Hans Coper 1920-1981
Provenance
The Peter Dingley Gallery, Stratford-Upon-AvonPat & Alan Firth, acquired from above in 1976
Their Estate Sale, Adam Partridge, Macclesfield, 16th October 2015, lot 165
Private Collection, acquired from the above
Literature
Lucie RIe - Hans Coper, Keramik, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, exh. cat., 1972, illustrated p.27 (a closely comparable work).PAT AND ALAN FIRTH
A devoted couple, Pat (1934-2012) and Alan (1934-2015) Firth’s passion for British studio ceramics saw them build one of the most expansive collections of the twentieth century. Housed in their modest one-bedroom bungalow, neither worked in the arts (Alan was a senior probation officer and Pat a secretary), but over their 40-year collection span they befriended many of the leading ceramists of the day, including Rie and Coper. They would visit both at their studios, as well as maintaining regular correspondence (their papers are now housed in the Museum of York archive).
Following Alan’s death their collection was offered for sale through Adam Partridge Auctioneers in Macclesfield.
A closely comparable work is held in the collection of the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (accession number A 5194 (KN&V).