The collection, assembled by a reclusive and highly knowledgeable Auckland based collector, features superior examples by some well known and some of the rarest and most esoteric practitioners of British, Continental and American art pottery, including Martin Bros, Emile Galle, William de Morgan, Theodore Deck, Bernard Moore, Ulisse Cantagalli and the legendary George Ohr.
One of the British highlights is an early Martin Bros. stoneware Bird Jar (lot 334) dated 1882 with a height of 25 cm, which carries a catalogue estimate of $NZD25,000 - $35,000. It is thought that these signature Victorian art pottery works began production in 1879, so to find such an early example is rare indeed.
According to Art+Object managing director Hamish Coney, ‘the hallmark of this fine collection are rare examples of some of the most specialist makers. For example we have a delightful Emile Galle square sided pottery vase (lot 373). Whilst Galle glass is more common this is the first example of his much harder to find ceramic work we have ever offered.’
Whilst not the highest value item in the catalogue, one of the undoubted stars is a George Ohr (1857 – 1918) Biloxi pottery folded bisque pitcher (lot 389), estimated at $1,500 - $2,500.
Although unknown in the Antipodes, George Ohr is celebrated with the Ohr-O’Keefe museum in his memory in Biloxi, Mississippi. Opened to the public in 1995, both the original museum and a new Frank Gehry designed replacement were destroyed by hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Rebuilding of the Gehry designed museum is now almost complete, and the new museum is due to be opened in Novemebr 2010.
Perhaps the ultimate American art pottery discovery of the 20th century, the self-proclaimed ‘Mad Potter of Biloxi’ produced feats of sensuous complexity that predate modernism by decades.
Coney is stunned that an example has made it’s way to New Zealand, ‘whilst not quite in the same league as our recent Napoleon collection it never ceases to amaze me what we find here. Ohr is the ultimate ceramic collector’s insider artist. This example is a feat of manipulation and intuitive engineering that has to be seen to be believed. It is no wonder that Ohr is referred to as the ‘Clay Prophet’.
Also included in the catalogue is a large William Morris and Co. stained and leaded glass window, (lot 333) attributed to Edward Burne-Jones and estimated at $NZD13,000 - $18,000. Tentatively titled Angel Figure associated with the Marys at the Tomb. Art+Object has received some assistance from the William Morris Society in identifying this subject.
Coney says that a more certain attribution from New Zealand is problematic and he is looking forward to enquiries from UK based collectors who may shed more light on the piece,
In line with the recent revived interest in taxidermy, and the high prices achieved for rhino items in the Owston collection, Art+Object’s sale also includes an impressive taxidermy black rhino trophy head (lot 327) estimated at $NZD15 000-$25 000.
This seems reasonable against the prices achieved for similar heads in the Owston collection in June this year, where the three rhino heads on offer sold for between $Au90,000-$Au108,000.