(Lots 1 – 165)

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.

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