We're thrilled to announce that a tin-glazed earthenware bowl (Lot 395) by Alan Caiger-Smith (1930-2020) achieved an auction record of £5,200 plus buyer's premium in our Modern Art & Design Sale on 10 + 11 December.
This exceptional result reflects the enduring significance of Caiger-Smith's contribution to British ceramics and his unique place in the history of pottery, both as a master craftsman and as an inspirational teacher who influenced generations of potters.
A Master of Lustre
Alan Caiger-Smith founded the Aldermaston Pottery in Berkshire in 1955, where he dedicated his career to reviving and perfecting the ancient technique of tin-glaze and lustre decoration. Originally developed in or near Basra, present-day Iraq, around 800AD, lustre firing creates an iridescent, metallic surface through a complex reduction firing process.
The technique spread through the Islamic world and underwent creative metamorphoses across Europe – from Spain's "Hispano-Moresque" ware to Italy's "maiolica", France and Germany's "faience", Holland's "Delft", and England's "delftware". Caiger-Smith's mastery of this demanding process placed him firmly within this distinguished tradition whilst creating work that was distinctly his own.
His pottery is characterised by the use of copper- and silver-based lustre decoration. Caiger-Smith's mastery of the demanding lustre process allowed him to create surfaces where the effects could be described as magical, approaching the "near-fulfilment of the alchemist's dream" of transforming base material into gold.
Alan Caiger-Smith (1930-2020) vase, 1974, tin-glazed earthenware, decorated with multiple birds in red glaze, signed and dated to the base
An Inspirational Teacher and Writer
Beyond his own considerable output, Caiger-Smith's influence on British pottery extended through his generous teaching and mentorship. Numerous potters trained at Aldermaston and went on to establish successful careers of their own.
He wrote extensively about his craft, most notably in his seminal work Lustre Pottery (1985) and the poetic Pottery, People and Time (1995), in which he eloquently described the years of experiment and research required to master lustre firing techniques. His writings combined technical precision with a deep appreciation for the aesthetic and historical dimensions of his craft.
His work is held in major collections including the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and numerous private collections worldwide.
The 2007 Aldermaston Studio Sale
Our long-standing connection with Alan Caiger-Smith's work was cemented in 2007, when we held a special studio sale of his pottery. The sale featured diverse works made over several years of activity, from 1964 to 1993. The pieces included those retained as test pieces, some as reserves for private commissions and others as records of unusual glazes or firing effects.
In his note accompanying the sale catalogue, Alan Caiger-Smith reflected on the closure of the esteemed workshop:
“The Pottery's life span was from 1955 to 2006. Most of the activity, however, belongs to the period 1964-1993. During those years I had the support of able, enthusiastic and indispensable assistants, usually seven in number, to whom I shall always be grateful in many different ways. The Pottery finally closed at the end of 2006. At seventy-six I could no longer maintain everything and it seemed the right moment to finish.....Mallams operates in the area in which many of our friends and visitors live and it is appropriate that this final sale should take place in Oxford. I am grateful to them, and to Andrew Marlborough especially, for making it possible.”
Alan Caiger-Smith, August 2007
A percentage of the proceeds from that sale benefited the Ashmolean Museum, which is a major institutional holder of Caiger-Smith's work. Dr Timothy Wilson, then Keeper of Western Art at the Ashmolean, wrote the foreword for the sale catalogue, noting that:
"For many of us who love Alan's work and believe it matters and will go on mattering, this studio sale, while in some degree a sad rite of passage, is also a final opportunity not to be missed."
A Legacy Continues
The workshop closed as an active collaborative venture in 1993, but Caiger-Smith continued working until his final, triumphant lustre firings in 2006. His death in 2020 marked the end of an era, but his influence on British studio pottery remains profound.
The record-breaking bowl (Lot 395) was not the only significant result from the sale. A green lustre vase (Lot 396), which featured in the Final Exhibition and bore its original label, achieved a strong price of £3,200 plus buyer's premium. This specific piece was formerly part of the Dr John P Driscoll Collection and was featured in the reference work: Alan Caiger-Smith and Aldermaston Pottery 1955-1993 (page 17).
 by Alan Caiger-Smith from the Final Exhibition.jpg)
Alan Caiger-Smith (1930-2020) large vase, tin-glazed earthenware decorated with green lustre, signed to the base
This recent auction record – the highest price ever achieved for his work at auction – demonstrates the continued and growing appreciation for Caiger-Smith's artistry. It reflects not only the beauty of his lustrous glazes but also the recognition of his importance to 20th-century British ceramics.
We're honoured to have played a part in celebrating and preserving Alan Caiger-Smith's legacy, from our 2007 studio sale to this remarkable recent result.
Mallams holds regular Modern Art & Design sales featuring fine and decorative arts, studio pottery, and 20th-century design. To discuss consigning items for future sales, please contact our specialists.
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