The biggest money was reserved for a cluster of high-fired early Ruskin pottery wares. Sixteen of the 35 Ruskin entries came from one vendor who had decided to take advantage of the currently buoyant market.
Most were taken up by collectors, including an inverted 83/4in (22.5cm) baluster-shaped vase, dated 1924. Covered in a mottled brown, purple and red flambé glaze, it had a covering of green and black, an impressed mark and made £3000.
Another collector bid £3000 for a second high-fired vase, dated 1926, of ovoid shape with a short everted rim, 10in (25cm) high, covered in a liver-red and purple flambé glaze with turquoise clouding.
Also notable was an earlier Ruskin deep blue and red-blue flambé glazed bottle vase, dated 1905 which made a mid-estimate £2400.
The sale also had a local collection of early Staffordshire animals, foremost of which was a pair of flat-back models of cockerels, late 19th century. In good condition with only some wear to the gilt, they took £1100 from a local dealer.
A mid-19th century Staffordshire figural spill vase in excellent condition, modelled with a recumbent lion and three cubs before a tree trunk brought a double estimate from the trade at £820.
Decorative arts items included a Gordon Russell walnut dining room suite and two pairs of Arts and Crafts curtains designed by Sidney Mawson.
The c.1930 dining suite of a table, six rail-back chairs, a walnut burr, oak and oak sideboard, and a serving table, took £3300 from the trade. The c.1890 curtains, 8ft 9in by 5ft 6in (2.65m x 1.65m) Mawson designed for Morton & Co, sold at £1100.
Phillips, Knowle, June 13
Buyer's premium: 15/10 per cent
High-fired Ruskin is hottest seller
UK: THE biannual sale of ceramics, glass, Oriental wares and decorative arts at Phillips’ Midlands operation saw keen enough trade and private bidding to produce a £138,000 sale total with a very respectable 82 per cent sold by lot.
