Martinware Barrister

Martinware “Barrister” Stolen from Museum is Recovered by Barrister

Art Recovery International has recovered another piece of Martin Brothers pottery from the 2007 theft from Pitzhanger Manor House in London.

A “Barrister” Face Jug, Circa 1900 was recovered by attorney Christopher Marinello, founder of Art Recovery International, a few months after recovering a stolen Martinware “Wally Bird” from a London dealer.  Both items were part of a series of thefts from the Southall Library in West London in 2005 and Pitzhanger Manor House in 2007.  Ealing Council maintains a large collection of Martinware Pottery thanks to the location of the Martinware factory which operated in Southall between 1877-1923.

The “Barrister” was first spotted in early 2020 on eBay by Martinware collector and researcher, Nigel Wilson, but local law enforcement was unable to recover the piece before the listing was removed.  Fortunately, the publicity over ARI’s recovery of the Wally Bird created a buzz among Martinware collectors leading to the location of the second artwork.

Marinello, working pro-bono for the Museum, negotiated the unconditional return of the piece from another London based dealer.

Marinello credits the trade for its due diligence in this instance and urges anyone buying or selling Martin Brothers pottery to check first with ARI or the museum.