CERAMICS/POTTERY - ALL TYPES

CERAMICS/POTTERY - ALL TYPES

The first section features items from several rural communities. The second has antique ceramic tiles from the famous Kutahya studio in western Turkey, a huge cache of these we discovered in a derelict warehouse where they lay undisturbed since 1980.

House, garden, courtyard and patio unglazed pots ready for delivery to the souk. A roadside "showroom" of the pots and other articles made by the next door pottery studio. High Atlas, south Morocco.

PANEL OF 64 HAND MADE FIRED CLAY TILES mounted on a hessian covered board. This the work of Ron Hitchins, a London based Mexican/English artist and was made in the early 1960s. Reference 8043. Size 106 x 41 cms or 42 x 16 inches. Euros 220.

Close up of the designs clearly reveal an Aztec influence. The use of slightly larger tiles and more emphasis on bringing out the terracotta shades from his clay were a later development.

PANEL OF 51 HAND MADE FIRED CLAY TILES mounted on a deep brown hessian covered board. This is an earler work by the Mexican/English artist, Ron Hitchens and dates from the very late 1950s. Reference 8044. Size 109 x 43 cms or 26 x 10 inches. Euros 190.

Close up of his earlier more experimental designs are shown in this work. The tiles were slightly smaller and darker than the subsequent ones which were fired to a terracotta colour. The Aztec motifs provided an endless source of inspiration.

RARE BERBER ARTEFACT - Berbers of the High Atlas love wild honey - the problem is finding the colony, stealing their honey and getting away before being attacked by a swarm of very angry bees. This primitive, hand made, unfired bowl is the answer. It is held in the left hand and a very smokey fire of green grasses lit inside the bowl. It is then plunged into the nest and the acrid pungent smoke drives the bees away just long enough for the honey to be stolen. Then it is time for a very quick getaway. Reference 3637. Length 21 cms., or 8 inches. Euros 75.

A VINTAGE PANEL OF !0 CERAMIC TILES made in the late 1970s by "Mensaje Rodrigues y Cia. SA." in Seville, southern Spain. They were part of a large commission ordered by the architects of the newly built Andalucian style village of La Heredia near Estepona. Normally the company only supplied export orders for Arab and Moorish style ceramics for the Gulf States. The 10 tiles are loose and can be laid in several different patterns for a wall plaque, table top, etc. Make up your own configuration. All in perfect condition, never used. Reference 3661. Size 14 x 28 cms., or 6 x 12 inches. Euros 9 per tile, or 80 euros for 10.

SMALL COLLECTION OF ENGLISH CERAMIC BOWLS WITH LIDS; ALL VINTAGE, all acquired by previous owner in 1960. Two are by Wedgwood, one by Carltonware, the last unmarked. Full research details on request. Reference 3663. Euros 48 the set.

CLOSE UP OF LID. It is from the Barlaston factory in the west of England and there is much internet and other information on request, please ask..

NICE FIND IN GREENMARKET SQUARE. An antique cooking pot for vegetables and suet puddings. This was made by Grimwades in Stoke, England, circa 1900. They managed to make ceramic cookware until 1960. Instructions and a list of their other items are featured inside the lid. Reference 3662. Size 9 cms high, 17 cms diameter, or 4 x 7 inches. Euros 35.

Built in instructions.

FOR OUR SAFFAS FROM GQEBERHA - a little relic from a long standing company called "Donne and Robinson" of Port Elizabeth who bottled their range of cold drinks such as mineral water, ginger beer and others in these heavy stone bottles. There is a local market for these decades old items, especially the ones which are inscribed. They make a very pleasant country style jar in which to put a few flowers. Reference 3664. Size 18 cms. or 7 inches high. Euros 15.

DO NOT FORGET KIMBERLY..................In the second half of the 1800s it was a major commercial centre for what was eventually to become South Africa. In fact the presence of major companies with headquarters there was the motivation for a young Englishman called William Shilling to emigrate and establish "The Shilling Factory", makers and suppliers of mineral waters and other drinks in Stockdale Street. Its evolution and contribution is well documented in the Kimberly Museum. His packaging was innovative and for his "Aerated Water Factor" he developed this unusual glass bottle which has a glass marble in the neck. It is visible in the photo. I am sure you would like gold or diamonds as a memento from your old city, but the bottle has an equally interesting history. Euros 20.

HIGH ATLAS MOROCCAN POTTERY FACTORY displaying a vast array of pots and containers of all types. Such a factory would supply shops and souks directly but supplement their sales from passing tourists.

THE SMALL TOWN OF WORCESTER was once a major centre for both the wool and wine industries in the Cape. No doubt the store at 49 Stockenstroom Street was a vital part. The inscription above the telephone number (482) reads "Sprinbok Wines and Brandies". Unfortunately today its memories are under the foundations of the new commercial centre. Use it to contain a large display of dried grasses and flowers. Reference 3665. Size 32 cms., or 13 inches, high. Euros 65.

LARGE TERRACOTTA UNGLAZED WATER POT. Much of the deep south of Spain and its neighbour, just 13 miles away, northern Morocco, share things -- climate, agriculture, fishing, architecture, artizanal skills and both unglazed and glazed pottery for examples. The Andalucian inland province of Jaen has been described as one giant olive plantation but there are two towns which specialize in unfired and glazed pottery. This pot is hand formed on a wheel. It makes a great decorative item and looks even bettter when it contains a large dry display. Reference 3578. Size is 92 cms. or 36 inches high, with a diameter of 33 cms. or 13 inches wide. Euros 85.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO in a run down storage warehouse hidden in the industrial zone of Malaga we discovered rows and rows, floor to ceiling, of these crumbling decaying wooden crates which were held in the upright position by the clever use of a lot of abandoned bicycles wedged against them. They were left there in the 1980s and apparantly abandoned.

We subsequently discovered collections of this work in several museums, institutions and galleries. The photograph shows a complete wall panel of Kutahya tiles with the identical design to one of our panels, inside the main mosque in Washington D.C. The three remaining panels still available, in order of size, are shown below. What we discovered were hand made, unglazed pottery tiles from the workshop of Master Ceramacist, Azim Cini, in the small town of Kutahya in western Turkey in the period 1925 to 1945. The towns of Izmit and Kutahya are both built on hillsides of pottery quality clay. Although Izmit was the better known internationally Kutahya was appointed to supply pottery to Government and important offices for the then dominant Ottoman Empire in the 1700s. Azim Cini signed all his work and the signature can be found usually in an outer border.

SMALLEST. A plaque of just 4 tiles. Total size 44 x 34 cms. of 17 x 15 inches. Signed in the bottom border by the master ceramicist Azim Cini. Reference 3507. Euros 65.

CLOSE UP of signature and origin. Azim Cini signed virtually all his work, and often his signature is hidden away in a design in the border.

MIDDLE SIZE. Our panel is made up of 255 tiles for the centre, borders and corners and measures 4,8 x 1,4 metres which is approximately 15 ft 9ins x 5ft 3ins. Reference 3508. Euros 3,600.

PALACE SIZE. THE LAST UNIT PRESENTS ENDLESS PERMUTATIONS and is truly a unique opportunity to create one giant rectangular panel or several matching panels in rectangular, square and column shapes. There are 610 tiles of 20 x 20 centimetres or 8 inches square. There are also 379 border tiles each of 20 x 10 centimetres and finally 8 corner tiles. The photo shows a small panel I made up of just 7 x 7 tiles with a border surround to give you an idea. Reference 3509. Guide price for the complete amount of 997 tiles including their custom made boxes is Euros 12,500. We will work closely with you to ensure the best results.

Reverse side.

WEDGWOOD COMMEMORATIVE MUG Made to celebrate the inauguration of The Prince of Wales, July, 1979.

CLOSE UP.

DOUBLE GLAZED LARGE WINE JAR from J. Spooner, Wine Merchants in the London Borough of Bermondsey in the early 1900s. These jars were made for Spooner by J Stiff and Company in the nearby Borough of Lambeth. They were later bought by Wedgwood. Reference 3672. Size 35 cms., or 14 inches high. They make an attractive container for displays of dried flowers. Euros 35.

THE LION WINE AND SPIRIT COMPANY used these jars were still in use in the early 1950s. They are the grandparents of today`s cardboard cartons, which may be lighter to carry but lack the style of the old jars which for the rest of their lives can contain sprays of dried, or fresly cut, flowers. Made by The Lion Wine and Spirit Company of Cape Town. Reference 3673. Size 35 cms., high which is 14 inches. Euros 22. Reference 3673

VINTAGE GLAZED LARGE WINE JAR FROM CAPE TOWN.

THIS LITTLE PORCELAIN JAR WAS MADE AROUND 1830 and contained a cream made of several ingredients which were advertised as curatives for many topical infections of the skin. The original factory started production in the late 1700s but was quickly bought out by new owners called Beach and Barnicott. Unusually the retail price -- which was one shilling and one and a half UK pence. -- was included in the jars`design. Later production was more expensive at 2 shillings and ninepence. The concept of this type of ointment sold in this size and type of small jar spread to many other countries. There is a significant collector following, but condition is important. This one is in excellent undamaged order. We have seen prices of over 1200 US Dollars at some auctions. This one is much more modest and is 25 euros. The reference number is 3693. Size - 4cms. high with diameter at top of 5 cms.