Specialist auction house Maak presents two auctions showcasing the best in studio ceramics

Lucie Rie, Footed Bowl, circa 1980 (Lot 68)

Specialist auction house Maak presents two auctions that showcase the best in studio ceramics, bridging East and West

Collectors and ceramics enthusiasts should mark Maak’s auction dates on their calendars, as this November sees two significant auctions in London, with online viewing and all bidding taking place on the Maak website. Maak will open with their signature Contemporary Ceramics auction, held twice per year and carefully curated to offer a representative selection of British studio ceramics alongside notable names in international ceramics.

View the Contemporary Ceramics auction →

In parallel, Maak will present Ceramic Art of the East, an auction dedicated to modern and contemporary Japanese ceramics, in collaboration with the esteemed Tokyo gallery Mitochu Koeki Company. Established in 1986 by Toshihiko Hayashi and now headed by his son, Daisuke Hayashi, Mitochu Koeki have long specialised in handling the very best twentieth century and contemporary works of Japanese ceramics, as well as other craft works, working with clients who include major Japanese museums, overseas institutions and important private collectors. For many years they have worked closely with the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, helping them to build up their collection of Japanese studio crafts and modern Japanese design.

View the Ceramic Art of the East auction →

The Contemporary Ceramics auction offers a journey through the evolution of British studio ceramics, beginning with the early traditionalists Charles Vyse, William Staite Murray and Bernard Leach, rooted in Anglo-Oriental aesthetics, and moving through the mid-century masterpieces of Lucie Rie and Hans Coper. It also highlights the Picasettes—William Newland, Nicholas Vergette and James Tower—who drew direct inspiration from Picasso’s work. In a rare opportunity, their ceramics will be shown alongside two of Picasso’s own pieces, created at the renowned Madoura studio, allowing viewers to see the master’s influence in conversation with their own creations. A notable strength of the auction lies in demonstrating the divergence of artistic expression that represents the 1970s to the present day. The auction showcases significant pieces by Ewen Henderson, Gordon Baldwin, Elizabeth Fritsch, Alison Britton, Jennifer Lee, Magdalene Odundo, Kate Malone and Edmund de Waal, each bringing their own distinct artistic language to British ceramics.

Whilst collaborations with galleries like Mitochu Koeki are highly valued, the private collector is integral to Maak, both as a buyer and a seller. The Contemporary Ceramics auction includes an enviable selection of works from the private collection of the potter Peter Jaff, who has been collecting British ceramics for over 45 years from his home in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“Living with these works has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my journey. Every piece provided continuous stimulation, admiration and inspiration, reflecting both the artist’s imagination and the profound pride and pleasure of collecting. Each piece in my collection was purchased with love, but above all, reflects my maker’s understanding and respect for the craft.” – Peter Jaff

As both a potter and collector, Jaff is not alone. A group of early works by Ewen Henderson consigned to the sale have come from the private collection of the late Guyanese artist and ceramicist, Donald Locke and his widow, Brenda. All were purchased directly from Henderson in London in the late 1970s before Locke moved to the United States.

The beauty of any auction is the opportunity for much loved pieces to come together in a beautiful gallery environment, to spark new interactions with other artworks, before they become part of new collections. In the words of Peter Jaff,

“We were privileged custodians and hope future buyers will derive as much pleasure and delight in obtaining and holding the pieces which have delighted me and my family for over 45 years.”

For Ceramic Art of the East, Maak and Mitochu Koeki have used their extensive networks to bring together rare and high-quality works from private collections in Japan, the US, and the UK.

The auction includes a strong representative group of works by Mingei Masters Hamada Shoji and Kawai Kanjiro. The Mingei movement began in the 1920s as a reaction to Japan’s rapid modernization. The word “mingei” translates to “art of the people”. The movement was led by philosopher Yanagi Sōetsu and potters Hamada Shōji and Kawai Kanjirō based on the principle that beauty was to be found in ordinary and utilitarian everyday objects made by nameless and unknown craftsmen – as opposed to higher forms of art created by named artists.

Many of the artists included in the auction are celebrated for their mastery and innovation of traditional techniques, with several designated Living National Treasures, including Matsui Kosei, who mastered the techniques of clay marbling ‘neriagede’, as seen in Lot 85, for which he was designated a ‘Living National Treasure’ in 1993.

The Sodeishsa group (which translates to ‘Crawling through Mud Association’) was formed in Kyoto in 1948 by Yagi Kazuo (1918-1979), Yamada Hikaru (1924-2001) and Suzuki Osamu (1926- 2001), and would be hugely influential for the next 50 years. They were an avant-garde group whose focus was on making sculptural ‘objects’ and moving away from functional forms. Kumakura Junkichi was an important Sodeisha artist whose work is represented in the auction, with two later sculptural works from the 1980s. Lot 112 was exhibited in the retrospective held at The National Museum of Art, Tokyo in 1989. Akiyama Yo was a later figure in the Sodeisha movement. His work is distinctive, focusing on form and surface texture in his abstract sculptural forms. Lots 124 & 125, with their rough edges, cracks and fissures, each demonstrate a geological quality that is typical of his works. The pioneering female potter Shigematsu Ayumi was also working within the Sodeisha ideology with her focus on sculptural non-functional works. Lot 128 demonstrates her distinctive pastel colour palette and soft, burnished surface.

With this auction, Maak and Mitochu Koeki are fulfilling a shared ambition to promote a global market for modern and contemporary Japanese ceramics.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to the world of studio ceramics, Maak’s November auctions offer a rare glimpse into some of the most exceptional works on the market today. With masterpieces by celebrated British and Japanese artists, side-by-side with the bold innovation of Picasso himself, these auctions are more than a chance to bid—they’re an invitation to explore, discover, and connect with the artistry that defines modern ceramics. Don’t miss your opportunity to view and own a piece from these unparalleled collections. Click here to view the auction and see these extraordinary works for yourself.