A collection of ceramics by Dame Lucie Rie and Hans Coper achieved outstanding results at an auction hosted by Phillips, London on 1 November. The pieces – selected from two major collections, the Estate of Jane Coper and the former Collection of Cyril Frankel – were part of the Autumn Design sales. The 106 lots exceeded the pre-sale high estimate by 174%, achieving a total of £8.2 million and setting two new world records.
Dame Lucie Rie (1902-1995) and Hans Coper (1920-1981) are two of the most celebrated figures in the world of British Studio Pottery. Both artists sought refuge in the UK during the late 1930s to escape the threat of Nazi persecution in their native Austria and Germany. Rie, already an accomplished potter, established her home and workshop in Albion Mews, near Hyde Park, London. In the post-war years, she crafted ceramic buttons for fashion houses, perfecting her glazing techniques.
See also: Lucie Rie: Art of the Tea Ceremony
Hans Coper, despite lacking prior ceramics training, joined Rie's workshop in 1946, and together, they created buttons and tableware. This collaboration marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship, and it was Coper who encouraged Rie to break away from the dominant influence of Bernard Leach in British ceramics at the time.
See also: Ceramics 101: British Studio Pottery
Rie's innovative approach to ceramics resulted in her delicate bowls and vases, known for their timeless forms and vibrant use of colour. Hans Coper, on the other hand, initially favoured large, powerfully thrown forms, but later shifted towards smaller pieces due to declining health. Coper's final project, referred to as the 'Cycladic' series, consists of meticulously crafted pieces that are highly prized by collectors.
The Phillips auction notably included seven of Coper's Cycladic pieces, alongside some of his large forms from the 50s and 60s. Lucie Rie was represented by a comprehensive selection of her distinctive footed bowls, as well as a number of unique pieces, including ceramic umbrella handles, jars, pitchers, miniature cups, buttons, and brooches.
All but one lot was sold, and two world records were achieved. Lucie Rie's Footed bowl from 1981 sold for £330,200 against a pre-sale estimate of £50,000 - 80,000, setting a new world auction record for the artist. The previous auction record was held by another Footed bowl, sold at Phillips in 2020 for £171,000.
See also: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Ceramics
Hans Coper Black 'Cycladic Arrow' form from 1976 sold for £647,700, setting a new record for a Cycladic form and far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £180,000 - 240,000. Coper realised 9 of the top 10 results in the auction, with three of his large vases and forms selling for over £400,000.
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Domenico Raimondo, Head of Design, Europe, and Senior International Specialist, commented, “This historic result not only marks an unprecedented moment in the global market for British Studio Pottery, but also in the market for ceramics across the board. These two extraordinary collections unveiled the very pieces Lucie Rie and Hans Coper kept and cherished throughout their lifetimes, offering an intimate glimpse into their aesthetic kinship and lives."
