Previously Sold Items

What exactly is it?

For sale is this highly unusual and grotesque Martin Brothers reptile sitting on top of an upside down mushroom. Intricately constructed with a body hideous to behold, we have not seen another quite like this piece. The creature, with almost human like face, has a hand to its mouth like it is whistling, whilst its menacing double-taloned feet grip the underside of the mushroom. The body is contorted and detailed as if scaly, the texture brought out by blue against the otherwise pale cream colourway. The creature has a long tail, going down to the base of the mushroom stem and then curling around. The mushroom has long painted green strokes.

Which brother made it?

Likely to have been made by the brother most famed for grotesque, whimsical and macabre creations, Robert Wallace Martin.

For sale is this exquisite, early Florian Ware vase by William Moorcroft, dating to around 1902. Decorated with what we believe to be forget-me-nots surrounded by whisps of foliage, it is a little firecracker at only 7cm tall! With warm blues and greens, under light in our cabinets it really does look magnificent. The whole vase from top to toe is brimming with decoration which also makes it so appealing.

William Moorcroft at the time of making this piece was working for James MacIntyre & Co, where he became very successful with Florian Ware and after they closed his department, he continued in his own name to go onto become one of the most successful art potters of his time.

Offered for sale in excellent original condition, this vase has had no damage or restoration. It has the “William Moorcroft Des” signature in green, present and correct for the period. “Des” indicated he was the designer working for MacIntyre and is most often seen following his name on these early pieces.

For sale is a very early Doulton Lambeth jug by their most famous artist, George Tinworth. Dated 1874, in our opinion this piece represents a rarer and  finer quality work by Tinworth. Unusually, the Seaweed Scroll work is absent on this piece, as George has decided to work towards a different effect. He has used the beading which is large and raised (sharp to the touch) to create four horizon borders. He has then crossed diagonal lines to create a diamond criss-cross effect. Within each diamond segment is then decorated blue bulbous forms which house intricate florette roundels to the centre diamonds, and beads to the smaller areas. The background is coloured to mid-brown.

Beneath, the jug is stamped with the early oval Doulton Lambeth mark and dated 1874. Further it has George’s monogram clearly engraved and that of an assistant or thrower. The jug is in fabulous condition, with only a very minor professional, invisible restoration to a small top rim chip. The quality of this jug will delight any serious early Doulton or Arts & Crafts collectors!

For sale is what can only be described as an “uber-rare” Doulton Lambeth bowl by renowned artist Florence Barlow. It dates to 1877 – a lovely early piece. With birds in relief scrolling down to form feet, this is the only piece of its kind I have seen by Florence Barlow, or even remotely similar! Florence focussed on birds – yes – but she painted remarkably realistic birds in the pate-sur-pate technique onto the facia of her pieces. On this earlier piece, Florence has executed beautiful and bold aesthetic design to the main body, of which I have seen examples before. She has then opted to add three birds gracing the sides and footing of the bowl, which take its quality to the next level.

The bowl stands 13.5cm high but significantly wider at 23cm. It therefore has a lovely presence and its moderate size would suit a collectors cabinet or be a centre piece on a hall table, sideboard or mantle.

Presented in outstanding original condition, there are no chips, cracks or restoration. The bowl beneath shows the round Doulton Lambeth stamp and date 1877. It further shows the signature of Florence Barlow “FEB” together with assistant marks and code numbers.

For sale is an exceptionally high quality Doulton Lambeth bowl, dating 1875. Made by renowned early artist Arthur Barlow, he was the brother to similarly famous Hannah Barlow. The bowl is intricately decorated to the body in typical, rich 1870’s style, with strong influences from George Tinworth. This can be observed by the beaded scrollwork around the circumference, and the two cherub-like putti emerging from trumpeted flowers. The putti are highly likely the work of Tinworth or John Broad, known to add collaboration design to other artists’ pieces. The colours and rich glaze are glorious. The blues are vibrant, and the purple tones so, so alluring.

Offered for sale is this very early 1871-1872 gourd vase by the famous Arthur Barlow. Arthur was brother to the famous Hannah Barlow. Extremely disabled from an accident as a child, Arthur Barlow found his purpose and explored his gifts at Doulton Lambeth. He became one of the sought after artists representing often the best of the early 1870s work. He died young in 1877, so his work is rare.