Product Description
Peter Shire Memphis Group California Art Pottery Rare Early “Peach Tea Set” 1980

PETER SHIRE (b. 1947) USA
Rare and early “California Peach” teaset 1980
Handmade earthenware with polychrome glazes
Made by Shire at his studio in Echo Park, California
Signed: Shire 1980 EXP (painted on base of each)
Model illustrated: Tempest in a Teapot, the Ceramic Art of Peter Shire, Norman M. Klein et al. (New York: Rizzoli, 1991) p. 11.
Teapot H: 10” x W: 11 1/4” x D: 5 1/2”
Pair of teacups H: 7 3/4” & 8”
Price: $8,500
Peter Shire (born 1947) is a Los Angeles artist. Shire was born in the Echo Park district of Los Angeles, where he currently lives and works. His sculpture, furniture and ceramics have been exhibited in the United States, Italy, France, Japan and Poland; Shire has been associated with the Memphis Group of designers, has worked on the Design Team for the XXIII Olympiad with the American Institute of Architects, and has designed public sculptures in Los Angeles and other California cities. Shire has been honored by awards for his contribution to the cultural life of the City of Los Angeles.
Peter Shire Memphis Group California Art Pottery Rare Early “Peach Tea Set” 1980
KISHIMOTO KENNIN (b. 1934), Japan.
Monumental “Iga” vase, circa 1995.
Hand thrown and handbuilt stoneware vase with a natural ash glaze in rich salmon rust, celadon, grey and black glaze
H: 20″ x Dia: 22″
Price: $20,000
1934 born in Nagoya 1953–1955 attends college in Nagoya 1960 moves to Mino, Gifu Prefecture 1965 establishes his own studio 1970 builds an anagama in Mikuni-Sanroku, where he lives and works until today 1976 appointed member of the Japan Crafts Association (Nihon kôgei-kai) Group exhibitions 1967 Asahi Ceramics Exhibition (Asahi tôgei-ten) 1968 Exhibition of Japanese Ceramics (Nihon tôgei-ten) 1970 International Exhibition of Chûnichi Ceramics (Chûnichi kokusai tôgei-ten) 1972–75 Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition (Nihon dentô kôgei-ten)
One man shows:
1979 Takashimaya Gallery, Tôkyô; since then again in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1990.
1982 Hankyû Gallery, Ôsaka; since then again in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987.
1984 Maru’ei Gallery, Nagoya; again in 1986.
SALVATORE MELI (b. 1929) Italy
Important Sculpture / Ewer 1952
Glazed terra cotta, brown and dark green with white scraffito decoration, original stepped and angular wood base.
Signed: Meli 1952 Roma
For more info on Meli see: Design 1935-1965, What Modern was, ed. Martin Eidelberg (New York: Harry Abrams, 1991) p. 237.
Salvatore Meli belongs to that initial group of artists, including Guido Gambone and Lucio Fontana among others, who elevated Italian ceramics to a fine art during the post-war period. Meli conceived this vessel, first on paper, then by laboriously constructing the body in clay, coil by coil, to achieve the richly textured and dynamic form; the incised and painted decoration is in concert with the organic shape. The massive scale of this work defies function as a ewer but was created as a sculptural object. The original wooden base recalls Italian futurist sculpture forms of the early twentieth century.
H (with base): 23 1/2” x W: 13” x D: 9.5”
H (without base): 19 1/8”
Price: $27,500
WOLFGANG GESSL (b. 1949) Austria / Sweden
Teapot 1990
Hand wrought and hand hammered spherical silver teapot with cylindrical handle and spout elements, maple and padouk wood layered arching handle
This is No. 2 out of the edition of 3 models.
Marks: Wolfgang Gessl (script impressed signature), 2/3, WO.GE (in a rectangle), Swedish assay mark for Stockholm, 925 (silver guarantee in a rectangle), E11 (in a rectangle), LF
Exhibited: Glänsande Geometri, Mettalum, Stockholm, Sweden
Illustrated: Gold and Silversmith Wolfgang Gessl: Exceeding Geometry, Kerstin Wickman, p. 16.
H: 10” x W: 16 ½” x D: 5 ½”
Price: $32,000
Wolfgang Gessl was born in 1949 in Vienna, Austria and trained as a goldsmith with Professor Hans Angerbauer. Upon moving to Sweden, Gessl studied under the eminent silversmith Sigurd Persson at Konstfack, the National University of Art, Craft and Design in Stockholm, Sweden.
Wolfgang Gessl has had fifteen solo exhibitions including shows at The National Museum, Stockholm and The Royal College of Art in London. His metalwork has been widely exhibited in Sweden, Europe and the U.S and his pieces can be found in many private collections throughout the world. He has taught at Konstfack for more than twenty-four years, and continues to live and work in Stockholm.