Fairies found in Cheshire kitchen cupboard would be magical addition to the Christmas table They say fairies don’t exist American market. However, but a discovery made in a Makeig-Jones’ Art Nouveau Cheshire kitchen brings them fairies eventually faded magically to life in porcelain from fashion. The line was form. discontinued in 1929. Her multi-coloured lustrous Uncovered from a cupboard glazes were expensive to was this important Wedgwood produce amid the 1930s’ bowl – fit for the finest festive economic downturn. table. It shimmers with blues, mauves, greens and golds. Nevertheless, nearly a Fairyland Lustre Wedgwood bowl found in And, amidst the trees and century later, Makeig-Jones’ kitchen cupboard. greenery, fairies flutter. mystical designs are more popular than ever – particularly It showcases Fairyland Lustre, in America. It’s easy to see why. a design introduced at the These collectors’ items are, quite Wedgwood factory during the simply, beautiful. First World War by Daisy MakeigJones. Such is its rarity, it entered She was inspired by prints in the Hansons’ October 7 Fine Art sale British Museum connected to with an estimate of £2,000-£4,000. Chinese and Japanese legends. This bowl tells a story about a Yorkshire-born Makeig-Jones (1881castle where two boys lived. They 1945) attended the Torquay School found a hole, went down it and of Art before joining Wedgwood emerged in a land filled with fairies as an apprentice painter in 1909. Fairyland Lustre Wedgwood bowl of curious shapes and colours. Her talent soon emerged. She found in kitchen cupboard. started designing tableware in Aside from the fantastical stories, 1911. Attracted to the fanciful, she the decorative pedigree shines moved on to Oriental dragon patterns in 1913. bright. Scenes were printed and outlined and all Then in 1915, amid the misery of First World War, the colours, gold and lustre were painstakingly she created her signature Fairyland Lustre. hand applied. Thanks to being carefully tucked away in that Cheshire cupboard, the bowl’s It was just what Wedgwood needed. Business condition is good. I hope it makes someone’s was slack when the series was released. day at Christmas. According to Nicholas Dawes, a New York antiques dealer, many Europeans were seeking Free antique valuations will be available at something to escape the horrors of war. The Coach & Four, 69-71 Alderley Road, Makeig-Jones’ goblins and floating fairies amid Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 1PA, November 18th, the pottery’s neon landscapes appealed. 11am-2pm. Entries invited for Fine Art, specialist and general sales. To find out more Her rise at Wedgwood was unusual not only email service@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk. because she was a woman but also because she rose from within the ranks. Top designers Twitter: HansonsUK were normally recruited externally. Fairyland Lustre proved popular across the Atlantic Facebook: HansonsAuctioneersUK during the Roaring 20s. It gave Wedgwood a Instagram: hansons_auctioneers high-end product to penetrate the lucrative
10 | SKCheadle Hulme & Cheadle - December 2021 / January 2022
