Last pieces in pottery collection go to auction

A well-known collector originally from Canberra, whose mother was instrumental in getting him started at age 16, is disposing of the last vestiges of his vast collection from 10.30am tomorrow at Woodlands Auctions 16 Grubb Street, Ocean Grove.

The collector (who declined to be named) built up his massive hoard over more than 40 years and has spent the past four steadily selling it off through various auction houses throughout Australia, simply because the collection became too big to lug around.

These last pieces include a kookaburra figure by Maud O’Reilley, who exhibited many of her works in England, still with its original Hardy Bros. retail label.

Another piece of note is a kangaroo figure from Bennet’s Pottery in South Australia, along with a Phillipa James jug with koala handle and a Castle Harris vase with applied leaves and flowers.

There also is a William Ricketts wall plaque with three Aboriginal heads and a Spode pattern brown jug.