John Lewington | The Scholar, Athlete, and Ceramic Connoisseur

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George John Lewington, known to the family as ‘John’ grew up in Enfield, to parents Rose and Les. Les ran a sand and ballast firm and John would sometimes accompany him on trips to seek out profitable locations for mining.

Evacuated during the war, John spent time in the countryside including holidays with extended family and friends in Somerset.

^{George John Lewington and his wife, Colette.}

At Enfield Grammar school, John excelled academically. He told me his primary school teacher was particularly impressed with his handwriting. Like everything else John did, it was very precise. John was also a brilliant football player.  Having been selected for a national squad, his father was keen for him to become a professional football player. However, Cambridge University beckoned, and John studied languages but also became a Cambridge blue for soccer.

^{Dame Lucie Rie (Austrian, 1902-1995) a porcelain bowl, with a yellow glaze and manganese rim, impressed to the bottom of the foot with the artist's seal, 19cm diameter 10cm high (£8,000-12,000)}

During his studies in France, he met his wife, Colette. In 1954 John was recruited as a graduate trainee to the statistical department of the stockbroking firm Rowe and Pitman. John loved his work there, and progressed from investment research to becoming Company Secretary, a role he served for many years. His meticulous and diplomatic nature was well suited to this role.

John and Collette started to become interested in ceramics whilst travelling in the UK and France, buying a few pieces on holiday. They soon became serious collectors of ceramics, attending talks and researching the history of factories and firms. They had an annual ritual of carefully dusting and cleaning their expanding collection. As well as regular trips to collectors’ fairs, John was part of collectors’ groups and became quite an expert in nineteenth century cups and saucers.

^{Peter Beard (b.1951) a stoneware vessel, of square sleeve form, with a textured blue glaze, impressed marks, 20.5cm high (£200-400)}

We are privileged to be offering pieces from John and Collette’s extraordinary and well kept collection in several of our forthcoming sales this summer season, including our July Design and Homes & Interiors sales, and Paint Print Sculpt in August. Pieces included range from £100-£10,000, with names such as Peter Beard, David Leach, Duncan Ross, and Dame Lucie Rie. 

Tuesday 9 July | 10am

design@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778

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