The Best of British - William Morris, William De Morgan & Charles Voysey

The biggest collection of ceramic tiles ever to come to auction by leading British designers and manufacturers from the late 19th and early 20th century including William Morris, William De Morgan, Charles Voysey and Henry Stacey Marks will be sold at Bonhams in New Bond Street on Wednesday 14 March 2007. The collection belongs to private collector, Peter Creffield.

Peter Creffield began his love affair with tiles in the 1960’s when scouring antiques shop with his son. He discovered his first tile whilst on holiday in Suffolk in 1965. He visited a small antique shop and spotted a simple double lustre floral tile. After turning the tile around, he found to his surprise that it was marked William De Morgan. Creffield paid 12/6pence for the tile – the equivalent of 60p today and thought it a lucky find. This was the start of a 40 year treasure hunt that was to amass over 800 choice British tiles largely from the period 1850 – 1950.

Peter Creffield comments “ I started my collection with the help of Richard Dennis – a dealer based in Kensington Church Street, who would phone me if a particularly interesting tile came to him. I framed my first few tiles with a gold frame as I thought that’s it, I shan’t get another one! but 40 years later I found myself still collecting. I have surprised myself at the extent of my collection as I was competing with people who had far deeper pockets than mine. I love the timeless beauty and humour conveyed by a tile and have enjoyed having these wonderful artworks in my possession for all these years.”

When Mark Oliver, Director of Bonhams 1860-1945 department was asked to look at this tile collection, he was taken by surprise,“ Normally you would expect to find two or three beautiful pieces together, says Oliver. Here we have 800. It is the best collection of tiles by British manufacturers that I have ever seen in the 25 years that I have been in this business. I am delighted that Bonhams have been asked to assist in passing this marvellous collection on to a new generation of collectors to enjoy.”

At the heart of the collection is a large number of tiles by William De Morgan, charting De Morgan’s career from the early years of using Poole blanks, through to Chelsea, Merton Abbey and Fulham periods of production. Many Persian influenced tiles are featured as well as animal and bird tiles and some striking tile panels.

The important mid-Nineteenth century designer AWN Pugin is also represented in the form of some of his encaustic tiles for Minton, and other featured designers include Edward Burne-Jones, Walter Crane, Lewis F Day,Kate Greenaway, Henry Stacey Marks, John Moyr Smith, CFA Voysey and Edward Bawden. Key manufacturers in the collection include Minton Hollins & Co, WT Copeland & Sons, Maw 7 Co, Craven Dunhill & Co, Josiah Wedwood & Sons, Pilkingtons and T & R Boote.

Because of the quantity of the tiles, the collection of tiles will be split into two parts – Part One in March and Part Two in September 2007. The collection will be included in the Ceramic Design 1860 – 1945 at Bonhams in New Bond Street, London.

www.bonhams.com

Posted: 03|13|07 at 12:54 pm. Filed under: Press Release.