WEMYSS WARE
LARGE PAIR OF RARE TWIN-HANDLED VASES, LATE 19TH CENTURY
£650
Auction: 7 November 2012 at 11:00 GMT
Description
each decorated with male and female Chinese figures, the male figures fishing, the female figures with children, in a landscape reserved on a pale lemon ground, each with painted script mark under base WEMYSS (2)
Dimensions
66cm high
Footnote
Provenance: Freda Nekola Collection
Literature: Davis, Peter; De Rin, Victoria; Macmillan, David & Rankine, Robert, 'Wemyss Ware: A Decorative Scottish Pottery', Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1986, p. 58
Note:
Freda Morrow Brown (née Nekola) (1919-2011) was the granddaughter of Karel Nekola, master decorator and co-founder of Wemyss Ware. She had fond memories of watching Karel and his son Josef, "Uncle Jo", working in their studio, smoking their pipes and experimenting with different painting techniques. The rare pieces on offer here have been in the continuous possession of the Nekola family since the day they were made.
A few major pieces exist in the Chinese style, either in terms of decoration or of shape, however the concept was not sustained, perhaps because it was too expensive or time-consuming to develop properly. Some of the larger items were listed in the catalogues until the Fife Pottery closed in 1930.
These magnificent vases used to grace the landing of Mrs Morrow Brown's home and were filled with silk poppies. They remain in perfect condition, despite the attentions of two boisterous children and a Great Dane.