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Beast
Head Tiles
Jeremy
Stephen Antiques
Fabulous beast head tiles found in
the Hebei Province in China. These tiles were used
to decorate the inside of tomb walls and date from
about the 5th dynasty. |
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Heirlooms
A William IV period davenport in mahogany.
C 1830 |
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The
Enigma of collecting
South African Studio Ceramics
By Justin Kerrod
South African Studio pottery is a combination of
many elements & 
influences. Drawing influence from the Anglo oriental
tradition (made
famous by Bernard Leach), The Rural African tradition,
and a strong Scandinavian Design aesthetic. This combination
gives South African ceramics it’s unique flavour.
Nowhere else in the world is there the combination
of Oriental, European and African influence on pottery.
Naturally there are other influences, but none as
strong. Pottery made at Rorke’s Drift is one
of the strongest examples of the European,
African & Anglo Oriental mix.
 How
can a Studio Pot be worth less than a Transfer printed,
mass produced moulded dinner plate? How is it possible
a Royal Albert cup & saucer has more appeal than
a hand made studio tea bowl ?
The appeal of Studio pottery is for me, the amount
of philosophical idealism that drives the potter.
The Desire to create the perfect pot and the idea
that the pot should speak for itself.
The theory of the unknown Craftsman is both the blessing
and the Curse. The unknown craftsman is in fact unknown,
maybe the philosophy has worked? Did the ideals of
the studio potter work against him or us?
There is no need to understand how a Royal Albert
Cup came into being, no need to think. Studio Pottery
needs a little more thought, understanding and depth.
What goes into the creation of a Studio Pot?
The Studio potter takes a lump of clay, turns it
, moulds it ,fires it,  decorates
it, glazes it, fires it - not restricted by order
or repetition.
Each step has had the potter’s skill. The master
potter has usually built the kiln by hand, from studying
from previous master potters. Some make their own
clay, using special recipes. Once the object has been
formed with acute regard for form, function and utility,
the potter can glaze, decorate & fire many times
over to create the perfect finish, using a deep understanding
of Chemistry to formulate the desired effect. Understanding
the effect of different temperatures, Firing environments,
oxygen amounts in the kiln, components in the clay,
chemicals in the glaze etc. the potter chooses carefully
to create the object.
South African Master potters, Esias Bosch, Tim Morris,
Chris Green, Hym Rabinowitz, Andrew Walford, Steve
Shapiro to mention a few!
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Tono
Bungay
published in London in 1909 a first edition by H.G.
Wells
Collectable
Books |
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Candlesticks
of Knights
A pair of cold painted metal candlesticks
of Knights in Armour, each with raised arms holding
torchere candleholders, standing on circular compass
bases on a pedestal foot.
Circa 1900.
Majestic
Silver Trading |
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Edwardian
period Epergne
An Edwardian period Epergne with reticulated and incised
floral design, two similarly decorated matching baskets,
with reeded and crested rims and matching pedestal
base. London, 1912.
Maker: Mappin and Webb
Majestic
Silver Trading |
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Secretaire
Bancroft
19th century walnut-veneered Secretaire
in three sections, with lower drawers with shaped
fronts, sloped cabinet opening to reveal fitted writing
desk, and bow fronted upper cabinet and side drawers,
all with inlay detailing.
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Royal
Silver Tazza
The Old Corkscrew
A magnificent and rare George IV royal
silver tazza made in London in 1821 by Robert Hennell
and engraved with the royal coat of arms signifying
that it was made for the Kind of England.
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Muller
Fréres 'Moth' vase
c 1900, 44.5 cms high
Burr & Muir |
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Webb
Cameo glass scent bottle
1889 ex Whittle Collection 13.0cm
Unicorn Antiques |
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Victorian
baluster
A Victorian silver-plated baluster lidded Ewer on
rising foot with applied scroll rim and handle. The
body decorated with engraved youths / cherubs and
a vacant cartouche. (Small bruise to baluster).
Circa 1880
Majestic Silver Trading |
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Ankara
Dancer
Burr and Muir
An Ankara Dancer by Cl J.R. Colinet
from Burr & Muir. Ankara Dancer is a 64cm bronze
and ivory dancer of a woman, bent over at the waist,
her dripping costume revealing her bare breasts. It
is widely believed that Ankara Dancer ranks as one
of the top sculptures of the Art Deco period.
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Hanging
bookcase
Heirlooms
An early 19th Century mahoganyhanging
bookcase. |
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Coconut
cup and cover
A Rare mid 19th century Indian coconut
cup with silver mounts. The cup is carved with figures
and the lid is chased with bird feathers. The knob
is cast as the head of a bird of paradise. The handle
is entwined serpents.
A.D. Antiques
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Jeremy Astfalck, owner of The
Old Corkscrew in Franschhoek, has uncovered a unique
and extremely rare piece of Irish silver that will be exhibited
at the annual SAADA fair in October. The history of the
interest in Irish silver is very close to the history of
the political interest in Ireland. Wealthy Irish Americans
who followed the changes in Irish politics have also been
very keen on acquiring anything to do with Ireland, and
Irish silver was a favourite. Along with a booming economy
when Ireland became part of the Euro zone, this foreign
interest coupled with local demand has seen prices in the
silver market rocket.
The publication of three landmark books on the subject
of silver made in Ireland has opened the way to appreciating
not only the rarity but also the almost unique look and
feel of this silver. Anything hallmarked in Dublin has always
carried the “Harp crowned” mark making it instantly
recognisable as Irish in origin. But the smaller towns of
Cork and Limerick who did not have a centrally controlled
hallmarking authority have always attracted keen interest.
Here the master silversmiths would mark their wares with
their names or initials and a variety of marks illustrating
the quality of the silver. Examples include Sterling, Starling
and Stirling all of which correspond to the required level
of purity in order to be hallmarked in Dublin.
The milk jug pictured has the very unusual addition of
a handle in the form of an Ostrich which would in all likelihood
have been the crest of the family for whom it was made.
This led to researching the families who had such a crest,
and two families named Wray and Newnan exist who had such
armorial crests. Most pieces of Irish provincial silver
carry the initials of the maker but here we have both marks
known and used by this silversmith. The marks are SW over
STERLING and SW over WALSH and are stamped onto the base.
They were recorded as being used by Stephen Walsh in Cork
between 1760 and 1780.
This magnificent piece of Irish rococo silver is typical
with its ornate decoration featuring seashells, scroll work
and cast ornamentation. At present this is the second recorded
example of a Rococo milk jug the other appearing on the
front cover of CORK SILVER AND GOLD published in 2005. |
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Aspara
Tile
Jeremy
Stephen Antiques
This Apsara tile comes from the Xian
in China. These tiles were used as decorations on
the tomb wall. The tombs these tiles come from are
Chin Dynasty tombs of the 11th and 12th century. |
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