Month: June 2012

‘Lyrical Ballads’ by Wordsworth & Coleridge in Book Auction

Lot 3085: Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth & Coleridge

Consigned for Toovey’s specialist Sale of Antiquarian and Collectors’ Books on 10th July 2012 is a landmark of English poetry, being a combined group of poems by William Wordsworth (1770-1850) and Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834).

Lot 3085 is described in the catalogue as: [WORDSWORTH, William, and Samuel Taylor COLERIDGE.] Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems. London: printed for J. & A. Arch, 1798. First edition, second issue, small 8vo (156 x 88mm) (Occasional minor spotting or soiling.) Late 19th Century green calf, by Riviére & Son, the spine gilt in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second and third compartments, gilt turn-ins, t.e.g. (endpapers replaced). Provenance: Geoffrey Ecroyd (armorial book plate); ‘Antony’ (presentation inscription to preliminary blank dated ‘17th December 1966’).

The majority of the poems are by William Wordsworth, but among Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s contributions is the earliest version of ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.’ The scarce first issue was published in Bristol by Joseph Cottle, printing five hundred copies but almost immediately disposing of his stock to the London publisher. Arch produced a new title-page and advertisement leaf. Arch also replaced the poem ‘Lewti’ with ‘The Nightingale’ causing a minor error in page numbering. This second issue of ‘Lyrical Ballads’ is still scarce, but admittedly the first issue is even rarer with only a dozen or so examples known.  This single volume will carry a pre-sale estimate of £1200-1800 when it is offered at Toovey’s Spring Gardens auction house in Sussex.

Contemporary Ceramics at Toovey’s Auction

Lots 34, 35 & 36: Three works by John Evans at Toovey's Auction

Event organiser and curator of Toovey’s Contemporary Art Auctions, Nicholas Toovey, always offers a selection of work entered by contemporary ceramicists.  The 2012 auction on 21st July is no different and includes the work of fourteen ceramicists. Nicholas firmly believes that work in ceramics has a place within the contemporary art market, stating: “I have always viewed the work of the contemporary potter as an art form. When making my selection I always look for more sculptural forms or a painterly quality in the decoration. If viewed in this way, the clay becomes the blank canvas for any number of possibilities. Each ceramicist was chosen for their mastery of their craft and their individual approach.”

Lot 104: 'Clematis Vase' by Justine Munson
Lot 108: 'Tall Carved Ball' by Emily Myers

He continues, “I think work in ceramics is often overlooked as ‘art’, probably because of its historically more utilitarian applications, especially in this country. In Continental Europe, however, you have whole museums dedicated to the subject of modern ceramics. That said, England still has a wonderful heritage of studio pottery, which I am pleased continues today.” In keeping with the outlook of the Contemporary Art Auctions, there is an eclectic mixture of styles and appearance included in this year’s auction.

Ben Barker and Josse Davis have participated in all the previous contemporary art auctions at Toovey’s. Both were featured in a previous blog post ‘The Familiar Faces of the Contemporary Art Auctions‘. In contrast, there are five ceramicists appearing at the event for the first time: Pam Dodds, Jessica Jordan, Lisa Katzenstein, Justine Munson and Emily Myers.

This year the printed catalogue has a question-and-answer feature with every participating artist. Here is an example of the answers from these five new participants:

How do you describe your work? Pam Dodds: I usually say something like… I work on the wheel, an experience so like putting your hand up a cow’s bum, but then discovering you have found something sweet and wonderful being played on a finely tuned musical instrument.

What inspires you? Jessica Jordan: I have always lived in Littlehampton, very close to the Sussex Downs and the beach. I use aerial views of the downs, looking at the changing landscape through the seasons. The surrounding areas are a big influence to the work that I do.

What are the qualities of a great artist? Lisa Katzenstein: Somebody who finds their own subject matter and ploughs on without regard for fashion, but still has an awareness of the culture and society they live in.

Is there an interesting fact about you that people may not know? Justine Munson: My studio is so cold in winter I have to wrap my feet in bubble wrap to insulate them from the concrete floor. It’s not attractive but it works.

How do you manage to get the carved lines on your pots so even? Emily Myers: There is no trick to it, except a great deal of time invested in each piece. The caring is all done by eye. Many people have commented on my steady hand when they watch me work.

These five ceramicists add to the mix in the auction and join Peter Beard, John Evans, Carolyn Genders, Jonathan Chiswell Jones, Tony Laverick, Claire Palastanga (whose spiky heart-shaped dish was chosen for the front cover of the printed catalogue), and Maurice Young.

Many are members of the Craft Potters Association and are highly regarded in their respective fields. Some of the participants will be familiar to regular visitors of the Art in Clay and Sussex Guild shows and exhibitions. Offering ceramics alongside paintings, prints and sculptures has already changed some people’s perception of the medium and Nicholas hopes that this will continue with every Contemporary Art Auction.

Inspired by Nature: Claire Palastanga

Claire Palastanga in her studio
Claire Palastanga in her studio

Claire Palastanga is a ceramicist based in Tunbridge Wells, her sculptural non-functional vessels and forms are based on the miracles of nature. Her work is strikingly beautiful and merges the boundary between craft and art. Nicholas Toovey tells us more

Claire Palastanga 'Warmth' porcelain with gold leaf
Claire Palastanga 'Warmth'
Claire Palastanga 'Strength' black earthenware with silver leaf
Claire Palastanga 'Strength'
Claire Palastanga 'Red Hot' black earthenware with gold leaf
Claire Palastanga 'Red Hot'
Claire Palastanga 'Wave' black earthenware with gold leaf
Claire Palastanga 'Wave'

Claire grew up on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells and since her teens always wanted to pursue a career involving the arts. Her initial thoughts leaned towards a career in interior design. After a visit to the department at the Rochester Campus of Kent Institute of Art and Design, she was somewhat disappointed to find the department very clean and tidy with neat desks and drawing boards. Fortunately for her, she had walked through the ceramics department. Here she saw people with clay-splattered aprons and an inherent dust in the air an environment much more akin to her character. With no experience of working in clay she launched into a ceramics degree obtaining a first-class honours degree. Claire has not looked back on this bold and brave decision ever since. 2011 was a particularly good year for the ceramicist as she was awarded the Niki Calcutt Bursary for the South East Open Studios and won joint best 3-D/Sculptural Work at the Pure Art Fair in Battle.

For many, her subtle yet eye-catching work is reminiscent of sea urchins. However, these ceramic sculptures were inspired by horse chestnuts and conker shells. ‘I love the mass of vicious spikes contrasting against the soft velvety interior’ says Claire, who continues ‘I also love the fact that these are never really seen as precious and are just discarded by roadsides – to me they are like treasure’. These delicate forms are made from porcelain or black stoneware clay with each spike painstakingly hand rolled before being applied to the body. It is then fired with the main body often left unglazed showing the matt surfaces of the clay. This is juxtaposed with the silver and gold leaf interiors reflecting her natural inspiration.

Does Kent inspire her? Definitely, she feels lucky to live in such a beautiful area surrounded by fantastic countryside, particularly in Broadwater Down Woods, where she rides her horse, Jigsaw. She is also inspired whilst working at her allotment in Leigh. Whilst these inspirations may not directly transfer onto her sculptural forms, it assimilates and exudes through it. Her work that is unadorned with spikes offers a more tangible link to her surrounding landscape once she has thrown and distorted the porcelain or clay into its final form.

Her work is stocked by numerous galleries and can next be seen alongside the work of printmaker Letitia Tunstall at the South East Open Studios in the first three weekends in June, between 11am and 6pm at the Red House, Trottiscliffe near West Malling. On the 6th and 7th July her work will be at ‘Art in Clay’ at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. Her work can also be seen at Horsham Museum & Art Gallery between the 1st June and 7th July in a group exhibition with 49 other artists in the preview exhibition of Toovey’s Contemporary Art Auction where all the works on show will be offered for sale at their Sussex Salerooms on the 21st July.

For more visit http://www.clairepalastanga.com

Nicholas’ article was intended for publication in June 2012.

1948 Olympic Torch for Sale at Auction

The 1948 London Olympic Torch offered on 13th July in Toovey's Auction

A topical item has been consigned for auction at Toovey’s Sale of Collectors’ Items on Friday 13th July 2012.

The torch is Lot 2601 and is described as a London Olympics 1948 aluminium relay torch, the bowl pierced with the trademark symbol of interlinking rings and inscribed ‘XIVth Olympiad 1948, Olympia to London, with thanks to the bearer’.

The 41cm high torch was designed by Ralph Lavers, specifically to house the tablet-form fuel that it would contain. It is documented that 1720 of these torches were produced for the relay from Greece to England, allowing enough for those to be used for demonstrations, trials and spares.

This particular torch was given to the current vendor by a relative who was employed at management level by H.M.V. at their Hayes factory. To add to this provenance, H.M.V.’s parent company, E.M.I., produced the torch at their Hayes factory. Presumably, this was an ex-demonstration or trial model.  For some fourteen years the torch hung above the bar of The White Horse public house in Graffham near Petworth, West Sussex.  At some stage the torch has been converted to a wall light, having a drill hole to the stem and a bulb attachment to the interior.  This has been reflected in the £1000-2000 pre-sale estimate. Whether this modification will actually affect the final selling price will only become clear on July 13th at Toovey’s Spring Gardens auction house.

Off The Wall Opens at Horsham Museum & Art Gallery

Off The Wall Exhibition at Horsham Museum, click to enlarge

Horsham Museum and Art Gallery opened their ‘Off The Wall’ exhibition to the public today.  It follows the successful private view yesterday evening where artists and collectors gathered to see the diverse selection of art which will be taken ‘Off The Wall’ to be sold at Toovey’s Contemporary Art Auction on July 21st. Event organiser Nicholas Toovey overheard comments such as “The standard is so high this year”, “What an incredible mix”, “So much seems good value” and Nicholas’ personal favourite “I want to buy all three”.

Nicholas says “It was a fabulous evening supported by lovely people, all willing to share my enthusiasm for promoting Contemporary Art in Sussex. Horsham Museum provides the framework to display items of our local heritage. In an ever-changing society this provides an important sense of ‘place’. It is wonderful and rare to find a local museum that not only displays these items from the past, but is willing to showcase works of art for the future. I am always incredibly grateful to Jeremy Knight, Museum and Heritage Manager, for sharing this unique vision and displaying the works so beautifully. Thanks must also go to the artists for creating the works for the exhibition and auction. The variety on offer is testament to each artist’s individual approach to his or her subject and medium. I hope the eclectic mix will provide something for everyone.”

Rupert Toovey, Director at Toovey’s and a Trustee of the Museum, remarked “I would like to thank Jeremy Knight whose vision and curatorship at the Horsham Museum and Art Gallery has resulted in this remarkable ‘Summer of Art’ series of exhibitions. I would also like to thank the Horsham District Council for its continued support for this important resource for local residents and businesses. Horsham Museum has one of the highest visitor numbers of any museum or art gallery in the South of England and its footfall and location in the Causeway is of vital benefit to businesses not only in the town centre but across the Horsham District.”

The June issue of All About Horsham (AAH) magazine, also out today, features a fascinating write-up on pages 56-60 about the exhibition and auction by the editor, Ben Morris. The whole magazine can be viewed online by clicking here.

‘Off The Wall’ runs until 7th July at Horsham Museum and Art Gallery, 9 Causeway, Horsham. The museum is free to enter and is open Monday -Saturday 10am – 5pm (excluding bank holidays, open Monday 4th June 11am – 4pm).  All works will featured in the preview exhibition will be sold at Toovey’s Contemporary Art Auction on 21st July.