Exciting New Ceramics & Glass Fair in London

I love a good fair, especially those run by Specialist Glass Fairs. The dynamic duo behind the rapidly expanding portfolio are delighted to announce an all-new fair to be held at Dulwich College in South London on Sunday 28th March. To be held in the beautiful and aptly Modernist style Christison Hall from 10.30am until 4pm, the fair sees the addition of ceramics dealers to the usual stable of fabulous glass dealers. Visitors will be able to browse all types of decorative and collectable glass and ceramics from across the centuries; from Powell to Poole, Moorcroft to Murray and faience to Fat Lava.
Specialists in 18th century drinking glasses, stylish and hotly desirable Scandinavian and Italian pieces, antique continental glass such as Gallé and Lalique, and British art glass will exhibit alongside trusted quality ceramics experts and contemporary glass and ceramics makers. Amongst them, these two stunning pieces will be displayed. The first is a rare 1960s Poole Pottery 'Tree of Life' charger by Tony Morris, available from Mark Hitchings, and the second is an Arts and Crafts candelabra in 'Straw Opal' glass by James Powell and Sons, c1890, which will be available from Nigel Benson.
I'll also be there signing a full range of my books and the new edition of the Miller's Collectables Price Guide and Handbook 2010-2011, together with a limited quantity of the book that accompanies my new BBC2 TV series, 'Cracking Antiques'. For more information, check out the fair's website at www.gcse21.com. Make a note in your diary, and I hope to see you there!

Woman's Hour

Yesterday I was honoured to be asked onto BBC Radio 4's 'Woman's Hour', to speak about Jessie Tait and her 1950s-70s designs for Midwinter.
I was accompanying Professor Cheryl Buckley, who had been lucky enough to meet Tait herself during her research into the role of woman designers in the ceramics industry. If you want to listen to what we discussed, led by presenter Jane Garvey, you can do so by clicking here.

BBC's Cracking Antiques is announced

Cracking Antiques is on a myth-busting mission to prove that people can add style and glamour to any type of home by investing in second-hand, vintage and antique furnishings – without breaking the bank.

The prime-time series, coming to BBC Two from April 7th at 8.30pm is presented by interior designer Kathryn Rayward and antiques expert Mark Hill.

Kathryn and Mark want to take the pain and shame out of buying old. From town houses to terraced houses, 18th-century French Rococo to shabby chic, they want to show that antiques and vintage furnishings can help create a stylish, fashionable home and are often the better buy.

Cracking Antiques shows that spending wisely on second-hand objects can be a cheaper and unique alternative to much of what the High Street has to offer, and in comparison, antiques are well-made and built to last so are also a much more environmentally sound investment.

The nation loves nothing more than trawling for trinkets and treasures at the thousands of antiques fairs, car boot sales and auction houses up and down the country, and as a result the British antiques industry is highly lucrative. But are people buying the right items, at the right price?

Mark Hill says: "Unique investments in quality and craftsmanship that will last a lifetime, prices that have never been more affordable, and individual statement pieces that will make a house your home, tell a story, and shout out your true personality. Antiques need to be taken off their pedestal and we should allow them to become exuberant and enjoyable parts of our lives."

Kathryn Rayward says: "Buying antiques is recycling at its most glamorous! Purchasing second-hand goods means we're not cutting down trees and damaging the planet. Embracing unloved family heirlooms or giving a quick lick of paint to a cheap and cheerful junk shop find can create a beautiful and utterly unique home."

Throughout the series, Kathryn offers interior design ideas and practical suggestions on how to customise and revamp the tired and the distressed to transform them into glamorous and modern pieces. Meanwhile Mark is on hand with his top tips and helpful advice on the items to buy now, that could go up in value in the future.

From furniture to light fittings, curtains to crockery, Cracking Antiques provides the all-important guide to furnishing a home with classic pieces, how to bag a bargain and how to buy an investment piece for the future.

BBC Commissioning Editor, Jo Ball, says: "Mark and Kathryn are great talents and I hope they will make the world of antiques accessible to everyone."

Cracking Antiques is a Silver River production. The executive producer at Silver River is Dan Adamson and the series producer at Silver River is Donna McLaughlin.

The 6x30-minute series will be broadcast on BBC Two, from 7th April at 8.30pm.

Image of Mark Hill & Kathryn Rayward courtesy of the BBC and Silver River Productions, and text courtesy of BBC Press Office, the original is here.

A comprehensive book will be published to tie-in with the series, priced at £18.99, click here to find out more. Image of cover courtesy of Mitchell Beazley.

Umbrella Stand Estimated to Fetch Half A Million!

Just imagine walking home on a wet and windswept evening balancing an umbrella and your bag precariously as you try to shelter from the elements. You just want to get home, shove the umbrella in its stand, make a warm cup of tea and dry out.
Just imagine if that neglected 'umbrella stand' turned out to be an 18th century Imperial Chinese vase valued at up to half a million pounds!
Exactly this happened to a couple who recently invited auctioneer Guy Schwinge of Hy Duke & Sons in Dorchester to their home for a routine valuation. Just imagine their shock! Schwinge believes that the vase was almost certainly made for the Emperor Qianlong around 1740, and it may also have been owned at one time by Florence Nightingale.
Given to the couple as a gift around 50 years ago, it is sadly damaged as one would expect after a few wet, wintry evenings of being irritated. Had it not been damaged, it may have fetched up to £1million.
The vase comes up for auction on Thursday 11th February - I wonder what it will fetch? Fresh to market, fine quality and rare Chinese porcelain has been soaring in the auction rooms lately, with literally millions of pounds exchanging hands. Only last year, my old colleague and friend James Bridges of auctioneers Martel Maides found two ignored bowls in a house on the Channel Islands which went back home for a total of nearly £1.2million. One to watch for sure.

Abstract Soviet-style vase

Very early one cold, windy and rainy morning this Autumn, I found this vase at a fair in the South of England. Against the grey day, it did rather stand out. I automatically presumed it was postwar Italian from fifty paces, so honed in to have a closer look. Whilst it looked like the type of thing produced in Soviet Russia during the 1920s & 30s, upon closer inspection the quality and style of decoration didn't quite match up.
Perhaps it was some commercially oriented 'rip-off', produced in a factory in another Eastern bloc country like Poland any time from the 60s onwards? Or maybe it was the work of some small ceramics company somewhere, made in the past couple of decades by someone who was inspired by a book on Soviet ceramics?
The mark on the base, a basic dash of the brush, meant nothing and was almost applied so that it was at least 'marked'. Having never seen one before, and as I rather liked its colourful abstract design that is somewhat reminiscent of a cityscape, I bought it. Later, I showed it to a friend, who is an experienced dealer in ceramics. Recalling one she thought she'd seen in someone's collection some years back, she agreed and also rather liked it. Another colleague agreed it was postwar, but hadn't seen one either.
Or maybe it was brand spanking new - it was most certainly an option, much as I'd prefer to ignore the signs. And new is most probably what it is - two esteemed colleagues spotted two pieces with an identical pattern on a stand at another flea market this weekend. Although it doesn't confirm they were made in China yesterday, that pretty much gives it away!
Whilst it's not a reproduction, or a fake, of a Soviet Constructivist piece, it is attempting the style. I'd spent the previous couple of months doing nearly every major fair in the country, and visit plenty of junk, retro and vintage shops every week - I hadn't spotted one before, so they must be pretty fresh to the market. My friend must have been mistaken. Still - if you like it, as I do, there's no reason not to buy one at the right price!

Fat Lava on TV

Tipped off by a good friend who knows how I like to spot things I'm interested in on TV, I watched a couple of episodes of the very amusing new BBC Two comedy 'Miranda' last night. And sure enough, the Fat Lava vases I was promised were there.
The series details the haphazard and hilarious life of Miranda, a 34 year old singleton who runs a joke and junk shop in leafy Surrey. And it's not just her shop that's filled with vintage gems - all the sets, including the restaurant next door, are bag up-to-date with a very contemporary mix of antique, vintage, retro and modern.

Friends Doing Well - II

Back in January, I was delighted to come across my friend and old Sotheby's colleague Sara Covelli and her new business Covelli Tennant. This week another one of my old friends and erstwhile colleagues at Sotheby's, James Bridges of Martel Maides in Guernsey, hit the news.
Undertaking a house contents valuation for a Channel Islands family, James found three Chinese famille rose porcelain bowls; a pair of the bowl above, and the single one below. Their six-character marks identified them as being from the Yongzheng period (1723-35) and these marks did indeed represent the period these bowls were made in.
This gourd and bat pattern (above) is extremely rare, and represents a long, rich and happy life. A single bowl bearing the design sold at Christie's in 2006 for over $700,000. Understandably, James and Martel Maides had high hopes for this pair! Catalogued by consultant expert Julian Thompson, and with an estimate 'On Request', they sold at a stunning £1.02 million.
The single bowl (above), depicting Shou Lao, the god of immortality, riding a stag and accompanied by an Immortal, is not quite as rare, with the pattern sometimes being found on later Kangxi wares. It also bore a crack. As such, the estimate was pitched at a cautious £10,000-15,000. Showing the strength of today's Chinese demand for early and desirable 'mark and period' porcelain, the bowl fetched £280,000 on the day. Both went to the same Far Eastern buyer, and most probably went 'home'.
Well done James - from spotting these rare Asian treasures to marketing and selling them for a record £1.3 million!
To read more about the bowls, click here.

Fat Lava at Bygone Times

I've just got back from the fantastic Bygone Times, in Eccleston, near Chorley in Lancashire. This really is one of my favourite places in the entire country to visit. Two truly enormous warehouses literally crammed with everything from Georgian to modern await you - with prices from as little as a pound or two. The centre is best for vintage, retro and antique ceramics, glass and homewares, although you'll find a fair few bits of furniture to tempt as well.
What a surprise to find, on this visit, a new (to me, anyway) stand literally filled with fabulous Fat Lava! I was lucky enough to be able to meet the owner, Stuart, who is a real fount of knowledge and a true enthusiast. Prices are very competitive, especially when you consider postage and packing costs when buying online. As well as offering a huge selection of standard sized vases by makers including Ceramano, Carstens, Scheurich, Bay and Ruscha, there's a great selection of whopping floor vases that are becoming harder to find undamaged condition today.
I couldn't help but buy a few (well, seven) pieces to add to my collection, which I am delighted with. If you visit Bygone Times, even if Fat Lava isn't your thing, I challenge you to leave empty handed!

Bargaining in Beijing

Our first stop was the capital city of Beijing, known as Peking until the Revolution in 1949. After a recouperative night's sleep following the 9 hour flight from London, I set off mid-morning to enormous Panjiayuan antiques market in the south east of the city. Although many flea markets are overrun with tourists, particularly in or near the centre of the city, this is more authentic and apparently many centrally based dealers buy here.
The market compound is divided into two main sections, wide alleyways lined with permanent shops, and a truly vast open sided barn where sellers spread out rugs or blankets to display their wares for sale. I'm told that many are peasants who make their way into town after buying in the provinces, but I think most are really canny professionals.
By the time our taxi pulled up mid-morning, only a fifth of the space was still occupied - trade seemingly starts and tails off very early, and Saturday and Sunday are the best and busiest days. But there were still over 200 'stalls', so the hunt was on. I had a good look round first to see what items were repeated across stands - obviously these would be factory produced contemporary pieces. Almost dizzy from the enormous selection, I spotted an appealing blue and white ceramic bottle vase at one stand, and a bright, three-coloured 'Peking glass' vase at another. Although I also wanted some bronze and jade, the quality of these looked either too poor or too obviously 'old'. Plus I also collect glass, and I've always liked blue & white porcelain and been interested in the marks on the bases.
Bartering is obligatory here. The problem is that, as this isn't really on the main tourist trail despite the dual language signage, nobody speaks English! The universal languages of gesticulation and facial expressions come into play, along with a calculator to indicate the price.
The blue and white vase (18cm/7in high) was up first and the seller stabbed 1,200 yuan (£110/$175) into the calculator. I countered with a cheeky 120 yuan (£12/$18). In a second's time I was given the calculator again and the new price was 900 yuan. I typed 120 yuan again. Huffing and puffing ensued and led to an offer of 600 yuan. Holding my position, I firmly retyped 120 yuan, accompanying it with a grim expression. He took the calculator back and turned his back on me with a theatrical shrug. I began to walk away. He grabbed my arm gently and thrust the calculator back in my face. The screen read 150 yuan. I smiled and took out a 100 yuan note from my back pocket and rustled a 20 yuan note out of my wallet which I had previously prepared to only contain small notes. He turned away, and I began to walk away again. This time he shouted and grabbed my arm, nodding to accept the cash. Within seconds the vase was wrapped in torn newspaper and in a plastic bag and I had handed over my cash. I guess it's sometimes good to go late in the day, even though it was early for me!
Onto the glass vase (15cm/6in high), which was one of only two I saw in the whole place. After I pointed it out, the lady seller proudly shouted out 'Older!' with a grin. The calculator price was 1,800 yuan (£160/$260). Fired by my last bargain, I typed 100 yuan (£9/$15) in and unsurprisingly nearly blew the deal! After I smiled to show the game had opened, the calculator was returned with a 1,500 yuan price tag. I pushed my luck and went to 120 yuan. The next price was 920. I began to turn away and the immediate next price was 600. I tried 120 again, but was met with a serious 'NO!' type of expression. Clearly it was time for me to move again, so I typed 150 yuan. The deal was back on track. The price dropped again to 450 yuan, as she pointed out the birds and flowers on the vase and reiterated the 'Older!' exclamation. I shrugged and looked bored and the price became 300 yuan. I immediately countered with 180 yuan (£17/$26) and ran my hand firmly across my neck to show this was my final price. She barked at her colleague and within seconds the vase was wrapped in scrumpled newspaper and in a bag as she looked theatrically distraught, shaking her head. We shook hands, and vase, cash and smiles were exchanged. Wow - an intense and rapid experience again!
We then took a calming walk around the rest of the mini-streets inside the market compound, looking into the many shops that stocked everything from Ming dynasty style furniture to yet more ceramics, bronzes and jades. Prices seemed higher, but shop owners were very keen to get bartering going by proffering calculators and motioning at pieces that I had looked at. Everyone has something to sell, and they're admirably not shy about trying to sell it to you, showing the country's centuries' long experience in trading. A tip though - as with any bartering, always be polite, respectful, cheerful, gentle and show good intentions. Rudeness will get you nowhere.
By midday, the market appeared to be slowing down. A few other Westerners had arrived by taxi and browsed around. Many seemed taken by the bright, jaunty colours of the more modern pieces on offer, but a shop selling (surprisingly) apparently original gramophones, cameras and Bakelite radios also attracted plenty of attention.
As the market is somewhat out of the way, hailing a taxi back to the centre (25mins) was more of a trial than bartering. Many guide books, such as our excellent and thoroughly trustworthy Moon guide, recommend booking a car for the return trip and this seems like good advice. As we sped away to the sound of Chinese pop blaring from the radio, I though about showing my new purchases to a couple of colleagues on the Antiques Roadshow.
Although I have no doubt that they are modern reproductions from the £27 ($43) total price and suspicious presence of mud on the bodies, I want to know exactly how an expert can tell, and what the marks on the bottoms (one shown above) mean. I also wonder how old they actually are? I'll let you know when I find out. Still, none of this matters to me - both are pieces that I like, and they make affordable souvenirs of a highly memorable experience.

Read Experts' Secret Bargain Sources!

This month's BBC Homes & Antiques magazine is even more than packed than ever with inspirational and practical information about collecting and living with antiques and collectables. In this month's issue, insiders reveal their 'trade secret' favourite hunting grounds, be they antiques centres, specialists, auctions or junk shops. I was delighted to be asked to contribute, so buy your copy now to find out where I go to find bargains... You'll also be able to read about the favourite personal possessions of a number of Antiques Roadshow experts, a fascinating article from Roadshow colleague Marc Allum on vintage biscuit tins, and much, much more!

I hate 'word clouds'

Because:
* They look like something has gone terribly wrong with the website.
* They do not demonstrate linear thought patterns.
*They are confused and confusing.
* They are a typical, pretentious Web 2.0 gimmick.
* My eyes and head hurt when straining to read the smallest fonts.
* Half the population don't know what they are.
* Clouds are gaseous, nebulous, amorphous, opaque, and lack substance - hardly attributes that good content should take.

Okay, rant over.

Prehistoric Designs on Modern Ceramics & Glass

Having seen so many prehistoric, neolithic and paleolithic designs on modern ceramics and glass, I've often wondered how much these were inspired and driven by the discovery of some caves. In Summer 1940, four French teenagers out walking their dog in the Dordogne discovered a cave, the walls of which were covered with prehistoric cave paintings of animals and hunting scenes. Archaeologists soon found that this was just the start - there was a whole network of caves, all with perfectly preserved prehistoric art.
The sleepy French village of Lascaux became world famous instantly. In fact, by 1955, over 1,200 visitors arrived every day to see this ancient wonder, dating back some 16,000 years. The caves were closed in 1963, with a replica opening nearby in 1983. Much local pottery is decorated with similar motifs, and mades great souvenirs. But I think the inspiration spread further than tourist wares. Consider Eric Hoglund's designs for Boda, some Vallauris patterns, and particularly this 1960s-70s West German Scheurich 'Montignac' range vase, which really does resemble the original cave art. And to tie this example in even closer, 'Montignac' is the nearest town to Lascaux.

Berlin

Last weekend was spent in Berlin, visiting friends, but also indulging in more than a little hunting around the flea markets and vintage shops of this trendy city.
First stop was Deco Arts in Motzstrasse, in the Schoneberg district. I had passed this shop many a time, and each time it was closed. Thankfully, this fourth (or maybe fifth!) time round, I was lucky, and the door was open. Charming interior decorator Marie-Pascale certainly has an eye for mid-century modern, and her smart shop is packed with treasures from around Europe, including furniture, lighting, ceramics and glass. One reason why I was so keen to look around was the price point there's plenty to buy at well under 100 euros, and prices in general are very sensible and excrutiatingly affordable. I was tempted by a rather lovely Ceramano vase at a bargainous 25 euros, but as the weekend was still young and hand baggage was tight, I grudgingly left it behind. I really do recommend a visit to this Modern, and Modernist, palace - I'll be back for sure.
Saturday continued with a visit to the famous flea market at Strasse des 17 Juni, near the S-bahn station at Tiergarten. Billed as Berlin's biggest and best, it had a lot to live up to. And meet it, this place did. Four long avenues of stalls selling all manner of merchandise offer something for every one, dating from the 18th century to sometime last year. Prices are all negotiable, but be polite, as a demand from a tourist that is perceived as rude will only end up with the seller clamming up completely. I saw it happen!
My two tips for this superb market are to look out for Turkish stand holders, who seemed to have the best stuff, and also to make sure you leave time to look through the book stands. There were plenty of incredibly good reference books for sale amidst the many on militaria. Throwing cares of the size of hand luggage to the wind, I bought what I consider to be a highly exciting object. The quality is very high and it's not something I can put my finger on. I even asked a fellow glass expert, and he had no idea but agreed with me that it really is very good. More on that one later
Desperately in need of some lunch, some four hours after I should have had it, I caught the S-bahn into east Berlin, only to be derailed again by a fantastically interesting shop called Fundus Verkauf, just of Freidrichstrasse, on Behrenstrasse 14. This emporium sells costumes, furniture and even partial sets used in Berlin's operas and theatre productions. A place to find something a little bit 'different' as a souvenir, it's also filled with tourists giggling as they climb into a silver sequin covered spangly jumpsuit, or try an 18thC dandy's costume on for size. Prices can be high, but it's not surprising as every piece is entirely unique. This twice life-sized harp and enormous gilt wood swan on wheels (above) were surely essential souvenirs!
I also popped in to the Berlin Antikmarkt, in a series of railway arches under Freidrichstrasse's rail station. I come here every time I visit the city, and always walk out empty handed. It's not that the 30 or more stands have nothing good, in fact quite the reverse, it's just that prices and quality are generally very high - too high for my pocket. Although the centre's focus is very much on the 'antique', I always enjoy a walk around Karin Schabel's beautiful stand where fine 20th century items are beautifully displayed.
Sunday saw a visit to the considerably smaller, but no less worthwhile, flea market at Arkona platz, in the Mitte district of east Berlin. Mitte is largely populated by trendy twenty-to-forty-somethings and, as you would expect, this market caters towards their 1950s-80s retro tastes. Many stallholders put a little more effort into their displays, and vintage technology makes an appearance amongst the usual lighting, furniture, ceramics and glass.
I bought a couple of things, including a Roth Keramik vase. It's small, and far from being the rarest piece, but for 10 euros, I could hardly leave without it. Prices for this desirable range have more than quadrupled over the past 12 months, so I think my investment is safe - this would fetch around £40 if sold online today. A cooling glass of wine and some delicious dim sum finished off a relaxing, and successful, weekend before the flight home.

...and Wales made three

July has been a busy month for me. In addition to my usual jobs, this month I enjoyed three Antiques Roadshows in nearly as many weeks. I wrote about Melrose below, and that was followed up a few days later by an event at Bletchley Park, just outside Milton Keynes. If you think you recognise the name, you probably do. Bletchley was home to the talented team led by Alan Turing who broke the code used by Hitler's 'Enigma' machines. Without this breakthrough, the course of World War II would have gone very differently, and our home computers may not be where they are today.
Over 3,500 people attended the event on a sunny Sunday - not quite a record, but up there with the busiest Roadshows, so I was told. The image above shows the house as all the specialists arrived at 8am, and the image here shows the queue as it began to build shortly afterwards. It stretched across the entire lawn, round the lake and into the distance for most of the day, but everyone saw a specialist.
Only a few days later, I was on a train bound for Llandeilo in South Wales for an event at the beautiful Aberglasney Gardens.
Originating in the late 15thC, and restored in the early 1990s, the house and gardens enjoy breath-taking views of the rolling Welsh hills. Arriving mid-afternoon gave me a few hours to explore the town, where I stumbled across The Works Antique Centre, near the railway station. If you're passing through or holidaying nearby, I can certainly recommend a visit to this rabbit warren of rooms packed with things to see and buy at very reasonable prices. Amongst the things I bought were these two 1980s Rosenthal plates designed by Dorothy Hafner (below). Very postmodern in style, I think they were a good buy at £10. While you're there, I can also recommend The Mount Antiques Centre in nearby Carmarthen, found again near the railway station.
Many people associate Wales with rain, and while the day I arrived was hot and sunny, the day of the event was true to form, with the heavens opening for most of the day. I don't mind getting a little bit wet, but this was something else. Anyhow, I had an umbrella to shelter under - it was those in the queue I felt sorry for. But camaraderie and cheer was strong, and we worked through the queue as fast and politely as possible, before we were all moved into the marquee to carry on. I filmed a spot, so keep your eyes peeled when the series airs to see what I found.
Although there are more to come, Aberglasney was the last Roadshow of this season that I'm scheduled to attend. I'll miss all my colleagues greatly, and will look forward to seeing them again next season. In the meantime, I'm preparing for an exciting new project, more about which later...

West German Pottery at a charity auction

I've just got back from a charity auction held to benefit the Prince's Trust at the Guildhall in London. Alas, I am empty handed. Eric Knowles, my friend and colleague on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow, is taking part in another series of 'Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is' for the BBC. Here, two well-known antiques experts are pitted against each other, buying antiques and collectables, and then selling them at a profit later. They use their own money, so the stakes are high! Eric knows I'm partial to a bit of West German pottery, and had bought a large early 1960s vase (shown here) that he thought I might like to add to my collection. Designed by Hans Siery for Scheurich in 1958, "Yes, please!", I said. At over 20inches (50cm) in height, and estimated at a punchy £150-200, my chequebook and bidding arm were ready, and Eric was enthusing on the rostrum. But I didn't prepare myself for a room full of 20-40-something design fans, and I was soon outbid, with the vase selling for a fantastic £270. Well done Eric, but in my case, I guess you can't win them all!

They're here....

...but with no fuzzy TV screens in sight. I am, of course, referring to Kevin Graham's long-awaited magnum opus (or 0pi) on postwar West German Ceramics. With nearly a decade of research behind him, my good friend Kevin will finally be publishing two books on 1st July. The first is 'From Spritzdekor to Fat Lava', which comprises of 262 A4 pages containing 568 colour photographs and 282 photographed makers' marks. A staggering 108 companies are featured, along with designers, decor names, and dates. This volume alone is a real 'must' for any serious collector or dealer.
The second is a companion volume, 'West & East German Makers - Marks & Form Numbers'. Ever wondered what those weird numbers and marks on the bottom of your vase mean? Well, they're the main key to identification (supported by the form and glaze), and this is the book that will help you unlock the door. The book's 174 pages list the shape numbers of over 200 companies - comprising literally thousands and thousands of numbers, together with designers, the dates or period of manufacture, and much more to help you identify your German Pottery.
Kevin himself describes this as being "probably the most up to date form and numbers index available for West & East German Pottery" -- I'd go a step further and say the ONLY!
They say that all good things come to those who wait. We've certainly waited, but having inspected the advances I can see why - the work that has gone into these books is incredible. I just know you won't be disappointed - this really is one that is well worth the wait.
email Kevin at kj_graham@gmx.de to order your copy, or click here to visit the FREE Fat Lava Forum.

Just one more thing...

...before we move on from Fat Lava. Many collectors choose one shape, and then try to find as many different glazes as they can on the same shape. In the past year, Graham Cooley has found 136 different glaze treatments on the popular Scheurich 401 jug vase - he and independent filmmaker Nigel Edwards of Inhouse TV have just produced a unique 2 minute video showcasing this collection within a collection. You can see it below - well done Nigel & Graham!

Fat Lava II Exhibition

If you're into Fat Lava, the crazy and unique ceramics produced in West Germany from the 1960s-70s, you simply must take a trip to Reading this month. I've just got back from the grand opening today, and my jaw is still on the floor.
Eminent private collector Graham Cooley and progressive dealer Al Baynham of the mid20c Retro Shop (left) have literally pulled out all the stops to present you with a truly eye-popping and mouth-watering display that leads on perfectly from the ground-breaking first Fat Lava exhibition held in King's Lynn in 2006.
Al has devoted his entire shop to the exhibition, which is divided into two rooms. Everything in the large, light and airy front room is for sale and, given the colourful and crazy shop window display, I'm amazed there's haven't been any minor accidents on the road outside! From floor vase to bud vase, Roth to Scheurich, Bay to Jasba, and prices that range from £15 to £300, there's something here for you whether you're looking to build your collection, or buy a single statement piece. Break free from the boring uniformity of Ikea and high street chains and say something about yourself and your avant garde tastes!
The back room contains an exhibition put together by, and featuring vases from, the vast Graham Cooley Collection of some 2,500 examples (left). Rather than just repeat the success of the first exhibition, Graham has pulled together a new array focusing on recent discoveries and learnings. So, Übelacker Keramik, Jopeko, ES Keramik and Roth are amongst the names that have benefitted from his skilled and experienced eye. You'll also see fantastic forms and great glazes from more widely known names such as Scheurich (the 'Wien' series in particular) Dümler & Breiden, Ruscha and Carstens. Although none of these pieces are for sale, you'll learn plenty to help you as you build your collection.
I attended today to launch the second, revised and expanded edition of my Fat Lava catalogue, and copies flew out of the door like the proverbial 'hot-cakes', usually accompanied by carefully chosen and wrapped vases! Over 60 people attended the opening throughout the day, and Al made everyone feel welcome, offering drinks and snacks. Light-hearted banter was punctuated with laughter, with the sunny terrace outside becoming a hotbed of discussions and exchanges of information.
I was delighted to see Kevin Graham, author of a new encyclopedia on the subject to be published soon, major collector and dealer Martin Rosam, Paul Bishop of the Cambridge Glass Fair, and many other friends and colleagues. Of course, we weren't the only ones having fun. At 11am UK time, three other exhibitions in Australia, Germany and the US opened simultaneously online via www.fat-lava.org. Fat Lava had truly gone global. I've never heard of an online/offline event quite like this before, so a round of applause must go to dealers and collectors Patrick & Petra Folkersma of Outernational for masterminding this innovative event. All four locations remained online throughout the day, and attracted a great many online viewers keen to see the exhibitions and chat to the collectors who built them.
Did I have a favourite? Although it's very hard to choose from the eye-popping array, it would have to be the range of Roth vases shown here. Although little is known about this factory, the designs speak for themselves. Out of all the different designs produced in these incredible two decades, these have caught collectors' attention the most. Prices have risen from under £100 to nearly £300 in a matter of months, with collectors old and new falling over themselves to add a piece to their collections. These rises are partly due to their scarcity - despite their period look and feel, these pieces can't have sold in large numbers at the time, and are not common at all. If I have one regret, it was not buying these in 2006, when I could have had an ovoid vase for £30-50. Now I'd have to part with £150 for the same piece. As my friend Judith Miller says, 'It's the ones you don't buy that you regret'. Don't let that happen to you - hot-foot it to Reading now!

Fat Lava II is here

It's finally here! The second, revised and expanded edition of Fat Lava has finally arrived! After a couple of glitches, a long lorry drew up outside today to deliver a palette of boxes. The moment it did this, the clouds opened and the rain poured down. With no trolley, each and every box had to unloaded by hand - thankfully the delivery driver was patient! On the other hand, he had his warm and dry cab, while I soaked myself to the bone.
Come an' get 'em! If you'd like copy, click here to place your order and pay now. The first edition sold out in just over 18 months, so don't miss out!
I'm now all set for the opening of the second Fat Lava exhibition at Mid20C in Reading, Berkshire, on Saturday, and the month of online events that follow it. For more information, check out www.fat-lava.org.
I hope to see you there!

Journey's End...

...and I inadvertently saved the best for last. Before I travel anywhere, I always spend an evening trawling the web for places to visit. This time I found a new gallery, Gallery 567 on Benczur Utca, which I hadn't come across before and looked right up my street. Open by appointment only, it's well worth waiting for and I really can't recommend a visit enough.
The owner, Peter Langh, is the perfect combination of charm, knowledge and experience. And as we know, collecting is a disease (albeit a nice one!), and Peter has it bad! He started collecting seven years ago and has built what has to be the best collection of postwar Hungarian ceramics, glass and furniture in the country, which is augmented by examples from Czechoslovakia, Poland and other old Eastern Bloc countries. Backing this up is a huge reference library, and Peter sure knows his stuff.
I spent nearly three hours browsing thought his vast basement emporium, even purchasing a piece or two that I need to hit my own library to research. Exciting stuff!
Walking back up into the sun after an enormously enjoyable and educational experience, my stomach began to rumble. The only solution was to take advantage of the special brunch at Hungary's top restaurant Gundl, which was thankfully only mere minutes away on foot. Usually out of my price range, this 'eat as much as you would like to' buffet is both a bargain and entirely delicious, and even comes with a complimentary glass of champagne.
A couple of relaxing hours later, the banker and I decided to pop next door to Budapest's recently re-invigorated zoo. Although the animals are naturally an attraction, design and architecture lovers will love the elephant house and a couple of other truly fabulous Art Nouveau buildings, such as the gatehouse. Cool collectables, fabulous food and amazing animals - what a way to end a long weekend in Budapest.