My wife just bought these at auction ....

I tried to explain by the time we pay commission and carriage there will be no profit on it ... The pot is mike dodds , tea pot is arabia and the dish is french studio??? What do you's lot think????

Good for her; a true potaholic.

dont encourage her we are trying to become more diserning .. selling all the troika and carlton ware money boxes and hopefully reinvesting in some pottery .. what would you suggest?? I was thinking wallwork... or janet leach... need to start selling though ....

I like Carlton ware money boxes Love the tray

Brin so do i but sometimes you have to move on.... I think as i get older I am looking for a bit more sole in my surroundings... Thats why i love pottery ..

andy.pauline wrote:dont encourage her we are trying to become more diserning .. selling all the troika and carlton ware money boxes and hopefully reinvesting in some pottery .. what would you suggest?? I was thinking wallwork... or janet leach... need to start selling though ....

I think that the pieces that your wife bought look good together and really you should buy what you like and hope that it might be a good investment.

Alan Wallwork items are fetching money these days and there is a chance of overpaying if you are not sure of the market. On the other hand I think that Janet Leach's work is undervalued and, I know that it isn't everyones cup of tea, but if you like it then this is the time to buy.

I agree with Studio Pots , the pieces your wife bought are fine ( not what I would have bought but we all have different tastes ), if it's investment your after then buying established pieces is a bit like missing the boat so to speak , I am biased in that I like studio pieces , preferably british and I am am spoilt for choice as this country has some of the finest potters around imo, a good ceramic book might help you decide who /what ticks the boxes for you both then go for it , buy the best you can afford and enjoy them , some pieces might seem expensive but I think it's all relevant when we pay for things like a night out , meals , drinks etc .

I agree with SP and ED regarding "investing" in pottery.

Don't ever buy pottery for investment just because others say it's a good investment, buy items you (or your wife!) personally like a lot. Investing in ceramics is fairly high risk, but if you chose something you really like, should the bottom fall out of the market, at least you are left with a pot you like.

Also as Ed mentions, try and do your homework a fair bit first, so that you can see some of the vast range of potters out there.

first and foremost always buy what you like. If oyu're buying for investment it's usually best to avoid what's hot at the moment because you'll lose money when it goes off the boil (eg Troika prices are now coming down). Always buy quality because prices will recover. And, last but not least, try to get it at wholesale rather than retail price.

I agree 100%

NaomiM wrote: And, last but not least, try to get it at wholesale rather than retail price.

Give the lad a clue how he can do that.

studio-pots wrote:

NaomiM wrote: And, last but not least, try to get it at wholesale rather than retail price.

Give the lad a clue how he can do that.

You brazenly ask for a discount.
And if you get to know the dealers or potters, personally, and buy from them regularly, they'll usually do you a discount.

Potty wrote:

Also as Ed mentions, try and do your homework a fair bit first, so that you can see some of the vast range of potters out there.

Always useful when you come across an item where the seller hasn't a clue what it is, but you do. You can get some great bargains that way.

Don't buy damaged items, (saying that, I do if it's very cheap, because I keep it as a reference piece).

is the tray marked at all ??

NaomiM wrote:

studio-pots wrote:

NaomiM wrote: And, last but not least, try to get it at wholesale rather than retail price.

Give the lad a clue how he can do that.

You brazenly ask for a discount.
And if you get to know the dealers or potters, personally, and buy from them regularly, they'll usually do you a discount.

That's fine but no need to be embarrassed. Your original suggestion appeared to imply you needed to buy in bulk. That works too and will get an even bigger discount................ without embarassment.

Thanks for the comments... as for the troika i bought when it was at the top as well as the whitefriars.. 700 for a double base troika 1500 for a banjo vase .. so i know all about things going off the boil... been watching auction a lot ... trying to judge the market for alan wallwork... i think his work is amazing... obviously the bigger pieces are the most appealing... I have got lots of reference books my main interests have been 50s to 70s design.. brin i will tell you the markings when it arrives... thanks again...

Thank you

I think modern studio potters such as Alan Wallwork, Peter Beard, John Maltby, to name just 3 (and there are dozens more), are worth a punt. I'm seeing them in museums which will enhance their reputations in the long term. In 20 years or so they'll be considered the Lucie Ries and Hans Coopers of their generation.

studio-pots wrote:

NaomiM wrote:

studio-pots wrote:

NaomiM wrote: And, last but not least, try to get it at wholesale rather than retail price.

Give the lad a clue how he can do that.

You brazenly ask for a discount.
And if you get to know the dealers or potters, personally, and buy from them regularly, they'll usually do you a discount.

That's fine but no need to be embarrassed. Your original suggestion appeared to imply you needed to buy in bulk. That works too and will get an even bigger discount................ without embarassment.

Ooh, what I wouldn't give for a roomful of Peter Beards bought wholesale. Let me just mortgage the house.

I have been collecting for years ... not just pottery any good design.It has just happened that several of my favourite pieces are pottery... So everything i have posted have been collected over years.. but time to clear out some things.... I know all about buying at the top of the market ... troika double base bonhams 700 .. banjo vase cinnamon.. 1500.... and brian Willsher when he was at the hight of his popularity.... i was fortunate to meet brian... I have many source books and done a lot of looking at different potters... when i first seen Wallworks work I loved it was he producing any where near the extent of troika??? The problem is yous southerners drive the market place so some great potteries like Drymen will de overlooked... they are some of my favourite pieces... But ther is a real lack of stuff here very thin on the ground... Brin i will post picture when it arrives...

Watching Antiques Road Trip they seem to get far more bargains, and make a lot more money, when they tour Scotland, compared to the South. Prices in the South are very high, but collectors aren't necessarily prepared to pay them. I know a number of antiques dealers who've given up in recent years. A lot of the ones I chat to at the fairs are fellow collectors, selling stuff they bought 10-20yrs ago, often for the same prices they bought them for, so they can put the money towards something else.

i'd agree with that Naomi