THE NGAIRE HART ESTATE COLLECTION Tuesday, 26 May 2020 - 2:00 PM start
An Olive Jones Maori decorated cylindrical table jardiniere
Lot Details
with Maori figural supports, incised koru and chevron motifs, pale green glazed. Incised signature, marked NZ, and dated 1940. Glaze crazing. Dia.130mm, H.120mm. In 1939 when New Zealand’s population was around 1.6 million the Centennial Exhibition in 1939-40 held in Wellington attracted some 2.6 million visitors. There was a prevalent and heightened sense of national identity and souvenirs of a visit were de rigueur. Working at the ‘Fair’, Olive Jones was one of New Zealand’s pioneer potters who established a career after studying applied arts at the Wedgwood Institute in England. She demonstrated pottery making and produced a range of pieces for sale. Many of the items made by Jones were small souvenirs, however this table jardinière with its Maori motifs is a major piece of her production. Jones had learnt complex making practices at the Wedgwood Institute and had invested in an industrial potter’s wheel and large oil-fired kiln, enabling her to confidently produce wares such as this, whilst encapsulating the elements of folk-art design.
