Bill Fisher, formerly of Mousehole

A very nice piece Nutkin.
It is quite typical in style of Bills work (given how varied his work was), but these sculptures rarely appear for sale.
What is rather rare is Bills signature on it. This is the first things I've seen signed (excluding the early Mousehole stuff that had labels or painted signatures).

I just watched one of Bill rare pieces sell in ebay, it jumped 100 quid in the last ten seconds and sold for 150

I was going to bid 30

dantheman wrote:I just watched one of Bill rare pieces sell in ebay, it jumped 100 quid in the last ten seconds and sold for 150

I was going to bid 30

I saw that one, was curious what it would go for, not a great piece in my opinion, despite rarity.

Today I found an old auction catalogue describing a 13.5 inch terracotta lion, originally purchased in St Ives and made by Bill when he worked alongside the sculptor Dennis Mitchell

I was speaking to one of Bill's closest friends the other day,she told me of the 10 years following his split with Maggie when he rented and worked in a small house overlooking Mousehole harbour with kilns in the back yard.
During this 10 year period he made terracotta animals,plaques,unicorns etc but much of his time was devoted to painting.
He was forced to move from this house when his landlord refused to make repairs to the building , Bill moved to accommodation with no space for a kiln & this move marked the end of his career as a potter.

Well I have to confess that I'm a big fan of both Bill and Maggie. I see an affinity with Briglin. This piece was not really bid on as it has a firing crack, it's lopsided, scruffy, dirty and I love it. Reminds me of all that talk about Picasso and how he copied African art. Love the use of colour and texture all splashed in together, different blacks, shiny, matt, crack who cares don't look at the detail look at the overall. I'm a fan but I can also see why people are tepid, but don't look a the poor stuff look at the good stuff

I love the depth and the looseness of decoration on that piece

You mean it's scruffy!

to be honest I did think something like that when I saw it on ebay but your 2nd image changed my opinion

Terracotta lion by Bill Fisher

That is the sort of piece you buy to scare your children with

they weigh a ton and have loads of sharp points so they have reason to be scared!

He's lovely..... but you overcleaned! leave a bit of grubby.... old things need to show their age..

I haven't cleaned it. The ivy roots and snail are still there.

Someone has... no dust or grime

probably the snail then

my latest little bull with his big brother

little 6 inch bull

early figure of a Cornish singer,possibly a pirate singer and originally part of a pirate choir

11cm tall

To the best of my knowledge, contrary to the selling details for this singer. He's actually from Bills work After his split with Maggi and not before the Celtic Pottery days.

unusual green coloured bull and lion

Is anyone familiar with the name Fisher I cannot find in the marks book. Thank you

OOOhhh lovely early Celtic, Dan will fill you in on this one.

Bill or Maggie Fisher.

Oh ok thanks for names I will do some research, took me a while to figure out it was a bird😀