Cowan’s Auctions, Inc. Modern and Contemporary Ceramics Auction on November 7, 2014 saw high prices for well known artists such as Lucie Rie, Magdalene Odundo, George Nakashima, Akio Takamori and Michael Lucero. Following the ceramics sale was Cowan’s 20th Century Art + Design sale, which highlighted exceptional pieces of mid-century and contemporary design, fine art, works on paper, photography and art glass.

The highest selling lot in the auction was a work titled “Black Flared Rim Vessel” by Magdalene Odundo, which sold for $30,000. Born in Nairobi, Odundo received her early education in both India and Kenya before traveling to England in 1971 to continue her training. She worked in Nigeria and Kenya to study traditional hand-built pottery techniques, and eventually found herself in New Mexico observing the making of blackware vessels. 

Pieces by Michael Lucero had a strong showing in the auction. A teapot titled “Smoke in Eye” sold for $8,400, and another pot, titled “Chameleon on the House,” realized $7,800. Both vessels belong to Lucero’s series of teapot forms that both abstracted the shape and added his bright glazed palette to create something more than a teapot.

Other vessels that garnered high prices in the ceramics portion of the auction included a piece by Lucie Rie, which realized $12,300, a vessel by Akio Takamori, titled “Female Bather with Mirror” sold for $9,225, a work by Beatrice Wood titled “Superb Gold Luster Chalice” sold for $8,400, a work by Alev Ebuzziya Siesbye titled “Exceptional Untitled Turquoise Form” realized $7,800, and a teapot by Adrian Saxe brought $6,600.

The highest selling lot in the 20th Century Art + Design Auction was a George Nakashima Table Lamp, which brought $13,200, nearly tripling its pre-auction estimate of $5,000/7,000.

Additional notable lots included a Steuben Mosaic Side Table that sold for $7,800, a Dino Martens Oriente Vase realized $7,800 a Tiffany Studios Nautilus Desk Lamp sold for $6,600, and a Drypoint by Martin Lewis realized $6,600.

For more information about the auction or to consign for future auctions, please visit cowans.com or contact Sam Cowan at sam@cowans.com. You can also call our offices at 513.871.1670 .