Born in Auckland in 1931, Ian Firth discovered his passion for clay at the young age of 11. He honed his craft under the tutelage of some of New Zealand's first studio potters, including Olive Jones and Briar Gardiner, and quickly began creating and firing his own pottery. Firth later attended the Elam School of Fine Arts in the late 1940s and went on to establish the North Shore Society of Potters, which eventually became the Auckland Studio Potters Inc. in 1961. One of Firth's most notable contributions to the New Zealand ceramics community was the development of the idea for a major sponsored exhibition and competition for ceramics. This concept eventually became the Fletcher Challenge Ceramic Awards, which ran for over 20 years. Firth continued to be an active and influential member of the New Zealand ceramics community until his passing in 2002.

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Ian Firth pouring vessel with a half handle, concenric rings…

Half-handled pouring vessel with concentric rings and cork, 23cm tall

Ian Firth pouring vessel with a half handle, concenric rings around the body and cork to the side, height 23 cm

New Zealand studio Pottery, collection of 11 cups and a small…

New Zealand Studio Pottery Collection: Cups and Jug (11 pcs)

New Zealand studio Pottery, collection of 11 cups and a small jug, including a set of four Paula King tenmoku glazed cups; a set of five Ian Firth mottled grey cups; a green glazed Elizabeth Matheson Paka Pottery jug; and another two unidentified cups,…

Ian Firth porcelain teapot, turquoise glaze, original label to…

Turquoise Glaze Ian Firth Porcelain Teapot, Original Label 20cm

Ian Firth porcelain teapot, turquoise glaze, original label to base, 20 cm high

Two pieces Ian Firth pottery 'Toy Boy' decorated box topped…

Ian Firth Pottery "Toy Boy" Box and Teapot Set

Two pieces Ian Firth pottery 'Toy Boy' decorated box topped with big-haired female with man inside and organic shaped teapot. Height 17 cm, signed and maker's mark to base respectively

A rare whimsical Ian Firth figural pair Don Quixote and Sancho…

Ian Firth Don Quixote and Sancho Panza Figural Pair

A rare whimsical Ian Firth figural pair Don Quixote and Sancho Panza (on a wooden base), height 19 cm and 17 cm, both have potter's marks. Sancho Panza has damage to horse's tail and spear.

Ian Firth bowl tenmoku glazed sides with blue Chun glaze…

Tenmoku and Blue Chun Glazed Bowl by Ian Firth

Ian Firth bowl tenmoku glazed sides with blue Chun glaze interior. Diameter 35 cm. Potter's mark on side

A trio of Ian Firth bottles, with lopsided necks in a green…

Lopsided Trio: Ian Firth Green Glazed Bottles with Band Detailing

A trio of Ian Firth bottles, with lopsided necks in a green glaze, and horizontal band detailing. No maker's mark. Largest, height 46 cm, depth 10 cm

An Ian Firth bottle vase, a lopsided form with double openings,…

Ian Firth Double Opening Shino Glaze Vase, 21.5cm x 13cm

An Ian Firth bottle vase, a lopsided form with double openings, in a shino glaze. Impressed maker's mark to base, height 21.5 cm, width 13 cm

Ian Firth large bottle vase, umber glazed ovoid vase with…

Ian Firth Umber Glazed Ovoid Vase

Ian Firth large bottle vase, umber glazed ovoid vase with goblet shaped aperture. Impressed mark, 42 cm height

Ian Firth, rare and early Crum Brickworks bowl, glazed with a…

Crum Brickworks Manganese Slip Bowl with Carved Bands

Ian Firth, rare and early Crum Brickworks bowl, glazed with a manganese slip giving lustrous copper effects, decorated with incised and carved bands (two pierced holes to the base, possibly for wiring), impressed potter's mark to the lower side, height 18…

An Ian Firth bear, maker's mark to paw. Height 83 mm, width 160…

Ian Firth Bear Figurine with Maker's Mark

An Ian Firth bear, maker's mark to paw. Height 83 mm, width 160 mm, diameter 85 mm

A Ian Firth stem vase, a spherical body with thin stem neck. In…

Red Glazed Stem Vase by Ian Firth

A Ian Firth stem vase, a spherical body with thin stem neck. In a deep red glaze. Maker's mark to the base, height 30 cm, diameter 16.5 cm

An Ian Firth shino glaze vase, impressed potter's mark. Height…

Ian Firth Shino Glaze Vase

An Ian Firth shino glaze vase, impressed potter's mark. Height 19 cm, width 15 cm

An Ian Firth flagon, in high gloss red. Signed on the base…

Ian Firth Red Flaggon, Signed, 16.5cm height

An Ian Firth flagon, in high gloss red. Signed on the base underside. Height 16.5 cm, diameter 11 cm

Crater Lake by Ian Firth, a large stoneware charger. Signed on…

Crater Lake Stoneware Charger by Ian Firth

Crater Lake by Ian Firth, a large stoneware charger. Signed on the base underside. Height 7.5 cm, diameter 41.3 cm

An Ian Firth flagon, a spherical form with red and blue glaze.…

Ian Firth Signed Spherical Flagon with Red and Blue Glaze

An Ian Firth flagon, a spherical form with red and blue glaze. Signed on the underside. Height 20 cm, diameter 12.5 cm

Three various New Zealand pottery bowls Paul Winspear plate,…

New Zealand Pottery: Three Unique Bowls

Three various New Zealand pottery bowls Paul Winspear plate, incised mark, 30 cm diameter, Ian Firth footed bowl, incised mark, 21 cm diameter, and small bowl incised 'Sang '89', 17 cm diameter

A Ian Firth sculpture of 'The City of Sails Ferry Buildings',…

Ian Firth's City of Sails Ferry Buildings Sculpture

A Ian Firth sculpture of 'The City of Sails Ferry Buildings', in three pieces with hand painted detailing. Makers mark at the base. Largest, height 4.1 cm, width 26 cm, diameter 11.5 cm

Ian Firth, Doris Dutch & John Lawrence, tea pots & oil bottle,…

Ceramic Tea Pots and Oil Bottle with Aquatic Motifs

Ian Firth, Doris Dutch & John Lawrence, tea pots & oil bottle, glazed ceramics, the Ian Firth of organic form decorated with blue aquatic motifs on grey background, the Doris Dutch with granular texture in chocolate hue, the John Lawrence presenting an…

An Ian Firth platter, a large teardrop-shaped platter made of…

Green-Yellow Stoneware Teardrop Platter by Ian Firth

An Ian Firth platter, a large teardrop-shaped platter made of stoneware. Shallow sides. Green-yellow top to the platter with abstract design. Height 2.5 cm, width 25 cm, length 39.1 cm

A Ian Firth koru design dish, ceramic. The dish is rectangular…

Ian Firth Ceramic Koru Dish

A Ian Firth koru design dish, ceramic. The dish is rectangular with raised sides. The rim of dish meets at one corner and creates two koru. Incised koru designs on the interior. Makers mark inside the dish. Height 4.5 cm, width 20.7 cm, diameter 17 cm

Ian Firth ten piece coffee service c1987, impressed marks…

Ian Firth 10-Piece Coffee Service, 1987 Impressed Marks

Ian Firth ten piece coffee service c1987, impressed marks (slight chip to coffee pot)

Ian Firth lidded crock & posy vase both stamped to bases, the…

Ian Firth Lidded Crock & Posy Vase Set

Ian Firth lidded crock & posy vase both stamped to bases, the crock with rope handles, 26.5 cm and 10.5 cm heights

An Ian Firth vase, turquoise glazed, signed to base, height 28…

Turquoise Glazed Ian Firth Vase, Signed - 28cm Height

An Ian Firth vase, turquoise glazed, signed to base, height 28 cm

Two N.Z. studio pottery jugs, one attributed Mirek Smisek, the…

N.Z. Studio Pottery Jugs by Smisek and Firth

Two N.Z. studio pottery jugs, one attributed Mirek Smisek, the other by Ian Firth.

Ian Firth 'Kotiate Bowl', 1970, large ovoid form with kotiate…

Ian Firth Kotiate Bowl

Ian Firth 'Kotiate Bowl', 1970, large ovoid form with kotiate edge forms to the rim and a central koru scroll, unglazed iron spotted rim, brown/oatmeal spotted glaze to the interior. Impressed potter's mark to the back. Illustrated in the N.Z. Potter…

A Ian Firth spherical vase, in a bulbous spherical shape, with…

Turquoise Sand Spherical Vase with Strap Handle

A Ian Firth spherical vase, in a bulbous spherical shape, with flared mouth and strap handle. Graduating from brown in the lower, through turquoise and finishing in sand coloured glaze in the upper, height 28 cm, diameter 20 cm

An Ian Firth baluster vase, in a green and blue textured glaze,…

Green and Blue Baluster Vase by Ian Firth

An Ian Firth baluster vase, in a green and blue textured glaze, with shades of brown to one side. Outwards flaring mouth, height 24 cm, diameter 22 cm

Two stunning Chun glaze bowls by Ian Firth, the larger…

Chun Glaze Bowls by Ian Firth

Two stunning Chun glaze bowls by Ian Firth, the larger graduating from lavender through red to black, the smaller from ash through olive. Both with impressed makers mark to base. Large depth 22 cm, small depth 12 cm

A Pairing of Ian Firth Pottery birds, the smaller of slender…

Pair of Ian Firth Pottery Birds in Purple Glaze

A Pairing of Ian Firth Pottery birds, the smaller of slender elongated form and mounted on a cube platform base, glazed in a lust round purple black finish. The other a duo of unnamed birds resting on a wooden plinth, glazed in the same shad of purple and…

An Ian Firth platter bowl, with mottled internal glaze in…

Mottled Glaze Platter Bowl with Strap Handles

An Ian Firth platter bowl, with mottled internal glaze in shades of ash, red and charcoal. External glaze in a rich purple and red. Strap handle to either side with bunching decoration. Impressed makers mark to base, height 10 cm, diameter 38 cm

An Ian Firth mountain form vase, with sculpted decoration and…

Ian Firth Sculpted Mountain Vase

An Ian Firth mountain form vase, with sculpted decoration and in a pale yellow, brown and ivory variable glaze, height 40 cm, width 50 cm, diameter 20 cm

Ian Firth, a small casserole, an olive jar and a small bowl,…

Tenmoku Glazed Casserole, Olive Jar, and Bowl Set

Ian Firth, a small casserole, an olive jar and a small bowl, each tenmoku glazed and with gestural resist decoration, diameter 18 cm height 21 cm, diameter 14.5 cm.

An Ian Firth triple vase lamp base, the connected narrow necked…

Ian Firth Triple Vase Lamp with Wool Shade

An Ian Firth triple vase lamp base, the connected narrow necked vases each with an impressed and decorated section, pale grey green ash type glaze, height 4 cm. With coloured natural wool shade.

Ian Firth blue gloss glazed spherical vase, bulbous neck, small…

Blue Gloss Glazed Spherical Vase with Handle

Ian Firth blue gloss glazed spherical vase, bulbous neck, small lug handle, matt black glaze to the base. Impressed potter's mark. Height 27 cm.

Ian Firth, two spear shaped vases, with brown and jun glazes,…

Signed Spear-Shaped Vases with Brown and Jun Glazes

Ian Firth, two spear shaped vases, with brown and jun glazes, both signed, the larger, height 27 cm

Ian Firth attributed large platter, the tenmoku glaze with iron…

Iron Brushed Tenmoku Platter, 37cm Diameter

Ian Firth attributed large platter, the tenmoku glaze with iron brushed fine decoration, impressed mark slightly illegible. Diameter 37 cm

Two Ian Firth pots, includes, one with incised and blue…

Ian Firth Salt Glaze Pot with Blue Highlights

Two Ian Firth pots, includes, one with incised and blue splashed glazed highlights over the salt glaze, singular lug handle. Diameter 23 cm

Ian Firth tapered vase, geometric flower handle, incised…

Geometric Flower Vase by Ian Firth

Ian Firth tapered vase, geometric flower handle, incised signature and paper label to base. Height 27 cm

Ian Firth large bowl, circular form with dark glazed highlights…

Ian Firth Crackle Glazed Circular Bowl

Ian Firth large bowl, circular form with dark glazed highlights over the grey/green crackle glazed body, potter's mark to rim. Illustrated N.Z. Potter magazine. Diameter 56 cm

A large Ian Firth spherical vase, chun glaze with blue…

Ian Firth Chun Glaze Spherical Vase with Blue Highlights

A large Ian Firth spherical vase, chun glaze with blue highlights to the red/brown dribble glaze. Impressed potter's mark. Height 49 cm

A large Ian Firth tapered vase, blue glaze with red/pink…

Blue Tapered Vase with Red Highlights

A large Ian Firth tapered vase, blue glaze with red/pink highlights, tapered narrow slab form. Height 40.5 cm

Two Ian Firth jars, graduating size, green ash type glaze…

Green Ash Glazed Ian Firth Jar Set

Two Ian Firth jars, graduating size, green ash type glaze dribbling over the umber type base, multiple looped handle to each, impressed mark to the smaller. Heights 35 cm and 15 cm

Ian Firth spherical vase, speckled grey/green/blue glaze to the…

Speckled Spherical Vase by Ian Firth

Ian Firth spherical vase, speckled grey/green/blue glaze to the top, grey/green to the base, impressed potter's mark. Height 28.5 cm

Ian Firth large wing handled vase, mauve glaze, textured coned…

Ian Firth Mauve Glaze Wing Handled Vase

Ian Firth large wing handled vase, mauve glaze, textured coned highlights, incised signature and paper label to base. Height 40.5 cm

Ian Firth bowl, pale grey glaze over the red/brown body.…

Pale Grey Glazed Ian Firth Bowl - 29cm Diameter

Ian Firth bowl, pale grey glaze over the red/brown body. Diameter 29 cm

A large Ian Firth yellow glazed spherical pot, textured finish,…

Yellow Glazed Spherical Pot with Dribbled Raku Finish

A large Ian Firth yellow glazed spherical pot, textured finish, a dribbled glaze over the black raku type lower glazed body. Height 56 cm

Ian Firth yellow glazed interior bowl, heavily grogged unglazed…

Yellow Grogged Bowl by Ian Firth

Ian Firth yellow glazed interior bowl, heavily grogged unglazed exterior. Diameter 27 cm

Two Ian Firth pottery pieces, includes a double section…

Ian Firth Pottery: Teapot and Specimen Vase Set

Two Ian Firth pottery pieces, includes a double section specimen vase and chino glazed teapot, both with impressed potter's marks. Height of teapot 14.5 cm

Ian Firth double vessel sculpture, mother and child, the…

Ian Firth Double Vessel Sculpture 'Mother and Child'

Ian Firth double vessel sculpture, mother and child, the 'mother' with necklace, incised decoration to the unglazed base of each. Impressed potter's mark and with paper label. Height 48.5 cm

Ian Firth sculpture, Temptress', red brown and dark encrusted…

Encrusted Temptress Sculpture on Wooden Plinth

Ian Firth sculpture, Temptress', red brown and dark encrusted glazed effects, green highlights, mounted on a wooden plinth, entitled and signed in pen and with potter's paper label. Length 21.6 cm. Exhibited at The Pumphouse 'Nothing But Nudes' exhibition…

Two Ian Firth matt blue glazed vases, one of narrow lozenge…

Ian Firth Blue Glazed Vases

Two Ian Firth matt blue glazed vases, one of narrow lozenge form. Height 27 cm, the other of flattened ovoid form with sculpted shoulders, firing crack to body. Height 19.5 cm

Ian Firth, Still Life Blues' sculpture, matt blue with dark…

"Still Life Blues" Sculpture by Ian Firth

Ian Firth, Still Life Blues' sculpture, matt blue with dark lineal blue highlights, incised potters signature to base and paper label 'NFS'. Height 36 cm. Illustrated 'N.Z. Potter No. 3 1996' in the article 'Ian Firth: 50 Years a Potter' by Howard…

Ian Firth tall matt blue glazed vase, waisted rectangular…

Blue Glazed Vase by Ian Firth

Ian Firth tall matt blue glazed vase, waisted rectangular section, incised potter's signature to base, c.1993, exhibited Invercargill gallery. Height 41.5 cm

Two Ian Firth lustre glazed specimen vases, narrow tapered form…

Ian Firth Lustre Glazed Specimen Vases (or) Metallic Glaze Vases

Two Ian Firth lustre glazed specimen vases, narrow tapered form with metallic type glazes, both with incised potter's signature to base and paper label. Height 23.5 cm

Ian Firth, Multi-Pot, Landscape Form 1978, the five swollen…

Swollen Lobed Multi-Pot with Spouts and Glaze

Ian Firth, Multi-Pot, Landscape Form 1978, the five swollen lobed forms each connected with a spout, variable dark and mid-brown glazed tones, impressed potter's mark, some firing flaw repairs, two spouts broken and re-stuck. 43 x 37.5 x 26.5 cm

Ian Firth 'Kotiate Bowl', 1970, large ovoid form with kotiate…

Ian Firth Kotiate Bowl

Ian Firth 'Kotiate Bowl', 1970, large ovoid form with kotiate edge forms to the rim and a central koru scroll, unglazed iron spotted rim, brown/oatmeal spotted glaze to the interior. Impressed potter's mark to the back. Illustrated in the N.Z. Potter…

Ian Firth large vase 'Spirit of the Mountain', incised and…

Mountain Spirit Vase

Ian Firth large vase 'Spirit of the Mountain', incised and sculpted decoration, pale green and grey variable glaze, incised full signature to base, c.2000. Width 55 cm, height 43.5 cm

Ian Firth mountain form vase of mildly tapered lozenge form,…

Lozenge Vase with Incised Decoration and Glaze Highlights

Ian Firth mountain form vase of mildly tapered lozenge form, incised and sculpted decoration, green and mustard glaze highlights, incised potter's mark to base. Length 24 cm

Ian Firth attributed large jug, rich brown glaze effects,…

Large Brown Glazed Jug with Firing Flaw

Ian Firth attributed large jug, rich brown glaze effects, firing flaw to top of handle. Unmarked. Height 34.5 cm

Ian Firth red glazed spherical vase, the chun with blue…

Red Glazed Spherical Vase with Blue Highlights by Ian Firth

Ian Firth red glazed spherical vase, the chun with blue highlights, impressed potter's mark. Height 19 cm

Ian Firth baluster square section vase, pale fine crackle glaze.…

Crackled Square Vase by Ian Firth

Ian Firth baluster square section vase, pale fine crackle glaze. Incised signature to base. Height 21.5 cm

A large Ian Firth bronze glazed vessel of tall tapered lozenge…

Ian Firth Bronze Glazed Lozenge Vessel

A large Ian Firth bronze glazed vessel of tall tapered lozenge form, metallic deep gold glaze. Incised signature to base. Illustrated N.Z. Potter magazine. Height 54 cm

An early Ian Firth pottery lamp base, six crescent forms…

Ian Firth Pottery Lamp Base - Crescent Form Glaze

An early Ian Firth pottery lamp base, six crescent forms applied to the shoulder, grey green glaze over lustrous red brown. Impressed potter's mark. Height 34.5 cm

A rare early Ian Firth Crum Brick Works glazed bowl, the…

Ian Firth Crum Glazed Bowl with Incised Decoration

A rare early Ian Firth Crum Brick Works glazed bowl, the manganese slip giving lustrous copper glaze effects, incised and banded decoration. Impressed mark to side. Height 13.3 cm, diameter 17.5 cm

Ian Firth metallic gold glazed bottle form vase, speckled pale…

Ian Firth Gold Glazed Bottle Vase

Ian Firth metallic gold glazed bottle form vase, speckled pale interior top, impressed potter's mark and paper label to base. Height 36.5 cm

Ian Firth crackle glazed pouring vessel, organic oval form with…

Crackle Glazed Pouring Vessel by Ian Firth

Ian Firth crackle glazed pouring vessel, organic oval form with compressed ball stopper, impressed potter's mark to base. Height 34.5 cm

Ian Firth, stoneware dish, with wax resist decoration. Diameter…

Wax resist stoneware dish, 27 cm diameter

Ian Firth, stoneware dish, with wax resist decoration. Diameter 27 cm

Ian Firth, porcelain teapot, with mottled turquoise glaze,…

Turquoise Porcelain Teapot by Ian Firth

Ian Firth, porcelain teapot, with mottled turquoise glaze, impressed mark. Width 23 cm

Ian Firth, stoneware conjoined three-aperture wall vase,…

Tenmoku Glazed Stoneware Conjoined Wall Vase

Ian Firth, stoneware conjoined three-aperture wall vase, tenmoku glaze impressed mark height 35 cm