Rare and aesthetic pieces from the late 19th and early 20th century can make four-figure sums but today the most common pieces on the market are 20th century works, especially the designs by Geoffrey Baxter that enjoyed large production runs from 1954 onwards.
While the market for Whitefriars experienced a revival in the 1990s and early 2000s, demand is now more selective and therefore it can be a relatively affordable area to form a collection.
With plenty of material now available for a few hundred pounds or even below, here ATG selects six upcoming lots pitched below £1000. For more on Whitefriars glass, read our in-depth guide.
1. Drunken Bricklayer vase
Special Auction Services in Newbury, Berkshire will offer a private collection of mid-century glass for sale on October 3 which includes around 100 pieces of Whitefriars glass. It includes designs by Geoffrey Baxter (1922-95), who joined the factory in 1954 directly from the Royal School of Art, such as this example of his famous 'Drunken Bricklayer' vase in indigo colour. It is estimated at £300-500.
2. Banjo vase
Another Geoffrey Baxter design for Whitefriars, this example of the textured glass ‘Banjo’ vase in pewter colour is offered at Special Auction Services on October 3. It is estimated at £400-600.
3. Mobile phone vase
A more unusual lot at the Special Auction Services sale on October 3 is this Willow coloured ‘mobile phone’ pattern glass vase by Geoffrey Baxter (1922-95). Although it is a known design of which examples occasionally appear at auction, the SAS catalogue states: “As the design in this larger size [10½in/27cm] was not developed into a production run, there is a possibility that this could be an original trial piece.” It is estimated at £200-300.
4. Bark vase
Among the more affordable lots of Whitefriars glass at the sale at Special Auction Services sale on October 2-3 is this 'Bark' vase by Geoffrey Baxter. Examples of this design from the 'Textured' range come in at least 10 colour ranges including this bright ‘tangerine’ shade. It is estimated at £50-100.
View the catalogue entry for this lot on thesaleroom.com
5. Hooped vase
The two-day auction of Studio Ceramics and Modern Design at Adam Partridge in Macclesfield, Cheshire on October 11-12 includes over 100 lots in the glass section of which 18 are Whitefriars. The majority are designs by Geoffrey Baxter including this large textured ‘Hooped’ vase in willow colour which is estimated at £100-150.
6. Pyramid vase
This ‘Pyramid’ vase by Geoffrey Baxter with textured bark effect and in indigo colour is estimated at £50-80 at a mixed-category auction at Kingham & Orme in Evesham, Worcestershire on October 5-6. It is estimated at £50-80.
