The Calyx Porcelain Factory Perth produced domestic and decorated wares from the early 1900's. It was merged with Bristile and Wunderlich, c.1940's, to later become the Wembley Ware factory.
Decorated Calyx wares are quite rare, due to the fragility of the soft clay. Calyx employed local and overseas artists to design and decorate their wares,
The McKenzies Auctioneers sale was held on Tuesday 23rd November (art) and on Wed 24th November (jewellery & collectables).
Calyx Ware rarely comes onto the market, and although the sale included a Calyx Ware plate decorated with a kookaburra, (est. $500-1,000) the previous major Calyx Ware piece was a jardinière sold by the same auction house in December 2009. The jardinière was decorated with four circular Art Nouveau style bush scenes to the upper section, and sold for $4,830.
Other major lots sold at the November auction included an Australian ostrich egg presentation casket circa 1869, (Lot 378 ) sold for $25,630, to a Melbourne collector, the obvious home, as it was attributed to the Melbourne maker, William Edwards.
Jewellery has long been a staple of McKenzie Auctions, and a Perth secured the main jewellery lot, a 3.90ct fancy champagne coloured diamond ring, at $25,630.