The second day of Majolica Auctions Fall 2012 sale confirmed our belief that the majolica market has started to strengthen.
Several pieces that went unsold in the spring sale found buyers this time around. Among these the two biggest sales of the day: the Jones giraffe and stag compote which brought a healthy $20,500+ commission; and the Jones monkey handled tea set, which sold for $15,750+ commission.
The biggest sale among the new items was the featured piece in the auction: the Minton lemon slice fish tureen which brought $15,500+. Other big performers were the Holdcroft cobalt wedge cheese keeper, $8,250+; the Lonitz bird wall pocket, $7,000+; the Minton woodpecker vase, $6,000+; and the Jones Punch bowl, $6,000+.
A special piece that went unsold in the spring that found a buyer this time was the Schiller frog musician group, $3,500+.
Among majolica oyster plates, the biggest sale was a pink Etruscan oyster plate bringing $3,600+, down from last year's high of $6,000.
Two similar Wedgwood dolphin oyster plates with slight differences in condition brought wildly different prices: $2,400+ and $1,000+, while the very rare Grosvenor oyster plate brought a respectable but relatively low price of $1,150+.
An unusual gold and green Minton plate and a lavender Minton example brought $2,500+ and $2,000+ respectively.
The large number of Jones oysters in the sale kept prices of those relatively low in the $300-$500 range in spite the good performance of two pink six well oyster plates with center shell bringing $1,650+ each.
Three St. Clement pitchers also brought good prices; a grasshopper and a rabbit pitcher each bringing $2,400+, while a pig on a barrel pitcher brought $1,050+.
Complete results are available in print from Strawser Auctions for a nominal fee.