Lucie Rie’s Bowls Rewrite the Rules
A simple bowl, spun from clay and fired in a London kiln, just toppled auction records—Lucie Rie’s 1981 Footed bowl soared to over $400,000, far outpacing its modest estimate. Rie, who fled Vienna for London in the shadow of World War II, transformed the humble vessel into a modernist icon, her glazes shimmering with subtle color and innovation.
This record wasn’t a solo act: her contemporary Hans Coper’s sculptural forms also reached new heights at the same sale, signaling a powerful resurgence of interest in 20th-century ceramics. The works, drawn from storied collections, highlight how rarity and craftsmanship can elevate everyday objects to the realm of fine art.
From threatened exile to auction triumph, Rie’s bowls remind us that the quiet revolution of the hand-thrown pot can still command the world’s attention—and rewrite its own value.
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