OXFORD CERAMICS RICHARD BATTERHAM EXHIBITION

https://www.oxfordceramics.com/exhibitions/54-richard-batterham/works/

Richard Batterham at the decidedly upmarket Oxford Ceramics. The exhibition has only been on a few days yet a fair amount has been sold. Nice pieces of course. But at totally Eye Watering prices!

I find it hard to understand why collectors will pay these inflated prices when identical items are available in auction at a far lower price ,perhaps they are unsure of their own judgement or just like the gallery shopping experience. Galleries and antique shops etc are a dying breed with auctions taking the market over(even retail sales in some cases).

The auction experience is not for everyone Coker. It will probably never will be. There is certainly still a small niche market for specialist galleries with a returning clientele. Some people just like the gallery experience and having the work curated for them.
The grandaddy of them all being Primavera in Cambridge. Which has been there with some owner or another for over 60 years;

I expect auction houses cultivate a clientele looking for such items, and then they can charge a premium because they’ve got a guaranteed buyer

That's very true, if low cost is not the highest priority then a pleasant visit to you local showroom can be part of the whole buying experience for some. There is obviously takers for what Oxford Ceramics offers

Also with unmarked pots like Batterham's the collectors will buy from a Gallery they trust. The smaller auction houses aren't necessarily going to ID such pots correctly, plus buyers may not trust their delivery service.

I would not be at all surprised if most of those came from Wooley and Wallis sales. The sales were from Batterham's estate. You cannot get better provenance than that.

I think it's James. I bet the throws in a cup of Yorkshire and some Chocolate Oliver's

https://www.huntleyandpalmers.com/product/chocolate-olivers/