Press | Phillips

Phillips x Maak Achieve £6.5 Million for The Art of Fire: Selections from the Dr John P. Driscoll Collection

Exceeding the Pre-Sale High Estimate of £2 Million by 228% and Setting 28 World Auction Records

Preceded by Phillips’ Design Sale on 9 November which Realised £3 Million

London, 10 November 2021

Sale Total: £6,530,482/ $8,841,620 / €7,636,746

Lots Sold: 160 | Lots Offered: 162

Sold by Lot: 99% | Sold by Value: 99%

Domenico Raimondo, Head of Design, Europe and Senior International Specialist, said, “This historic result marks a turning point in the market for studio ceramics. Every so often there are auctions which bring to the fore certain artists or crafts, taking them to another level, and the Driscoll sale was one of those moments in time. The quality of the work offered, together with the selective criteria and knowledge of Dr Driscoll, are a testament to this result. It has been an honour and a pleasure to work alongside Maak and our ceramic consultant Ben Williams, who were instrumental in bringing this collection to the market.”

Ben Williams, Phillips International Consultant - Ceramics, said, “It has been an honour to bring these pieces from the collection of the late John Driscoll to auction and the results achieved were testament to his intuitive and scholarly approach, dotted throughout his collection were truly famous marker points of many of the most important artists of the British Studio Pottery movement. During the sale we saw the world record for Hans Coper broken a number of times, once in a fifteen-minute bidding war for his Monumental 'Writhlington School' pot, which achieved seven times the low estimate, and again for his Monumental ovoid pot, which sold for eight times the low estimate. Another world record was achieved for Bernard Leach, whose iconic Charger ‘Tree of Life’ design captivated an international audience.”

Marijke Varrall-Jones, Director of Maak Contemporary Ceramics, said, “This first selection from John Driscoll's collection will act as a catalyst for a much needed re-evaluation of the cultural significance of studio ceramics. John's eye for quality and nose for a story has brought us a collection that has made history and will resonate for years to come. It is a legacy to be proud of.”

Top Ten Lots

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
82	Hans Coper, Monumental ovoid pot, 1968 World Auction Record	£80,000 - 120,000	£651,700 $882,337/€762,098
10	Hans Coper, Monumental 'Writhlington School' pot, 1972	£80,000 - 120,000	£554,400 $750,602/€648,315
90	Hans Coper, Large 'Bell' form, circa 1966	£50,000 - 70,000	£516,600 $699,425/€604,112
106	Hans Coper, ‘Cycladic’ arrow form, circa 1972	£40,000 - 60,000	£277,200 $375,301/€324,158
103	Hans Coper, Rare evolved 'Spade' form, circa 1970	£30,000 - 40,000	£252,000 $341,183/€294,689
98	Hans Coper, 'Spade' form, circa 1972	£30,000 - 40,000	£220,500 $298,535/€257,853
77	Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1960	£40,000 - 60,000	£207,900 $281,476/€243,118
81	Lucie Rie, Footed bowl, circa 1976	£50,000 - 70,000	£189,000 $255,887/€221,017
86	Hans Coper, ‘Spade' form, 1969	£30,000 - 40,000	£189,000 $255,887/€221,017
89	Hans Coper, Ovoid pot with disc top, circa 1972	£30,000 - 40,000	£163,800 $221,769/€191,548

New Auction Records

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
127	Richard Batterham, Pair of tall baluster vases, circa 1980	£4,000 - 6,000	£20,160 $27,295/€23,575
	*previous record price: £3,600 set in 2006
46	Norah Braden, Bowl, circa 1934	£1,500 - 2,000	£6,300 $8,530/€7,367
	*previous record price: £1,680 set in 2006
140	Alison Britton, 'Blue Jug', 1994	£3,000 - 4,000	£5,670 $7,677/€6,630
	*previous record price: £4,200 set in 2006
42	Michael Cardew, Bowl with 'Bird with Five Eggs' design, 1930	£4,000 - 6,000	£9,450 $12,794/€11,051
	*previous record price: £7,440 set in 2008
82	Hans Coper, Monumental ovoid pot, 1968	£80,000 - 120,000	£651,700 $882,337/€762,098
	*previous record price: £181,250 set in 2011
129	Gutte Eriksen, Four jars, circa 1980	£8,000 - 12,000	£18,900 $25,589/€22,102
	*previous record price: £7,500 set in 2013
130	Ian Godfrey, Large white chest of drawers, circa 1970	£2,000 - 3,000	£16,380 $22,177/€19,155
	*previous record price: £2,000 set in 2019
30	Thomas 'Sam' Haile, Dish with surrealist design, circa 1946	£3,000 - 4,000	£5,292 $7,165/€6,188
	*previous record price: £4,600 set in 1994
22	Ewen Henderson, Sack form, 1990	£4,000 - 6,000	£10,710 $14,500/€12,524
	*previous record price: £8,125 set in 2017
163	Akiko Hirai, Moon Jar, circa 2016	£4,000 - 6,000	£27,720 $37,530/€32,416
	*previous record price: £5,500 set in 2020
152	Nicholas Homoky, Three bowls, circa 1992	£1,500 - 2,000	£6,048 $8,188/€7,073
	*previous record price: $2,520 set in 2007
150	Ryûichi Kakurezaki, 'Bizen' style flower vase, circa 1990	£1,000 - 1,500	£3,528 $4,777/€4,126
	*previous record price: $6,600 set in 2007
154	Junko Kitamura, Large dish, circa 2000	£2,000 - 3,000	£7,560 $10,235/€8,841
	*previous record price: €2,600 set in 2009
142	Shõko Koike, Lidded 'Shell Vessel', circa 1997	£20,000 - 30,000	£52,920 $71,648/€61,885
	*previous record price: €15,315 set in 2008
8	Ladi Kwali, 'Aeroplane Water Pot', 1962	£6,000 - 9,000	£132,300 $179,121/€154,712
	*previous record price: £12,750 set in 2021
1	Bernard Leach, Charger with 'Tree of Life' design, circa 1924	£15,000 - 20,000	£97,020 $131,355/€113,455
	*previous record price: £52,500 set in 2018
114	David Leach, Large gobular vase, circa 1980	£2,000 - 3,000	£6,930 $9,383/€8,104
	*previous record price: £3,120 set in 2006
121	Janet Leach, Large bottle vase with lugs, circa 1980	£3,000 - 4,000	£6,930 $9,383/€8,104
	*previous record price: £2,000 set in 2015
159	Bodil Manz, 'Sandcast Jar in Porcelain', 2001	£2,000 - 3,000	£20,160 $27,295/€23,575
	*previous record price: $4,825 set in 2020
31	William Newland, Dish with fish design, 1950s	£2,000 - 3,000	£4,788 $6,482/€5,599
	*previous record price: £4,200 set in 2006
49	Katharine Pleydell-Bouverie, Early vase, circa 1926	£4,000 - 6,000	£4,032 $5,459/€4,715
	*previous record price: £3,500 set in 2008
125	Uichi Shimizu, Vase, circa 1995	£3,000 - 4,000	£8,190 $11,088/€9,577
	*previous record price: ¥660,000 set in 2020
153	Richard Slee, 'Lidded Jar', circa 1984	£2,000 - 3,00	£21,420 $29,001/€25,049
	*previous record price: $8,125 set in 2019
156	Angus Suttie, 'Sculpture in the Form of a Teapot', 1990	£2,000 - 3,000	£5,292 $7,165/€6,188
	*previous record price: £1,200 set in 2006
11	James Tower, 'Sea Piece', 1984	£12,000 - 18,000	£94,500 $127,944/€110,508
	*previous record price: £28,000 set in 2021
151	Shirō Tsujimura, 'Kohiki' style vase, circa 2005	£2,000 - 3,000	£12,600 $17,059/€14,734
	*previous record price: $10,000 set in 2011
128	Gertrud Vasegaard, 'Basin', circa 1976	£4,000 - 6,000	£23,940 $32,412/€27,995
	*previous record price: Kr.78,000 set in 2007
143	Monica Young, Large 'Tulip' form, circa 1998	£4,000 - 6,000	£6,930 $9,383/€8,104
	*previous record price: £3,500 set in 2019

Phillips’ Design Sale Realises £3 Million

London, 9 November 2021

Sale Total: £3,148,551 / $4,280,455 / €3,692,621

Lots Sold: 117 | Lots Offered: 137

Sold by Lot: 85% | Sold by Value: 90%

Domenico Raimondo, Head of Design, Europe and Senior International Specialist, said, “These results show a high degree of confidence among collectors for 20th century design, and deliver a positive message to the market. A strong depth of bidding continued throughout the sale, which was led by François-Xavier Lalanne’s iconic 'Agneau' from his whimsical 'Nouveaux Moutons' series. Further standout results include Jean Prouvé’s ‘Tropique' table, Zaha Hadid’s ‘Crater’ coffee table, and a rare ceiling light by Ettore Sottsass, Jr., demonstrating the broad panorama of design offered. Our international team continue to carefully curate our sales to celebrate and promote design in its many forms and we look forward to the Design sale in New York on 7 December.”

Top Ten Lots

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
207	François-Xavier Lalanne, 'Agneau', from the 'Nouveaux Moutons' series, designed 1996, executed 2006	£120,000 - 220,000	£403,200 $548,150/€472,873
206	Jean Prouvé, S.A.M. ‘Tropique' table, model no. 503, 1951	£80,000 - 120,000	£214,200 $291,205/€251,214
240	Ettore Sottsass, Jr., Rare ceiling light, model no. 12625, designed 1956	£70,000 - 90,000	£176,400 $239,816/€206,882
296	Zaha Hadid, ‘Crater’ coffee table, 2007	£15,000 - 20,000	£81,900 $111,343/€96,052
202	André Bloc, Free-form Boomerang desk, designed for the Villa Bellevue, Meudon, France, circa 1951	£20,000 - 30,000	£69,300 $94,213/€81,275
307	Angelo Lelii, Pair of 'Stella a 6' six-armed ceiling lights, circa 1959	£14,000 - 18,000	£69,300 $94,213/€81,275
248	Jean-Michel Frank, Console, circa 1932	£20,000 - 30,000	£69,300 $94,213/€81,275
282	Ron Arad, 'Before Summer’ chaise longue, 1992	£25,000 - 35,000	£69,300 $94,213/€81,275
276	Fontana Arte, Rare ceiling light, model no. 2075, circa 1960	£15,000 - 20,000	£56,700 $77,084/€66,498
299	Alessandro Mendini, ‘Spaziale’ chair, circa 1978	£10,000 - 15,000	£56,700 $77,084/€66,498

New Auction Records

Lot

Description

Estimate

Price Achieved

263

Frits Schlegel, Unique set of three easy chairs, circa 1949

£12,000 - 18,000

£23,940

$32,546/€28,077

*previous record price: £22,500 set in 2017

ABOUT PHILLIPS

Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century art and design. With dedicated expertise in the areas of 20th Century and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry, Phillips offers professional services and advice on all aspects of collecting. Auctions and exhibitions are held at salerooms in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, while clients are further served through representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips also offers an online auction platform accessible anywhere in the world. In addition to providing selling and buying opportunities through auction, Phillips brokers private sales and offers assistance with appraisals, valuations, and other financial services.

Visit www.phillips.com for further information.

ABOUT MAAK CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS

Established in 2009, Maak Contemporary Ceramics is the preeminent auction house for studio ceramics with a global audience. Working in association with Phillips for the collection of the late Dr John P Driscoll, Maak will offer for sale further curated selections in 2022/23. With 2021 representing a decade of Maak presenting regular auctions in London dedicated to the very best of studio ceramics and ceramic art through their online auction platform. Entrusted with the sale of important private collections, such as the Miami Private Collection in 2019 and the Dayabandhu Collection in 2020 as well as distinguished individual works, Maak has been well positioned to present the finest selections of ceramics in their highly anticipated auction schedule.

Maak provides specialist consultancy services to private collectors and institutions around the world with their specialist focus allowing them to nurture the market with a unique approach. Maak’s online presence offers a comprehensive resource for ceramic enthusiasts and includes news on the most up-to-date events and insider knowledge on the ceramic’s market. Visit www.maaklondon.com for further information.

PHILLIPS X MAAK

Combining Phillips’ international prestige in Design sales and Maak Contemporary Ceramics’ specialist ceramics expertise, the two auction houses came together to bring the collection of the late Dr. John P Driscoll to auction for the first time. The sale was accompanied by a catalogue with an essay by Glenn Adamson and Simon Olding. The auction catalogue references both the personal and historic wealth of this collection.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Prices Achieved include the buyer's premium and are reported net of applicable fees.

Phillips is not responsible for typographical errors or omissions.

PRESS CONTACTS:

LONDON - Katie Carder, Head of Press, Europe kcarder@phillips.com +44 20 7901 7938

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VISIT US AT: www.phillips.com

10 November 2021

Phillips x Maak Achieve £6.5 Million for The Art of Fire: Selections from the Dr John P. Driscoll Collection