CERAMICS

Printed in black and red on one side of a piece of 14.5 x 20.5 cm brown card. Designed in a style showing the influence of Art Deco. Within a decorative border with floral corners. Text, in capitals, reads: 'Wedgwood | Aztec Lustre | On the original cane body | Reminiscent of the brilliantly coloured | pottery made by the Aztecs, a cultured | race who inhabited Mexico and the | northern part of South America | before the Spanish Conquest in 1520.'

6pp., foolscap 8vo. On two bifoliums attached with metal clasp. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Docketed 'Dunbar Yd | Inventory' and headed 'The Dunball Steam Pottery Tile & Brick Company. | List [...]'. The inventory gives a clear impression of the extensive nature of the business.

Both items in excellent condition, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One (22 December 1902): Addressed to 'Dear Sir'. He has asked Van Wisselingh 'to send the bronzes as I have none here', and he is waiting for a reply: 'if the bronzes have not arrived please wire and you shall have them before Xmas.' Letter Two (25 December 1902): He hopes that his mistake in addressing her as 'Sir' has 'amused and not annoyed you'. He has just had a reply from Van Wisselingh: 'as the notice was so short I could not get new bronzes cast by Xmas; so I sent your letter at once to Mr. V.

The eight proofs, each 24 x 38 cm, some with tissue guards, are bound into a blue folder with triangular printed Burlington Engraving label. In pencil on the folder: 'Connoisseur | April 1937 | German Enamelled Glasses | 4 colour'. In fair condition, on lightly worn and aged paper. The final illustration (first in the folder) shows the six glasses, enamelled in various colours, against a black background.

Total 5pp., 12mo, minimal marking, good condition. [Letter One, 22nd] He discusses his correspondent's offer of a gift through the [National Art Collection] Fund three Chinese ridge-tiles of the Ming Dynasty. He says that they would like to examine the tiles before formal acceptance and would send a packer from Marlow. He suggests a time. [Letter Two, 29] He apologises for not having understood the nature of the tiles (blaming the Secretary of the Fund), and anticipates their being brought in as suggested. Two items.

On one side of a piece of wove paper, watermarked 'BRIDGE MILL | 1826', roughly 24 x 19 cm. In a variety of types and point sizes. Good, with text clear and entire, on slightly grubby and lightly discoloured paper . Two spike holes at centre, puncturing one large letter (the 'W' of 'WARE'). Serving as a proof, with printer's manuscript corrections in pencil. The first three lines ('W. VINEY, | ANGEL HILL, | TIVERTON," have been cancelled, with the text that is intended to replace them ('James Pope Street ') at head of page.

Arranging the three in what appears to be chronological order, the first (good, roughly four inches by two and three-quarters wide) has 'Josiah C. Wedgwood' in copperplate beneath a straightforward Victorian armorial design, with shield, coronet and motto 'OBSTANTIA DISCINDO'. The second (three and a half inches by three wide) dates from after Wedgwood's election as a Member of Parliament in 1906, having 'EX-LIBRIS JOSIAH C. WEDGWOOD, M.P.' on a scroll beneath a more modern armorial design, with helmet and leaves. It has slight damage to the bottom right-hand corner.

Chairman of the famous pottery firm Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, Ltd (1867-1930), and High Sheriff of Staffordshire. All items are very good, if somewhat grubby. The typed letters are one page, quarto and the autograph, one page, octavo. All are signed 'Frank H Wedgwood', and most are stamped and docketed. One letter from 1918, two from 1919, one from 1924, five from 1925 and two from 1926. Mostly brief.

Managing Director of the famous pottery business ('saviour of the firm') and the fifth in the family to bear the name (1899-1968), Member of Parliament. All six items in good condition, though grubby, and with the first three bearing pin holes in one corner (not affecting text), the hole in the first letter being decidedly marked. All but one item docketed and stamped. Letters one, two, three and six are one page, quarto; letter four, two pages, 12mo; letter five, one page, 12mo; letter six, one page, quarto. All but the third item, which is signed 'Wedgwood', are signed 'Josiah Wedgwood'.

British Museum ceramics expert. One page, 8vo, good. He passes comment on a blue and a yellow pot, dating them, and giving the countries of origin of the yellow pot.