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

 

Lot 127: Exceptional and Rare Vase by Arthur Hennessey and Sarah Tutt for Marblehead Pottery
USA, c. 1910
glazed earthenware
6¾ h × 4 dia in 17 × 10 cm
estimate: $25,000–35,000
 

There are few known examples of this form, one of which is in the permanent collection of the Newark Museum, Trenton.
This work features crisp, deeply carved conventionalized flowers and is one of only four known examples. Impressed manufacturer’s mark to underside ‘MP’ with ship symbol.

 

Lot 242: Exceptional centerpiece by Adelaide Robineau
ca. 1926
glazed porcelain
3½ h × 13 dia in 9 × 33 cm
estimate: $40,000–50,000

This unique work features five large and nineteen small hand-carved frogs. Carved signature and date to underside ‘AR 1926’.
Provenance: Collection of the artist | Private Collection | Thence by descent | Christie’s, New York, Important American Arts & Crafts and Architectural Designs and Commissions including Ceramics, 9 December 1989, Lot 113 | Important Private Collection

 

Lot 300: Rare Carnelian II vase from Roseville Pottery

USA, c. 1926
glazed earthenware
15¾ h × 8½ dia in 40 × 22 cm
estimate: $2,000–3,000

literature: Collector’s Encyclopedia of Roseville Pottery Volume 2, Huxford and Nickel, ppg. 80-82

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, June 20th – Sunday, June 21st  – Humler & Nolan June 2020 Auction Weekend

Keramics – June 20th, 10AM – 2PM
Art Glass – June 20th, 3PM – 5PM
Rookwood XXX – June 21st, 10AM – 4PM

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/1149/humler-and-nolan/

All of Humler & Nolan’s online Live auctions can be found at liveauctioneers.com or by clicking HERE at this link.

As a reminder, Humler and Nolan will also hold the last of their auctions in Keramics, Art Glass, and Rookwood Pottery this weekend. The auctions will be conducted live, in real time, but with no in-person audience. All bidding will be conducted either by phone, online or by absentee bid. Preview will be conducted online or by appointment with proper personal protection equipment. The full catalog, including color photos and estimates, will be posted online at: www.humlernolan.com and www.liveauctioneers.com. Bidding will be on the condition that all auction purchases must be paid for and removed from Humler & Nolan by Friday, July 31st.

See last week’s article on Humler and Nolan’s last auction and our items of note by clicking this link here.