Lucy Rie pottery finds to head to Colchester auction

The 1950s coffee pot and bowl created by celebrated potter Lucie Rie will go under the hammer at Reeman Dansie auctioneers this morning in Colchester.

The pieces were spotted by staff Lauren and Dave from Emmaus whilst searching through items at a house clearance, and subsequently verified by experts from the auctioneers after spotting the Lucie Rie's unique signature. 

The 1950s coffee pot sculpted by Lucie Rie is said by Reeman Dansie to be typical of her innovative style (Image: Reeman Dansie) Between the 1950s coffee pot and bowl, they have been given a pre-sale estimate of £500-£700 and £800-£1200 respectively. 

Gill Dibben, the Suffolk area retail manager for Emmaus said: "These items were found by Lauren our Store Manager and our volunteer Dave at a house clearance.

"We always research antiques and collectables that we come across and a quick search of the makers mark showed that the bowl and coffee pot were made by potter, Lucie Rie.

As well as bowls and ceramic, Rie sculpted buttons which are considered to be highly collectable (Image: Reeman Dansie) "We're always excited when we find items like this and we knew it would be worth taking to auction.

"All the money raised from the auction and all our social enterprises help our charity to support vulnerable people in Suffolk so we hope the sale is successful." 

Gill Dibben, area retail manager for Emmaus Suffolk (Image: Emmaus Suffolk) An auctioneer for Reeman Dansie, Daniel Wright praised the charity shop staff as such valuable pottery is "hard to find and easy to miss unless versed in 20th century pottery".

He said: "They did tremendously well to spot these. It's great that on this occasion the charity will be fully benefitting thanks to the good work of their team." 

"We frequently hear stories of people making valuable discoveries in charity shops and it’s great that on this occasion the charity will be fully benefitting thanks to the good work of their team."

Lucie Rie, the artist behind the pots is one of Britain's most celebrated potters and was awarded a dame-hood in 1991 and taught at the Camberwell school of art from 1960-1971. 

Austrian born, Rie moved to London in 1938 fleeing the Nazi regime and provided accommodation to famous physicist Erwin Schrodinger in the 1940s. 

She died at the age of 93 in 1995 and her works are on display at the Victoria and Albert museum in London.

Additional reporting by Komola Cook