Large Vase. Oriental? - by Andrew Walford

by Potwurm December 1st 2013, 3:24 pm

This is a recent purchase that I've no idea about who its maker might be. It has a mark that suggests the possibility of English characters, though it's appearance has a more Oriental look about it, so I wonder if anyone out there can suggest if the squiggly characters underneath may belong to an Oriental language... possibly even the other way up?

by **NaomiM** December 1st 2013, 3:28 pm

I don't think it's oriental. The mark looks like a potter's monogram - maybe NJG?

Edited to say it's by Andrew Walford, South Africa

by Potwurm December 1st 2013, 3:38 pm

Thank you for your quick reply. Yes, I agree that there is a possibility of an English monogram in there, though not one I've ever come across before.

by **NaomiM** April 10th 2020, 11:46 pm

Andrew Walford’s kanji mark

by **benwilliams** September 22nd 2022, 5:07 pm

Studio pottery stoneware vase - Japanese David Frith style
8” tall, good glaze
Slightly flattened on 4 sides.
Not sure where to start with the mark.

by **benwilliams** September 22nd 2022, 5:19 pm

Maybe a Mashiko type Japanese piece or is this a British mark?

by **NaomiM** September 22nd 2022, 6:36 pm

Might be by Andrew Walford, South Africa
https://www.20thcenturyforum.com/t26141-andrew-walford-south-africa

by **benwilliams** September 22nd 2022, 7:07 pm

My mark is similar to the one you sent and another online. I’ve contacted him to ask. Thank you. His work is lovely.

by **benwilliams** September 24th 2022, 1:44 pm

From Andrew Walford “Hi ! It is certainly mine . Made in Shongweni KwaZulu-Natal probably about 10 years ago but not sure of that . Sincerely Andrew”
I just want to say (again ) - Naomi, your knowledge is phenomenal- you are like a national treasure. Well done.

by **NaomiM** September 24th 2022, 2:33 pm

by **NaomiM** February 12th 2024, 7:46 pm

Via Fillingdon Fine Art, Bucks:

Andrew Walford studied at Durban Art School from 1957-59 and then was an apprentice with Walsh Marais and Sammy Liebermann until establishing his own studio in Durban in 1961. In 1964 he travelled to Europe, where he met Bernard Leach, Lucie Rie and Michael Cardew. He established a studio in Staufen, Germany in 1965, and then taught at the Hamburg Academy of Art from 1966-68. He returned to Africa in 1968 and after travelling to Asia and meeting with Shoji Hamada, he established a new studio in the Shongweni Hills in 1970.
He has been working in his mountain-top studio overlooking the Shongweni dam and game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal for 50 years.
Andrew works in the Japanese tradition but is inspired by the spectacular indigenous bush surrounding his home and work-shop