According to Bernard Bumpus, author of Pâte-sur-Pâte, The Art of Ceramic Relief Decoration 1849-1992, the works Solon referred to most certainly include the monumental Minton peacock blue pâte-sur-pâte vase The Spartan Girls Before King Lycurgus that surfaced at Christie's New York on April 5.
Solon began work on his final masterpiece in September 1902 and laboured for over eight months. It is likely that it was destined for the Louisiana Purchase International Exposition in St Louis, 1904, the same year that the French artist reluctantly retired from Minton after a 34-year career at the factory.
The 2ft 10in (86.5cm) high baluster vase depicts Lycurgus - 'the Father of Sparta' who is credited with developing the Spartan Code of Law c.800 BC. The great lawgiver is seated on a throne flanked by warriors and a bevy of scantily clad beauties kneeling, wrestling and making offerings at his feet. The neck and foot of the masterwork are enriched in green and pale blue pâte-sur-pâte with anthemion and stylized lotus.
Deep-pocketed fans of pâte-sur-pâte from across the globe (there are serious collectors in the US, UK, Australia and the Far East) keep sending records tumbling. Back in April 2005, Christie's saw bidding soar to a record $260,000 (£144,440) for a monumental 3ft 2in (1.67m) high vase made for the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle. It sold to Kent dealer John Andrews of Scottow Antiques who was bidding for a British-based client. In October last year that level was topped in the same rooms when the so called Jubilee vase, another Solon creation, realised $460,000 (£255,555) establishing in the process a new auction high for English ceramics.
Now the pâte-sur-pâte and the British ceramic record have tumbled again with this latest Solon appearance. Four active bidders pushed the price to $650,000/£325,000 (plus 20/12% buyer's premium).
By Stephanie Harris
