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A rare Wedgwood ‘Fairyland’ lustre vase is to be sold by Bonhams on Monday 11 September in Bath.

‘Fairyland’ may not exist but the idea of an idyllic place inhabited by fairies, goblins and elves certainly is one that appeals to most children and even some adults. While Wedgwood ‘Fairyland’ lustre ware may not be as unattainable, it is an unusual design and is sought after by collectors all over the world.

Manufactured by the Wedgwood factory from 1915 to 1929 after original designs by Daisy Makeig-Jones (1881-1945), the ‘Fairyland’ line proved to be popular in the United States as well as in the UK. Credited with helping improve Wedgwood’s struggling profits, Makeig-Jones’ novel designs were far more than ‘pretty patterns’. She prided herself on creating stories and hidden worlds with fantastical themes, using rich jewel-like colours and imaginative details. With expressive titles such as ‘Fairy Gondola’, ‘Butterfly Women’ and ‘Leap-frogging Elves’, her work appealed to the public possibly as they offered a form of escapism during the difficult post-war years.

Bonhams’ sale features an ovoid vase decorated with the celebrated ‘Candlemas’ pattern. Painted with vertical bands of climbing elves and fairies in a whimsical landscape in vivid shades of blue, green, purple, pink, yellow, black and gilt, this example also bears a printed Wedgwood factory mark and painted number – ‘Z5157/A’.

Estimated at £1,500-2,000, interest in the lot from Wedgwood collectors as well as fairytale enthusiasts on the look out for items with a fairyland motif or theme may help drive the price up.

Wedgwood stopped the ‘Fairyland’ lustre ware line in 1929 due to an apparent lack of interest. Today the enthusiasm for Makeig-Jones’ work is as strong as it ever was, possibly even more so than when the designs were first introduced in the 1920s.

Interest in the artist’s work has been further enhanced by various Art Deco exhibitions featuring examples of her work including one at the Victoria and Albert Museum, in September, 1990; an exhibition of ‘Wedgwood Fairyland and Other Lustres’ at the Long Beach Museum of Art, in September, 2001; and an exhibition comprising solely of her work from the Collection of Maurice Kawashima at the San Diego Museum of Art just last year.

Bonhams’ sale offers the added advantage of being able to purchase the item. Viewing for the sale starts on Friday, 8 September, from 8.30am to 5pm; continuing over the weekend on Saturday, 9 September, from 9am to 12 noon; on Sunday, 10 September, from 2pm to 4pm, and on the morning of the sale, from 8.30am. The sale itself is being held at Bonhams’ saleroom in Bath on Monday 11 September.

For more details visit the Bonhams web site.

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