In what has been an unprecedented year, the appetite for ceramic works of art has shown no sign of waning. Maak Contemporary Ceramics’ fourth and final auction of 2020 is offering an unparalleled selection of over 250 works of Modern + Contemporary Ceramics. Many of the leading potters from the last century will be represented during the 19 November event, including Lucie Rie, Hans Coper, John Ward, Akiko Hirai, Elizabeth Fritsch and Magdalene Odundo. In addition to their ‘Modern + Contemporary’ ceramics auction, Maak will also be hosting ‘FiredUp4’, a sale of 33 works by top UK ceramicists that will benefit the UK charity Onside Youth Zones.
Born in Kenya, Magdalene Odundo is an internationally acclaimed ceramicist and studio potter known for merging ancient artistic practices with modern techniques. Her Angled Mixed Coloured Piece from 1988 is a highlight of the catalogue and an extraordinary example of her process. The pot is unglazed, with the red-orange and black colouring coming from layers of clay and slip, and the smooth surface is achieved by hand burnishing before and after firing. Inspired by her cultural heritage as well as her travels, Odundo’s large-scale pieces are rarely seen in this immaculate condition.
Widely regarded as one of Britain’s greatest potters, John Ward was inspired by ancient pre-glaze pottery found in China, Egypt and Cyprus. His work is marked by a very clean and pure aesthetic, exemplified in this undulating monumental vessel. The elegant, rounded form is completed by a crisp band of white glaze around the upper edge, creating a simple yet striking piece.
Born in Austria, Lucie Rie fled to England during the Nazi occupation of her home country during World War II. Once settled in Britain, Rie produced astounding hand-thrown pieces of pottery noted for their brightly coloured glazes and Modernist forms. She worked late into her life, creating items such as this dramatically shaped vase that is finished with a manganese glaze and sgraffito lines.
The internationally renowned ceramic artist Hans Coper left his native Germany in 1939 for London, eventually becoming a partner at Lucie Rie’s studio. Coper distinguished himself by fusing wheel-thrown pots together to create sculptural vessels, such as Cup on Foot with Central Disc, an item with a unique pedigree. It was given to Barbara Brown, a secretary at the renowned Leach Pottery, by her husband to celebrate the birth of their daughter in 1965. It was gifted to their daughter Amanda on her 21st birthday and has remained in her care ever since, only now making an appearance at auction.
Using clay as a medium for pure expression, Gordon Baldwin creates abstract sculptural works that investigate both two- and three-dimensional space. His 1989 Vessel from an Inscape is an enclosed earthenware form with a rough-edged opening off to one side. While the shape itself is amorphous, the abstraction is taken a step further with the two tones of glaze, painted on to the vessel as though it were a canvas.
The innovation hand-built vessels made by Elizabeth Fritsch reflect varied influences, often inspired by music, painting, literature and architecture. Her Blown Away Jar is constructed with a flat back, leaning to one side as though it literally were blowing away from the viewer. The stoneware jar is finished with a geometric design in various colours of slip, allowing it to be appreciated in both two and three dimensions.
The entire catalogue of Maak’s ‘Modern + Contemporary’ ceramics sale is currently online, with online bidding until 19 November, closing from 10am. Please contact Maak for online viewing queries and other viewing options subject to restrictions. Online bidding for the ‘FiredUp4’ charity auction closes from 7.30pm on 19 November.