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Rare Lalique vase is found in Northumberland

An unusual Lalique vase found in a house outside of Morpeth, Northumberland could raise up to £30k at auction, say valuers Anderson and Garland.

Discovered packed away in a box during a routine probate valuation, the vase had evidently been used to store flowers, despite the high value of the item.

Due to be sold Anderson and Garland’s Fine Art Auction in Newcastle upon Tyne on 11 September, the rare cire perdue vase is entitled ‘Deux Figures Femmes Aillee’ and features two winged female nudes with outstretched arms. Just one of four, it was produced in 1922 and as well as having the R Lalique wheel engraved mark, has a full and partial thumbprint on its base.

Cire perdue is another name for lost-wax casting, a drawn-out and painstaking process that results in completely unique, one-off pieces of art.

A French glass designer, Rene Lalique became famous in the first part of the twentieth century for the Art Deco style of his ornaments and jewellery. Noted for his naturalistic approach to art, his pieces have continued to gain in popularity throughout the years.

Julian Thomson, director at Anderson and Garland, said: “When I saw the vase, it immediately caught my eye and after consulting our ceramics expert Steven Moore, it soon become apparent that this was quite a special find – the vase is just one of four and is a limited edition.

“Although it is currently valued between £20k-£30k, we are already experiencing a lot of interest in the piece and believe the final figure could be significantly higher, depending on what happens on the day.”

For more information, please visit www.andersonandgarland.co.uk or call 0191 430 3000.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Waddington .