Rare and Exceptional Art Pottery Works Up For Bid This Weekend
by Kate Nixon
A few important auctions are happening this weekend and if you’re an art pottery collector, take note.
A number of live auctions are happening this month, kicking off the summer auction season. Rago Arts will hold their American Art Pottery auction, filled with works from private important collections while the auctionhouse Humler & Nolan will hold their very last auctions this weekend, holding their auctions in Keramics and Art Glass on Saturday and Rookwood XXX on Sunday, before closing their doors at the end of July. There are plenty of opportunities to bid on gorgeous ceramic works this weekend, and as you’ll see, the rare selection of works up for bid are not to be missed.
Saturday, June 20th – American Art Pottery Auction
Rago Arts and Auction Center
11AM EST – Register to bid online and view lots at https://www.ragoarts.com/
Rago Arts and Auction Center presents American Art Pottery, an auction that will be dedicated entirely to pre-WWII ceramics, originating from some of the most important private collections in the country. The auction will include rare and exceptional examples from iconic makers of the early 20th century, including George Ohr, Frederick Hurten Rhead, Adelaide Robineau, Teco Pottery, Marblehead Pottery, Mary Louise McLaughlin, Taxile Doat for University City, Rookwood Pottery, Newcomb College and others.
Due to the large number of impressive and high quality condition works up for bid, this auction is expected to get plenty of attention from art pottery collectors of all levels. “This would appear to be the best auction of early 20th century ceramics we’ve ever seen,” says David Rago, Rago Arts founder and expert in American ceramics and art pottery. “It is the confluence of several long-time collections and introduces pieces that have been off the market for at least two generations and there is a particular emphasis on this country’s most important potters and potteries, including George Ohr, Grueby, Marblehead, CKAW, Robineau, and University City.”
Featuring over two dozen pieces of Ohr, over a dozen examples of Grueby and Marblehead, and exceptional work by Frederick Hurten Rhead, Binns, Taxile Doat, and others, this Saturday’s event should be a feast for the eyes for Art Pottery collectors. “It really is a compendium of early 20th century ceramic design, again with pieces that have not been on the market for decades,” Rago declares.
For more information, you can contact [email protected] or call Rago Auctions at (609) 397- 9374.
Lot 101 – Rare Grueby Faience vase with cinquefoils – Marie Seaman for Grueby Faience Company
USA, c. 1905
glazed earthenware 10 h × 8¼ dia in 25 × 21 cm
estimate: $7,000–9,000
Obscured stamp and incised signature to underside ‘MS’.
Provenance: David Rago Auctions | Important Private Collection, New York
Lot 113 – Exceptional large coupe by George E. Ohr
USA, 1897-1900
glazed earthenware 9½ h × 5½ dia in 24 × 14 cm
estimate: $15,000–20,000
This work features an in-body twist, ruffled rim, dimples, and a vivid indigo glaze. Impressed signature to underside ‘G. E. Ohr Biloxi, Miss.’.
Provenance: Important Private Collection, New York