Wolcottville, IN, USA, Sep 2, 2023 — Two majolica creations by the French artist Charles-Jean Avisseau sold for a combined $71,340 and a pair of majolica pieces by George Jones together brought $57,455 at the Part 1 sale of the outstanding majolica collection of Ed Flower (1929-2022) and his wife Marilyn (1930-2017), held August 23rd in Kulpsville. Pa., by Strawser Auction Group.
It was the first of three auctions dedicated to the Flower collection. Two more will follow, with dates and times to be determined. The collection in its entirety comprises over 600 pieces in all, by many of the finest names in all of majolica: Minton, George Jones, Holdcroft, Wedgwood, Hugo Lonitz, Palissy, Massier, T.C. Brown Westhead Moore & Co., Copelands and others.
“The August 23rd auction was well attended both in-person and online,” said Michael Strawser of Strawser Auction Group, based in Wolcottville, adding, “Many new buyers and collectors bid, and others participated who we hadn’t heard from in a long time.” The Flowers purchased many of their fine majolica pieces at Strawser sales. Strawser will conduct the Parts 2 and 3 auctions.
The surprise lot of the auction was most certainly the “Art of the Earth” Palissy rustic basin by Charles-Jean Avisseau, dated 1856. The piece blasted through its $2,000-$3,000 estimate to finish at $49,200. Avisseau created a microcosm teeming with life on the surface of the ceramic basin, with shells interspersed alongside a snake, a salamander, and a lizard, each colored with a different ceramic glaze. Avisseau exhibited at the Great Exhibition 1851.
Strawser Auction Group’s next majolica auction will be held in Indiana on Saturday, October 14th, at 9 am. Featured will be the collection of Sue and Harry Thurman and other collections. To learn more about the Strawser Auction Group, please visit www.strawserauctions.com.
