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Doulton Lambeth Hannah Barlow Lions Biscuit Barrel (c. 1890s)

A magnificent and exceptionally rare piece of late 19th-century British Art Pottery. This Doulton Lambeth biscuit barrel features an exquisite, 360-degree sgraffito study of a lion pride—depicting a majestic male lion, two lionesses, and a young male—incised directly into the clay by legendary artist Hannah Barlow. Complete with its beautiful original lid, it stands in pristine, untouched condition.

• Dimensions: 15 cm H × 13 cm W (base)

• Condition: Perfect, unrestored original condition

• Marks: Stamped Doulton Lambeth “cog” mark with “ENGLAND”, incised HB monogram, and factory pattern numbers

A superlative collector’s item representing the pinnacle of Hannah Barlow’s wild animal studies.

DM for pricing and availability!

Martin Brothers Imp playing the Blocks – Robert Wallace Martin

For sale is this delightful and cheeky looking imp playing the blocks. It is in excellent condition, with a very minor old “touch in” to the tip of the block instrument. Otherwise it is in wonderful original condition. It hails from the prominent collection of Barry Stock, a well known collector based out of the UK.

The Martin Brothers Imps are a fascinating and highly collectible series of grotesque figures, each one depicting a whimsical imp engaged in playing various musical instruments. These figures, created by the renowned Martin Brothers, are celebrated for their unique blend of humor, artistry, and intricate craftsmanship. The Martin Brothers—Robert Wallace Martin, Edwin Martin, Walter Martin, and Charles Martin—were pioneers in the field of ceramic art during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They are best known for their imaginative and often eccentric creations, which have garnered a dedicated following among collectors and art enthusiasts.

William Moorcroft “Claremont” Vase – Shape M55, c.1925
A vibrant and highly desirable example of one of Moorcroft’s most celebrated patterns

This exquisite M55-shaped William Moorcroft vase, dating to the mid-1920s, showcases the iconic Claremont pattern—one of the most sought-after designs in the Moorcroft repertoire.

Encircling the body are ten finely tubelined toadstools, rendered in vivid and varied tones: four rich reds, four warm yellows, and two deep, velvety blues. Each cap is detailed with Claremont’s hallmark speckled surface and beautifully defined gill undersides—an artistic hallmark that makes this pattern so visually captivating. The base colour merges lush green and inky blue glazes, creating a moody, woodland atmosphere that complements the naturalistic subject matter.

To the underside, the vase bears the impressed marks “Moorcroft” and “Made in England”, along with the model number “M55”, confirming its authenticity and period origin.

A small, invisible professional restoration has been carried out to the top rim, precisely between a large yellow and large red toadstool. The restoration is of a high standard, with only a subtle uniformity of colour betraying the repaired area under close inspection. Importantly, the most visually dominant red toadstool sits on the opposite, untouched side, making this piece an outstanding display example.

Compact in scale but striking in design, this Claremont vase is a true collector’s gem—a perfect representation of Moorcroft’s artistry during the golden period of British Art Pottery.

Dimensions: Height: 7cm; Width 8cm
Condition: Professionally restored rim; still displays beautifully

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.

Robert Wallace Martin Early Gentlemens’ Cigar Lamp

For sale is this incredibly rare Robert Wallace Martin Gentlemen’s cigar lamp. I have only ever seen this example from the Martin Brothers, so I am confident these are rarer than hen’s teeth.

Presenting as a central oil burner with wick, it has been fitted with finely worked white metal (a silver plate metal) of excellent quality. No wear to the metal to the base layer is evident and it polishes beautifully. Any dullness is a light tarnish that removes easily. Three identical “wands” rest in the protruding wand sections, and each wand and wand seat has matching numbers 1-3 for the wands to know their position.

The way the lamp worked was each of three gentlemen took a wand, and using papers from their vespa cases, would wedge the paper into their wand and be able to light their cigars from the comfort of their leather chair, whilst the lamp remained in the centre of the table. Lighting the cigar from a “clean” paper prevented the cigar’s flavour from being contaminated by the oil flame from the lamp.

Decorated with blue floral designs with a subtle green and blue banding between, the stems rise with a lovely natural green glaze to the silver tops. Set on three bulbous feet, with three layers of small shapes banding each foot, this delightful piece is quintessential late 1870s to early 1880s Martin Brothers! Whilst approximately 14.5cm tall and 9cm across, it is very solid and weighs 710g!

Beneath  the cigar lamp is the signature of Robert Wallace Martin (R.W. Martin), the figure “8” and then “Southall”.

This piece is in wonderful orginal condition that is ready to brace any serious collectors collection. Even better if you and the friends enjoy an occasional cigar, as it is a novelty that can be safely and robustly used without fear of damage as it is so well made.

For sale is this diminutive vase, likely to have been made by Edwin Martin, the youngest of the Martin Brothers. This vase is tiny  – 4cm tall by 3.75cm wide! In low light, one might mistake it as being black, but under light a strong blue shows through. With a delicate little top rim, and traditional rounded shape, it really is a vase in miniature!

For sale we have a gorgeous Doulton Lambeth miniature Hannah Barlow vase, dating to the turn of the century.

Decorated with five horses eating grass and nibbling tree leaves, this diminutive vase is a true delight. With a bronzed stoneware glaze on which Hannah has worked her sgraffito, it is a warm, charming little piece. It would not surprise if a hint of metallic oxides were used as there is a slight lustrousness to the glaze. Measuring 13cm, or just over 5 inches, there are not many Hannah Barlow pieces of this size around!

For sale we have a superb quality double-gourd Florian Daisy vase by William Moorcroft dating to around 1902. An early piece of Florian Ware in the daisy pattern, with its vibrant green and blue hues, is not just a decorative item but a testament to Moorcroft’s artistic vision and technical skill. This piece captures the essence of the Art Nouveau movement and the early 20th-century fascination with nature, making it a prized artifact from the golden age of British art pottery.

In excellent original condition with no chips, cracks or prior restoration. The piece is signed “W Moorcroft Des” in green ink entirely correct for the period.