention rate at the Hilton is 3/24/09.

Hilton New York
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Tel. 212-586-7000
Fax 212-315-1374

We will have an unprecedented opportunity to visit the magnificent majolica collections of Marilyn and Ed Flowers in Bay Shore, NY, Gabrielle and Michael Ehrenthal in Woodmere, Long Island, and Donna and David Reis in Rye, NY. Private buses have been chartered for all these trips. In addition, Joan Graham has invited us again to her Manhattan apartment to view her wonderful collection.

Details and pictures of these exciting collections are in the December issues of “Majolica Matters”. Go to: MajolicaSociety 2008 December and if you can’t find your password, contact Duane at duane@majolicasociety.com

With kindest regards,

Maryanne H. Leckie
Vice President, Membership
Majolica International Society

Houston Antique Dealer Association Spring 2009 Show

HADA - The Houston Antique Dealer Association Spring 2009 Show:
Friday, February 13, 2009 through Sunday, February 15, 2009
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall B
Show Hours:
Friday, February 13 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 14 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Sunday, February 15 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

The following MIS Members will exhibit:
CARA Antiques, Langhorne, PA
Jerry S. Hayes, Oklahoma City, OK
Philippe Meunier & Jean Alonso , Tyler, TX

Peter B. Schiffer, 60, Chester County, PA book publisher dies

Peter Berwind Schiffer, 60, who parlayed a family background in farming and antiques into a specialty publishing business, died Dec. 19 of a heart attack. Philadelphia Inquirer Story