Full Text:

MAJOLICA AUCTION SELLS 1,500 PIECES

(with cuts)

HATFIELD, PENN. -- Michael G. Strawser of Majolica Auctions conducted his

fifteenth sale dedicated to majolica pottery October 23 and 24, 1998. The

event was well attended, with bidders representing many states, as well as

Canada and England.

One of the top items was a George Jones underwater pitcher, which sold for

$13,200. Other George Jones pieces included a butterfly patch box, which

brought $6,600; a cobalt iris and water lily pitcher, which realized $3,300; a

hound and quail compote, which realized $8,250; an oyster plate with raised

center shell, which garnered $1,960; and a small salt dip, which sold for

$660.

Minton was represented as well, and the top lot in the auction was a Minton

lobster tureen, which sold for $15,400. Other Minton pieces included a large

punchbowl, which sold for $8,800; a four-tiered oyster server, with repairs,

which rang up $4,950; a pigeon game tureen, with repairs, which fetched

$5,500; and two fish oyster plates, which brought $1,760 and $1,650.

A Wedgwood Chrysanthemum oyster plate sold for $1,650; a Holdcroft water lily

oyster plate brought $2,200; two Holdcroft figural bear pitchers reached

$1,760 and $1,430; a rare Sarreguemines black face jug garnered $1,925; and a

Hugo Lonitz punchbowl, with cover, hammered down at $4,675.

Several Etruscan pieces in the auction were from the Stern collection. A rare

triple dolphin compote sold for $4,950; and a cobalt strawberry server,

lacking the cream and sugar, and a cobalt sunflower spittoon, sold for $1,760

each.