By Richard Brewster, on 08-Feb-2017

Wedgwood 1920s 'Fairyland' lustre fruit and octagonal bowls by Daisy Makeig-Jones are the highlight of an inspiring collection of quality ceramics built up over many years by passionate collectors Lachlan and Kerry Ely on their country Victorian property at Yea.

Wedgwood 1920s 'Fairyland' lustre fruit and octagonal bowls by Daisy Makeig-Jones are the highlight of an inspiring collection of quality ceramics built up over many years by passionate collectors Lachlan and Kerry Ely on their country Victorian property at Yea.

Wedgwood 1920s 'Fairyland' lustre fruit and octagonal bowls by Daisy Makeig-Jones are the highlight of an inspiring collection of quality ceramics built up over many years by passionate collectors Lachlan and Kerry Ely on their country Victorian property at Yea.

The couple's original focus had been first period Worcester but soon moved to 20th century English ceramics like Doulton, Worcester and Wedgwood with a particular emphasis on individual designers such as Keith Murray, John Skeaping, Charles Noke, the Barlow sisters and Makeig-Jones.

Mossgreen will auction the collection on February 13 at their room in Armadale. 

Lachlan's pottery interests encompassed post Second World War Australian studio potters, of which he was a patron, and eventually he turned his hand to the craft – building a full studio with wheels and kiln on their Yea property.

The auction contains a comprehensive collection of Royal Doulton flambé examples from the 1920s and 1930s including a 'Blossom' vase by Noke and an owl by Alan Maslankowski.

Noke also features with a set of eight 1920s Royal Doulton Sung 'Firebird' flambé plaques and a stem vase from the same period.

Other Royal Doulton attractions include a 1930s porcelain tea service, a Chinese jade lidded bowl and a pair of early 1900s Harry Allen titanian peacock vases.

Animals also are prominent with Royal Doulton porcelain foxes, cat, tiger, elephant and dragon all part of the mix – along with a collection of Wedgwood figures.

Collectors should be drawn to a range of early 20th century Wedgwood plates and Royal Worcester Australian bird plates.

The auction contains quality antique furniture including an 1815 Regency mahogany sideboard, a 19th century colonial Dutch court cabinet and a four-door Neo-Gothic arts and crafts bookcase originally commissioned for Werribee mansion by the Chirnside family.

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About The Author

Richard Brewster has been writing about the antiques and art auction industry for almost 20 years, first in a regular weekly column for Fairfax's The Age newspaper and also in more recent times for his own website Australian Auction Review. With 45 years experience as a journalist and public relations consultant, in 1990 Richard established his own business Brewster & Associates in Melbourne, handling a wide range of clients in the building, financial, antiques and art auction industries.