Ladi Kwali (Nigerian, 1925-1984), Water Pot, circa 1960

Stoneware, incised designs of an aeroplane, reptiles, fish and scorpion between geometric bands inlaid with white slip, mottled iron and transparent grey glazes, incised LK mark, together with its original coil base H 34.5cm, D 37.5cm PROVENANCE: The Keith Seeley Collection, UK Acquired Anthony Hepworth Fine Art, London, 2010 Private Collection, acquired directly from Ladi Kwali in Abuja EXHIBITED: 'Ladi Kwali', Crafts Study Centre, Farnham, 6 January - 2 May 2015; listed in the catalogue p.9. Berkeley Galleries, London, 1962 'Grès Nigériens', Galerie La Borne, Paris, 1962 LITERATURE: Glenn Adamson, Martina Droth and Simon Olding, eds., 'Things of Beauty Growing: British Studio Pottery', exh. cat., Yale Centre for British Art, New Haven and The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, 2017; p.352, no.118. illustrates another water jar with aeroplane design from the Dr John P. Driscoll Collection. REFERENCE: 'Alongside the African imagery, rather surprisingly, is an aeroplane. Perhaps this was made to underscore Ladi Kwali's flight to Europe, and the significance of the journey to the enhancement of her international reputation. Another water vessel of hers was incised with a London bus, to make similar disjuncture of images.' Simon Olding, Ladi Kwali: The Transformed Vessel; extract from the catalogue for 'The Art of Fire: Selections from the Dr John P Driscoll Collection', Maak X Phillips, 10 November 2021, p.24. The extract describes another work by Kwali from the Driscoll Collection that features a similar aeroplane motif. CONDITION: Perfect condition with no damage or restoratio ceramics

Estimate:£10,000

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