Like funky patterns? Design of the ‘50s and ‘60s? Groovy stylings? If you answered yes to any of the above, then UK auction house Mallams is the place to be.
On 6 and 7 and December, Mallams is hosting ‘Design’ and ‘Modern British & Post War Art’ sales, brimming with quirky, offbeat and fashionable objects to delight your eyes. These objects range from crockery, vases and ceramics galore, alongside paintings, drawings, sketches and designs. And that’s just the beginning.
First up is this Edgar Campden at Aldermaston Pottery Charger, painted with ruby and gold lustre motifs. It is painted with the potter’s monogram and date, and it measures 35.5 cm in diameter. This plate is so much fun, with its burnt orange hues and graphic, inky swishes, you might never be able to eat off another piece of crockery again.
An equally groovy ceramic for the dining room, this set of five goblets is painted in abstract motifs in blue brushwork. They each measure 15.8 cm high, feature the potter’s monogram, and completely reinvent the stale notion of a goblet. Given that, like the above plate, these drinking vessels come Aldermaston Pottery, these pieces of crockery would make an excellent dining duo.
Tibor Reich (1916-1996) was one of Britain’s pioneering post-war textile designers. His company, Tibor Ltd., for which this pair of curtains was made, provided cutting-edge designs that were popular with the public and featured in several post-war projects, including Royal Yacht Britannia and the QE2. This particular pair of curtains are screen printed textiles that come together with 16 metres of ‘Moygashel’ fabric by Frank Valenta.
Continuing with the nature theme, this sea green printed cotton textile features orange and white leaves, reminiscent of summers spent at the beach. The ‘Jaborandi’ print was designed by Sylvia Chalmers (1951-1990) for Heals in 1953. It measures 60.5 x 54 cm, unframed.
Finally, we thought we’d end Mallams’ selection of upcoming goodies with this ‘Marimba’ linen print from c. 1950-60. It was designed by the Edinburgh Weavers and measures 115 x 121 cm.
6 and 7 December: mark your calendars for mid-20th century fun.
![William Turner, 'The Lake of Thun, Switzerland' [detail], watercolour, sold at Sotheby's in 2007 for €1.3 million. Image © Sotheby's](https://images.prismic.io/barnebys/457ddbc4-4447-4002-99dc-96c7bd13faa3_Cover.jpg?auto=compress,format)
