WOW, a find that exceeded my expectations!

[Lost&Found]

Its snowing heavy today and I made way to the thrift shop this morning not expecting to come away with anything good since they had a 50% off sale for the last two days. When I got there the shelves were practically empty. While having a conversation with two other pickers about good finds at this store I spotted a worker wheeling an almost empty cart coming our way. Walking over I quickly picked out a hand made pot that had an aged felt bottom and a sticker for $3.49. I bought it thinking it might have some value since it was hand made and will look under the felt for a signature when I get home.

After I got home and got distracted and just looked a few minutes ago. Yep, it was signed Vivika + Otto Heino. Did a quick search and WOW.

"Still actively producing work for museums, international collectors and his home gallery until his death, Heino could throw 100-pound mounds of clay into 24-inch-wide platters. Without assistants or apprentices, he fired kilns of his own design, producing thousands of pieces a year. Those with the prized yellow glaze, popular during the Chin dynasty (AD 265 to 420), sold for $25,000 and up".




Otto Heino dies at 94; master potter created 'hearty and gutsy' pieces - latimes.com



Similar ebay item. But I think I should get this appraised first.

Vivika Otto Heino Pottery Vessel Glen Lukens Era Studio New England California | eBay

 

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[Army of 1]

Looks like a great pick up L@F , congrats ..cheers Mick

 

[NJ Marty]

Damn, that's a real good buy. If I had found it I would put it up ASAP. I would take the chance knowing it is a sought after item and let the bidders decide in an auction. You cant loose for a $3.49 buy. If the other item got 2 offers on a $1,400 ill bet they were offered at least half of that. I would take $700 on a $3.49 buy in a heartbeat.

 

[Lost&Found]

NJ Marty, thanks- you make a valid point. I did not see that the one listed on Ebay had two offers (Ebay mobile eh). It's that I did very little research about its value other than look at Ebay before posting this find.

 

[treasurekidd]

Wow, fantastic score. Looks like you're in the running early on for find of the year. Good luck with it, I hope it sells for $1,400 too!

 

[NJ Marty]

NJ Marty, thanks- you make a valid point. I did not see that the one listed on Ebay had two offers (Ebay mobile eh). It's that I did very little research about its value other than look at Ebay before posting this find.

Keep us posted on this. Like treasurekidd said, you might very well have the find of the year for the garage sale finds...

 

[Lost&Found]

At an LA gallery that sells Heino's work I found a listing for a very similar piece. I will contact them.

http://reform-modern.com/files/heino_dragonfly_bowl.pdf

Is the 4,200 on the bottom left corner their asking price?

 

[trdhrdr007]

Seems to be a lot of price variability on these:

Large Vintage Vivika Otto Heino Vase Mid Century Modernist WOW | eBay
Vtg Vivika Otto Heino Bowl Mid Century Modernist WOW | eBay
Gorgeous Vivika Otto Heino Bowl Mid Century Modernist Minty MCM | eBay

 

[Lost&Found]

I think the price variation is due to age, rarity, type of glaze, size and where it was made.
That is the reason I don't want to sell it until I learn more about its fair market value.

The piece I have also has three other incised marks that I didn't post yet. They might be key in identifying the age and rarity.

 

[Lost&Found]

Found a comparable bowl for sale by Daltons.com
Asking $2,600.

Theirs
Fulper Grueby Teco Van Briggle Takaezu mid century Dalton's

Mine

 

[tamrock]

Holy Moly!...haven't been looking at the G Sales so much, That's a Rockem-Sockem find. Great eye! Lost&Found. That's the kind of earthenware, pottery + ceramic stuff folks should keep a huntin for. I'll bet it grabbed your attention before you flipped it to see the mark? It just has that appeal.

 

[Lost&Found]

Very true, the workmanship is the first thing that attracted me to it. Now I know my local thrift has no idea about art pottery. I am picking a lot of nice pottery from there. The mark was covered with green felt and didn't even look under it till a few hours after I got home. The felt made me think the piece had age to it.


From my research Vivika + Otto collectors have another mark that they look out for which was used when they taught at Chouinard school in the 50's.

It's something to look out for. By my estimate Otto produced 100,000's of pieces during his career. So they are out there to be found.

 

[tamrock]

That's interesting! I do see allot of studio art pottery at the thrift stores and many are well made and very attractive, but I just leave them for others. I must say I most likely would have left the one you have also, especially with the base being covered up, but now I think that's a clue to something possibly wonderful?. I did once find a piece signed by Gerber of France and paid less then 4 bucks at a thrift store. I think it sold for maybe a bit over 200. I was similar to this one in color and shape, but had a silver ring rim with a French hallmark and seashores at 4 points on the rim. It had damage to the base also.
1984 Art Nouveau Charles Greber bowl

 

[Sterling]

Bravo!... Nice score LF...