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Lucie Rie and Louis Osman

SOLD

Code: 10424

DAME LUCIE RIE (1902-1995)

LOUIS OSMAN (1914-1996)

An unique collaboration of two of the major talents of 20^th century silversmithing and ceramics.

Commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in 1965 for the British Exhibition, Tokyo.

In 1965 Lucie Rie was commissioned to make two unique pieces, a large shallow bowl and a conical vase, both with a white orange peel glaze, the body of the pieces specially formulated for the occasion. The idea being that the bowl and vase would be supported by silver mounts designed by Louis Osman. For the bowl Osman made a round base plate with three raised conical supports, all textured to match and compliment the glaze of the bowl.

The British Exhibition in Tokyo in Autumn 1965 was a huge show of British industrial and design talent , it was attended by 750,000 visitors and helped get Britain a foothold into the re-emerging Japanese market after the war.

In 1974 the pieces were exhibited at Louis Osman’s home and workshop, Cannons Ashby, Northamptonshire, a retrospective exhibition which included the investiture crown for the Prince of Wales made in 1969.

Of this piece Osman says he was reversing the process of importing porcelain and mounting it in silver which was a fashion in the 17^th and 18^th century. Instead he says ’Lucie Rie made the unique pieces of white porcelain which, as they do not stand up by themselves are mounted in precious metal’.

Bowl : 38cms diameter, stamped with makers mark.

Condition : Conserved and restored to two small areas of the rim, hairline across centre.

Silver base : Hallmarked London 1965, makers mark of Louis Osman. 26 oz troy.

Provenance : The collection of Louis Osman, thence by descent to his daughter until 2018.

Exhibited : The British Exhibition Tokyo 1965.

Osman, Cannons Ashby, Northamptonshire 1974 -Item 68.

The companion piece of conical shape is in the collection of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths