A rare Margaret O’Rorke studio pottery vase, late 1980s, the baluster body incised, painted and moulded with two female nudes in raku glazes against a matt black ground, the interior with turquoise glaze, incised ‘MR’ initials to base edge, height 27.5cm. Provenance: from the personal collection of the ceramic artist, the late Eric James Mellon (1925-2014). Note: this particular vase is very much a departure from O’Rorke’s normal work. It was produced at the Slindon Summer Art School, a venture organised and run by Eric Mellon, during a session taught by Ruth Eisenhart. Ruth is an artist and teacher who led life drawing sessions at the summer school based on the teachings of Cecil Collins. This vase is a product of those drawing sessions, whereby pots already thrown at Slindon were used by the students to interpret the outcomes of their life drawing sessions.