The English Staffordshire pottery pearlware large harvester’s dated jug was painted in typical Prattware and inscribed under the spout ‘Thomas Mafsey Heaton Norris 1800.’ The jug sold for $4,887.50, well above the $2,000-$3,000 estimate (Lot 1).
LiveAuctioneers.com provided Internet live bidding.
In the first section of the auction, devoted to items from pottery collectors and authors George and Mickey Deike’s collection, a large harvester’s dated jug, inscribed “Thomas Mafsey Heaton Norris 1800,” sold for $4,887.50, far above the $2,000-$3,000 initial estimate.
A circa 1785-1800 charger dish painted with a large rural landscape, sold for $1,725, over the $300-$500 estimate. Two Staffordshire pottery animals realized very strong prices. A Ralph Wood the Younger-type figure of a stag sold for $4,025, over the $600-$800 published estimate; and a figure of a squirrel painted in bright Prattware hues, sold for $3,335, 10 times more than the estimate.
The Deikes’ Peafowl wares were much admired and did extremely well, too. A domed-cover coffeepot, painted with a colorful peafowl standing on berried branches, circa 1780-1790, sold for $2,415 (estimate: $300-$500). Many of the pieces offered in the auction were illustrated in the Deikes’ 2005 book, Feathers and Foliage – The Life and Times of the Pearlware Peafowl.
Joyce and the late Greg Prus collected flow-blue wares for decades, particularly items printed in the Amoy and Scinde patterns. A rare Alcock reticulated serving dish in the Scinde pattern, circa 1840-1860, sold for $1,035 (estimate: $200-$300), while a ewer and basin in the same pattern sold for $920 (estimate: $300-$500). One of the more unusual lots, a pair of Doulton vasiform kerosene lamps, printed in the Watteau pattern, sold for $805 (estimate: $300-$500).
Mother-son antique ceramics dealers Mimi and Steve Levine retired from business in 2013. They specialized in selling Meissen porcelain, Russian porcelain and figural groups. Mimi had kept her reference library in excellent condition, and the books she sold in the auction were much sought after by collectors and members of the trade, anxious to get copies of volumes on rare topics or signed by authors. David Sanctuary Howard’s “Chinese Armorial Porcelain,” in a 1974 first edition, sold for $862.50, one of many of the book lots to surpass its estimate.
Prior to the auction, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates held its first ceramics seminar with attendees from as far away as Florida. After the auction, Jill Fenichell, vice president and head of ceramics and educational programming, said, “I am thrilled with the auction results. George and Mickey Deike have been collecting for nearly 45 years, and it’s exciting to see the reception that was accorded items from their home. Not only were private collectors and dealers bidding, the George Washington Foundation bid on several items and were successful on the great shell-edged platter marked ‘A. King’ to the underside.”
Jeffrey S. Evans added, “Our detailed catalogue descriptions, dependable condition reports and outstanding photography instill confidence in our bidders around the world. This combined with offering all lots unreserved and with very conservative estimates brings strong interest and energy to our auctions which translate into excellent results.” He went on to add, “The inclusion of educational events with specific sales has proven very poplar and demonstrates our commitment to furthering scholarship and learning in our specialties of Southern decorative arts, ceramics, and American glass.”
The next ceramics specific auction will be held on Oct. 21 and features 19th and 20th Century wares including the second annual Teapot Extravaganza.
For further information, e-mail info@jeffreysevans.com or call 540-434-3939.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
The English Staffordshire pottery pearlware large harvester’s dated jug was painted in typical Prattware and inscribed under the spout ‘Thomas Mafsey Heaton Norris 1800.’ The jug sold for $4,887.50, well above the $2,000-$3,000 estimate (Lot 1). The Ralph Wood the Younger-type hollow-bodied figure of a stag, circa 1770-1800, sold for $4,025 (estimate $600-$800). It was in very good condition with a minor horn repair (Lot 66). This Staffordshire pottery figure of a squirrel was one of the most sought-after of the animals in the Deike collection. It sold for $3,335 (estimate: $200-$300) (Lot 75). The George Washington Foundation of Fredericksburg, Va., purchased this J. Heath Staffordshire pottery pearlware platter. Price realized: $192 (Lot 89). Scinde pattern rare flow blue two-handled serving dish indicated the strength of bidding for the Prus collection. The dish sold for $1,035 (estimate: $200-$300) (Lot 145).
