Art pottery collected over 30 years by Staffordshire woman totals £13,605 at auction

Art pottery collected over 30 years by Staffordshire woman totals £13,605 at auction

A ‘FANTASTIC’ collection of art pottery accumulated over 30 years by a Staffordshire woman has totalled £13,605 at auction in Lichfield.

It included studio pottery from the mid to late 20^th century by some of the UK’s most respected artists plus a number of paintings, all under the hammer with Richard Winterton Auctioneers on Monday, July 22.

Bidders battled online, over the telephone and in the room at The Lichfield Auction Centre, Fradley Park, for the array of vases, bowls, sculptures, cups, dishes, wall hangings and pictures catalogued across 69 lots.

‘Wise King’ by John Maltby sold at £2,900.

The collection included pottery by John Maltby, Derek Clarkson, David Leach (son of Bernard Leach), Janet Darnell Leach (Bernard Leach’s wife), Derek Emms, Robin Welch, Peter Hayes, Chris Carter, David Frith, Rob Whelpton, Tony Laverick, John Stroomer, Simon Frank Rich, Richard St John Heeley and Michel Wojtowicz.

Pictures ranged from naïve maritime works to contemporary originals including two art gallery scenes by John D Wilson.

Auction highlights at auction included John Maltby’s sculpture ‘Wise King’, which sold for £2,900 to an online bidder, and Joan Gillchrest’s oil painting ‘Early Morning At St Ives Harbour’, sold at £1,050.

This Robin Welch studio pottery square form bowl sold at £660.

Auctioneer Richard Winterton said: “This was a fantastic collection lovingly put together by a Staffordshire woman over the past 30 years.

“Our client’s passion for the field and love for beautiful art shone through the entire collection.

“We’re delighted to achieve such an impressive and well-deserved result at auction.”

Joan Gillchrest’s oil painting ‘Early Morning At St Ives Harbour’ sold for £1,050.

The collector – who asked to remain anonymous – bought her first piece, a pot by John Maltby, from a gallery in Tutbury and went on to accumulate ceramics from all around the country whilst on holidays with her husband.

“Collecting pottery over the years has been a passion of mine,” she said before the sale.

“I've enjoyed the journey but it is time to move on.”

A selection from the collection of art pottery including pieces by, clockwise from left, John Maltby, Peter Hayes, Maltby again, John Leach, Robin Welch and Derek Clarkson.

To book a free valuation of any type of item, call 01543 251081 or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk.

Home visits for large collections and house clearance quotations are also available.

Pictured top of page: Decorative arts valuer David Fergus with a John D Wilson oil and a Martin McWilliam illusion bowl.