Hans Coper

https://www.phillips.com/auctions/auction/UK050222

The results of the Phillips design sale. Scroll down and the Coper's are in the 70's. Big prices far exceeding estimates. One sold for £342.000.

Big prices for absolutely superb pots, the Akiko pieces didn't fare so well, both sold below their lower estimates, nice to see all of the design holding up well with some good prices.

A majestic and rather lonely looking Hans coper at York COCA.

This is a rather interesting Hans Coper bowl from the York COCA. There is a similar one in the V&A collection which dates it to the mid 1950's. There is a certain experimental nature to the style, As though he had not quite selected a clear path as to what is future work would be  

It is often better in seeing Hans Coper or Lucie Rie out of the really big shows  of their work. These two look nice each other rather nicely



At COCA York. June 2023.

Big Coper piece from the Bill Ismay collection at COCA York. June 2023

That could be the one that Bill carried around London in a carrier bag and then by train to Wakefield. The episode was related to me by the ceramicist Graham Burr and his wife, Joan.

Bill Ismay had 30 Coper pots and 34 Bernard Leach.
I added a further note to the very large grain jar by Muchael Cardew.77 cms high ii must have weighed a lot. He took it home from London to Wakefield in a suitcase!

I saw your comment about the Cardew. Bill didn't drive. I think that he might have cadged a lift off other collectors at local exhibitions but his visits to London were always on the train.

The Black Spade vase can often feel rather dramatic in Hans Coper's work.

From the Bill Ismay collection York COCA June 2023

So let us get in out Time Machine. Before Hans Coper became the expensive megastar of Studio Pottery. Just at the  start of when the Big London auction houses started getting interested in British Studio. Over 40 years in fact, to the very early 1980's! Mind you, he has never ever been cheap!

Reading Left to right.
Lot 120/ 16,5 cms . circa 1969. Estimate £800-£1200. Th s one had appeared in the V& exhibition Coper/Collingwood in 1969

Lot12/ 25 cms circa 1969. Estimate £1200-£1800. This one had also appeared in the Coper Collingwood 1969 exhibition in 1969.

Lot 122/ 26 cms circa 1969. Estimate £1500-£2000.

Lot 123/ 18,5 cms Estimate £1500-£2000

Lot 124/ 14,7 cms. Estimate £800-£1200.

House back then was £20k so now worth £250k x12

You obviously had a luxury house Crawford! We bought our first house in 1973 when we lived in Plymouth. A 1930's 3 bedroom semi was £6750!

https://www.propertyinvestmentproject.co.uk/property-statistics/nationwide-average-house-price/

Well by this

1973 £10k
1982 £27k

going against house prices that have done very well over the last 50 year would still put a 2k Coper at x10 so 20k. Some have done x100! = £200k