On December 13, Woolley & Wallis of Salisbury is selling a substantial collection of studio pottery assembled by the late Prof Luke Herrmann (1932-2016).
Formed from 1987 onwards, the group includes major British potters from both the Leach tradition and the modern movement of Lucie Rie, Hans Coper and their followers John Ward, John Maltby, Jennifer Lee and Edmund De Waal.
In 1994, the collection appeared in an exhibition on studio pottery at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, where Herrmann had worked in the 1950s and ‘60s.
This 7in (17.5cm) wide porcelain footed bowl by Rie (1902-95), which is covered in a translucent apple green glaze with manganese speckles and a fluxing and running bronze glaze to the rim, is estimated at £20,000-30,000.
woolleyandwallis.co.uk or see this item on thesaleroom.com
This matching pair of 20-bore no 1 model sidelock ejector guns by Spanish maker AYA belonged to Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson – the highest-scoring RAF fighter pilot of the Second World War.
Johnson shot down 38 enemy aircraft in the skies over Europe from June 1941-September 1944. He flew more than 1000 missions over the course of the war and was never shot down. Johnson likened air combat to wildfowling, a pursuit he had enjoyed in his youth.
The pair is included in Gavin Gardner’s sporting gun sale, held at Sotheby’s in New Bond Street on December 13. Estimate £7000-9000.
A gold memorial ring made for one of Nelson’s ‘Band of Brothers’ – and containing a lock of the admiral’s hair – is to be offered at Duke’s of Dorchester on December 6-8th.
Inscribed Lord Nelson Obt. 21st October 1805. A.47, it is thought to be unique from the 58 enamelled rings famously commissioned after Nelson’s death by his brother from the jeweller John Salter.
The ring has been in a family collection for over a century and is expected to sell for up to £10,000.
dukes-auctions.com or see this item on thesaleroom.com
