The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 52 No 1 April 2013

Collection
And there, perhaps, is the rub. The top prices ever reached for ceramic works are 20K for an Ann
Verdcourt work at A+O in an art sale, w ith various other sales at the 10-12K mark at DSW, Webbs
and A+O, mainly for Jim Grieg and Len Castle works. Some Lucie Rie and Hans Coper pieces have sold
in the 1 0-15K range, hardly big money in art world terms and a long way from the heights reached by
the likes of Voulkos and Coper etc. in the international market. The local top sellers are Len Castle, Roy
Cowan, Chester Nealie, Dame Doreen Blumhardt, Barry Brickell, Warren Tippett, Richard Parker, Denis
O'Connor and a few unusual artists like Peter Hawkesby (for whom there is very little material available
or made for that matter). There is also a small but important market for works from the 19th century
from brick works like George Boyd, P Hutson and Co. and Milton Potteries, but works are rare and there
are few if any new collectors.
There is also the issue, as I perceive it, that the 'buzz', apart from the highlight sales alone, seems to
have peaked in the mid- to late-2000s and there is a feel ing that interest and prices have peaked. The
secondary market is in no way democratic and there is a fairly strict hierarchy of people who command
good prices, with some exceptions - a Helen Mason recently sold at DSW for c. 7K
(usually a few hundred). There is some disgruntlement in
the ceramic community that many good artists
are not appreciated. Jim Greig, for example,
OpPOSite page:
Len Castle. Sulphur Bowl, diam.55cm; $8000
Right:
Jim Greig, Solid and Void Series Vase
h.51cm; $6000
Photos: Jo Whelan DSW
THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS APRIL 2013
tt7