When Marvin Hurnall died in 2014, we lost one of Australia’s most enthusiastic collectors, an antique dealer who, nevertheless, managed to amass a personal collection that came to represent the very best of Australian pottery – his primary passion.
I also lost a friend, a teacher and a bit of a joker whose generosity and knowledge it was my great good fortune to experience for more than twenty years. I learnt a lot from him.
Marvin was largely responsible for the huge resurgence in interest in artists such as John Perceval, the Boyds, William Ricketts, Grace Seccombe and Marguerite Mahood. Some works by these artists became signature pieces in his collection.
He was a great admirer of Marguerite Mahood, a Melbourne artist whose ceramic art is in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, and many other institutions, and we are delighted that some of Marvin’s favourite pieces are to be found among the gems on the following pages.
I think it best for the pieces to speak for themselves, but I would like to thank Marvin’s partner, Jack Sukkarom for giving me the pleasure of working with these “old friends”, and, on behalf of my colleagues at Leski Auctions, thank him for consigning this remarkable offering to us for auction.
If you are lucky enough to purchase one of these treasures you will be able to say, with pride, “this is from the Marvin Hurnall Collection”.
Harry Glenn
The encompasses some fabulous Australian pottery as well as some other pieces that Marvin particularly cherished. Don’t miss the Lizard vase[Lot 19] from Remued – a trophy piece in any private or public collection, the John Perceval & Arthur Merric Boyd painted coffee set (Lot 79) or the John Perceval tiled coffee table(Lot 80) all of which have previously been loaned to the N.G.V. for exhibitions. Among the other highlights we also love Marvin’s “Possum mirror” by Robert Prenzel(Lot 124); a most remarkable example of the master carver’s art.
Featured Lots
Lot 4
MELROSE WARE rare pair of bookends decorated with gum nuts and leaves, glazed in green,
stamped "Melrose Ware, Australian",
14.5cm high
REMUED important and rare pottery vase with applied dragon decoration glazed in brown, green and orange,
museum quality trophy piece, undoubtedly the work of Allan James and Castle Harris,
incised "Remued Handmade",
28cm high, 27cm wide
REMUED rare and important pottery statue titled "Morning Song",
one of only four known Remued statues produced at the Oakover Road factory in Preston, this model bearing a striking resemblance to Castle Harris,
titled in pencil on the base, with original foil label,
25.5cm high
MARGUERITE MAHOOD "Isolation" pottery statue of a woman,
signed in ink "Marguerite Mahood, Isolation, '48", incised code 2543,
on later wooden plinth,
25cm high
PHILIPPA JAMES pottery vase, grey-green ground with blue and pink applied gum leaf protruding above the rim, pink glaze interior,
incised "Philippa James",
16.5cm high
JOHN PERCEVAL & ARTHUR MERRIC BOYD important hand-painted coffee set,
signed "Perceval, AMB",
the pot 27cm high
Exhibited at the National Gallery Victoria, October 2014 - March 2015
JOHN PERCEVAL important tile top coffee table painted with quince motif,
comprising ten tiles, signed upper left "J. Perceval '50",
36cm high, 81cm wide, 33.5cm deep.
EXHIBITED National Gallery of Victoria, October 2014 - March 2015
ROBERT PRENZEL mirror, spectacularly carved with brushtail possum, gum nuts and leaves,
workshop stamp on reverse "Robt. Prenzel. Toorak Road, South Yarra. European Labour Only"
79 x 80cm
THE MODERATOR'S CHAIR REMOVED FROM SCOTS' CHURCH, COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE
An Australian cedar Gothic Revival Moderator's chair of lofty proportions, circa 1860. The two tapering column back posts with crocketed pinnacles and carved finials, flanking a central panel with carved motifs and Latin inscription (which translated reads) "And yet, It was Not Consumed". The hide covered seat is supported by flowing tracery and lancet arches with cluster-shafted buttress column legs.
727-729 High Street,
Armadale, Victoria, 3143, Australia
Viewing times
Wednesday 25 Nov 10.00am – 5.00pm
Thursday 26 Nov 10.00am – 7.30pm (Late night viewing) Friday 27 Nov 10.00am – 5.00pm
*other times welcome by appointment
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