From comical to cunning, the Martin Brothers’ eccentric “Wally Birds” continue to enchant collectors with their whimsical charm and masterful craftsmanship.
The Martin Brothers—Robert Wallace, Walter, Charles and Edwin Martin—produced distinctive stoneware pottery in London from 1873 to 1923. Many consider the brothers as frontrunners of the 20th century studio pottery movement. They were especially known for their whimsical approach to subject matter including birds and sea creatures, with works that exhibited humor and tremendous skill. The company was founded by the eldest Martin brother, Robert Wallace, who acted as the figurehead. Walter was the thrower, Edwin was the principal decorator, and Charles ran the shop.
in England. It stands 10 5/8 in. by 6 3/4 in., and sold for $26,670 Jan. 9, 2025, at Rago Auctions.
Robert Wallace founded the studio in London’s Fulham neighborhood after studying at the Lambeth School of Art (where brothers Walter and Edwin also attended) and the Royal Academy School. In 1877, the pottery moved to the London suburb of Southall, Middlesex. Unlike the Victorian decoration trend, the Martin Brothers approached their craft as an intellectual endeavor. They became especially well-known for their so-called “Wally Birds,” bird-form jars with expressive faces that were said to sometimes be modeled from political figures. The Wally Birds exemplify the brothers’ “grotesques,” detailed sculptural works that alternately depicted monsters, reptiles and unidentified creatures. As The Magazine of Art wrote, referencing Lewis Carroll’s poem The Hunting of the Snark: “We have a hundred young sculptors who will model you a Venus or an Adonis as soon as look at you; but who save Mr. Martin could give you a Boojum or a Snark in the round.”
estimated $20,000, Jan. 9, 2025, at Rago Auctions. The Wally Bird stands 10 1/2 in. tall by 5 3/8 in.
Martinware was popular and collectible in its time—in 1914, Queen Mary ordered 60 pieces to be exhibited at the Paris Exposition. Production of Martinware ended in 1923 with Robert Wallace’s death. In the 1970s, Martinware experienced a revival in popularity and is today held in the collections of major institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. A recent “American & European Art Pottery” event at Rago Auctions featured several pieces by the Martin Brothers, including the three showcased here.
sold for $30,480 against a high estimate of $22,000.
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