919_01_MartinBros_final

RAGO

Martin Brothers
The Andrew Furer and
Elle Douglas Collection
9.21.19

Martin Brothers
The Andrew Furer and
Elle Douglas Collection
9.21.19 11:00 am





BIRDS OF A FEATHER

The Martin brothers in the studio at Martin Brothers bird-form vessels (oft referred to as “Wally
the Southall Pottery (b/w photo), Birds”) are, for most, aspirational items. Largely made to
English Photographer, (19th century) / resemble leading political and industrial figures of their
Private Collection / Bridgeman Images time and rendered in the manner of caricature pioneered
by the 19th century English satirical magazine Punch, these
whimsical works were eagerly sought-after by London’s
“chattering classes,” with commissions for their production
coming from aristocrats including Lord Faringdon and Sir
William Drake.
Robert Wallace Martin, the inspired artist behind the sculpting
of the birds, began his career apprenticing with Charles Barry
on the redesign of the Palace of Westminster, where he was
known to have modelled grotesques. Thereafter, he rose to
some acclaim while attending the Royal Academy, which led
to such notable commissions as the Diamond Jubilee portrait
medallion of Queen Victoria (intended for the entrance to
London’s V&A Museum, Robert’s design was, to his immense
dismay, never used).
The work of the Martin Brothers is as diverse as it is
accomplished. From the formal sculpture present in their early
plaques and busts to the grotesque and bizarrely expressive
features of their Wally Birds and other creatures, their talent
is unquestionable. Then as now, the Birds win the principal
appeal. The first Wally Birds, crafted between the 1870s and
1880s, were immediately celebrated.

Robert Wallace’s mastery over the modelling of anthropomorphic
features in caricature caught the imagination of audiences and media
of the day. Charles Martin, who oversaw retail premises, was quick to
encourage his brother to step up production of the birds to keep up
with the demand.
Creative and commercial tensions often arose between the siblings.
Robert Wallace, dedicated primarily to his artistry, continued to push
Victorian boundaries with Birds increasingly fanciful and grotesque
- which Charles repeatedly cautioned against. Robert Wallace also
regularly abandoned profitable commercial production for extended
periods of time to focus on the making of a massive ceramic fountain,
a personal indulgence and private passion which ultimately never sold.
But it is that passion which links the artist and the collector. It is
found in the creative drive, in the visions and fantasies that inspire the
creation of objects, and in the compulsion to acquire and the restless
pursuit of more. It is no simple thing to define the motivation that
drives the collector, but for collectors of Robert Wallace Martin’s works,
the need for insight into the inspiration of this prodigy sculptor and the
ability to feel the imprint of the potter’s hands are among the prime
components.
Collectors Andrew Furer and Elle Douglas have curated a world-class
collection of the art of Robert Wallace Martin, one which combines the
genius of one of the masters and forefathers of the British Art Pottery
Movement with one couple’s passion for collecting it. Amassed over
the course of a decade, and presenting over 20 Wally Birds as well as
an assortment of other works by Robert Wallace including Face Jugs
and a rare mantel clock, the collection on offer within this sale details
a near encyclopedic exploration of the artist’s oeuvre.
It has been my distinct privilege to work with Andrew and Elle to source
the collection detailed in the following pages, and a further pleasure to
work with Rago to bring this masterfully curated collection to auction.
As Andrew Furer himself so ably puts it, “the journey has been a joy.”

– Alison Davey, Founder, AD Antiques



1
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Bird tobacco jar, England, 1898
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head incised ‘Martin Bros. London + Southall
6-1898,’ base incised ‘Martin Bros. London +
Southall 9-1898’
On base: 11” x 5 1/2”
PROVENANCE
Sotheby’s
Private collection
Woolley & Wallis, England, December 2014,
lot 121
$30,000–40,000

2
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Barrister bird tobacco jar, England, 1903
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head and base incised ‘Martin Bros. London +
Southall 6-1903’
On base: 9 1/4” x 4 3/4”
PROVENANCE
AD Antiques, March 2014
$20,000–30,000

3
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Bird tobacco jar, England, 1889
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head incised ‘R.W. Martin + Bros. London + Southall,’ base incised
‘R.W. Martin + Bros. London + Southall 1889’
On base: 12” x 5 1/2”
PROVENANCE
AD Antiques, May 2014
$25,000–35,000

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4
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Small triple bird tobacco jar, England, 1914
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Heads and base incised ‘R.W. Martin and Bro. London + Southall 29.1.1914’
On base: 7 1/4” x 7” x 2 3/4”
PROVENANCE
Collection of Ed Pascoe
Collection of Lillian Hoffman
Rago Auctions, 1 March 2014, lot 19
$50,000–75,000

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5 6
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923) MARTINWARE
MARTIN BROTHERS Small double bird tobacco jar, England, early 20th C.
Monk bird tobacco jar, England, 1895 Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood Heads and base incised ‘R.W. Martin + Bros.
Head incised ‘Martin Bros. London + Southall Southall’
2-1895,’ base incised ‘Martin Bros. London + On base: 6 3/4” x 6 1/4” x 3 3/4”
Southall’ PROVENANCE
On base: 12 1/2” x 6” Skinner’s, 13 July 2013, lot 896
PROVENANCE $30,000–40,000
Woolley & Wallis, England, November 2015, lot 88
$30,000–50,000

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7
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Tall bird tobacco jar, England, 1899
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head incised ‘R.W. Martin + Bros. London + Southall 2-1899,’ base
incised ‘Martin Bros. London + Southall 2-1899,’ loose original
paper label inside body
On base: 14” x 6 3/4”
PROVENANCE
Woolley & Wallis, England, June 2014, lot 149
$45,000–65,000

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8
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Bird tobacco jar, England, ca. 1905
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head incised ‘‘Martin Bros. London 1,’ base incised
‘R.W. Martin + Bro London + Southall’
On base: 8 1/4” x 5 1/4”
$20,000–30,000

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9
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Bird tobacco jar, England, 1900
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head and base incised ‘Martin Bros. London + Southall 2-1900’
On base: 9 3/4” x 4 1/2”
PROVENANCE
AD Antiques, March 2010
$22,500–27,500

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10
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Bird tobacco jar, England, 1898
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head incised ‘9 - Martin Bros. 1898 London + Southall,’ base incised
‘Martin Bros. London + Southall’
On base: 11” x 6”
PROVENANCE
Rago Auctions, Early 20th C. Design, 26 October 2013, lot 122
$50,000–75,000

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Robert Wallace Martin with his son
Clement. Photo by J. Cooper Ashton

Courtesy of Dr. Jim Wilkes
martinwarepottery.com

11
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Barrister double-sided face jug, England, 1900s
Salt-glazed stoneware
Incised ‘R.W. Martin + Bros. London + Southall’
6 1/2” x 5 1/2” x 6”
$6,000–8,000

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12
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Large double-sided face jug, England, 1900
Salt-glazed stoneware
Incised ‘1-1900 R.W. Martin + Bros. London + Southall’
8 3/4” x 7” x 7 1/2”
PROVENANCE
Collection of Richard Wright
Skinner’s, 24 October 2009, lot 272
$6,000–8,000

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13
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Two small Toby dogs, England, ca. 1885
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Each incised ‘Martin Bros. London’
5 1/2” x 4 1/4”, 5 1/2” x 3 3/4”
PROVENANCE
Possibly from the collection of Earnest Marsh, a
supporter of the Martin Brothers Pottery
Bonham’s Knightsbridge, 19 November 2014, lot 14
$30,000–50,000

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ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923) ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS MARTIN BROTHERS
Grotesque creature tobacco jar, England, 1911 Tall bird tobacco jar, England, 1886
Salt-glazed stoneware Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head and base incised ‘R.W. Martin + Bros. London + Head and base incised ‘R.W. Martin + Bros. London +
Southall 20-2-1911’ Southall 9.1886,’ paper exhibition label
5 3/4” x 6” x 5 1/2” On base: 12 1/2” x 6”
PROVENANCE PROVENANCE
AD Antiques, September 2014 Rago Auctions, Early 20th C. Design, 8 June 2013,
$22,500–27,500 lot 156
Collection of Dr. Jim Wilkes
AD Antiques
EXHIBITED
Richard Dennis, Martin Brothers Pottery Exhibition,
1978
ILLUSTRATED
Haslam, The Martin Brothers Pottery, 1978, p. 65
$40,000–60,000

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16
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Tall bird tobacco jar, England, 1898
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head and base incised ‘Martin Bros. London + Southall 9-1898’
On base: 14” x 6 3/4”
PROVENANCE
Woolley & Wallis, England, June 2014, lot 148
$45,000–65,000

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17 18
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923) ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS MARTIN BROTHERS
Bird tobacco jar, England, 1898 Tall bird tobacco jar, England, 1911
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood Salt-glazed stoneware, wood
Head and base incised ‘Martin Bros. London and Head and base incised ‘R.W. Martin + Bros. London +
Southall 1-1898’ Southall 9-1911’
On base: 11” x 6” On base: 12 1/2” x 7”
PROVENANCE PROVENANCE
Rago Auctions, Early 20th C. Design, 26 October Sotheby’s, The Harriman Judd Collection Part Two, 6
2013, lot 125 October 2001, lot 39
EXHIBITED AD Antiques, September 2013, lot 18
The Martin Brothers, Gallery 532, New York, 1995 $40,000–60,000
$40,000–60,000

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19
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Tall monk bird tobacco jar, England, 1899
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Base and head incised ‘Martin Bros. London + Southall 3-1899’
On base: 13 3/4” x 7”
PROVENANCE
Collection of Ed Pascoe
Collection of Lillian Hoffman, 1980
Rago Auctions, Early 20th C. Design, 1 March 2014, lot 19
$50,000–75,000

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20
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Tall bird tobacco jar, England, 1899
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head incised ‘R.W. Martin + Bros. London +
Southall 11-1899,’ base incised ‘Martin Bros.
London + Southall 11-1899’
On base: 16 1/2” x 6 1/2”
PROVENANCE
Collection of John Cathles Hill
Woolley & Wallis, England, June 2014, lot 186
$35,000–45,000

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21
ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Tall monk bird tobacco jar, England, 1886
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Base incised ‘R.W. Martin So. London and Southall 5.1886,’
head incised ‘R.W. Martin and Bros. London and Southall
5-1886’
On base: 12” x 7”
PROVENANCE
Collection of Ed Pascoe
Collection of Lillian Hoffman, 1980
Rago Auctions, Early 20th C. Design, 1 March 2014, lot 20
$50,000–75,000

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ROBERT W. MARTIN (1843 - 1923)
MARTIN BROTHERS
Tall and fine bird tobacco jar, England, 1900
Salt-glazed stoneware, ebonized wood
Head and base incised ‘RW Martin + Brothers, London +
Southall, 11-1900,’ original paper label inside collar
On base: 13 3/4” x 6 1/2”
PROVENANCE
Rago Auctions, Early 20th C. Design, 1 March 2014, lot 201
$50,000–75,000

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