What is the most that you paid for a piece of NZ Pottery?

I'm curious as I have no idea what others are prepared to pay to add to their collections. You don't have to say what the piece of pottery is or show a photo, just give us the dollar amount that you paid for your biggest treasure.

I will start the ball rolling, as I paid $800.00 or thereabouts for my special piece and that's not to say that is what it is worth as the battle involved a bidding war on Trademe and I made sure that I won

Whoa..I feel really cheap now! ... $45 for studio pottery quite a few years ago..

Ok to be fair I will add one word to my post - Wharetana

$40 for my big Bryce Stevens vase, which was half price on the last day of trading of a shop neighbouring where I worked at the time (about 1994). I have paid in the region of $30 for a few other pieces on Trade Me, but  mostly my collection has been compiled in the dollars and cents price range from the local op-shops lol (the vast majority under $10). If I had the income to support it, I would pay much more and would prefer to support the potters direct.

Bryce Stephens is still a seriously under-rated potter. He never even got a mention in Conetendown.

There is one piece on by him now: http://www.trademe.co.nz/pottery-glass/porcelain-pottery/other/vases/auction-875858577.htm

Yes, I saw that one and was hoping no-one else would notice! lol

Woops! Sorry, good luck

I've bought three times in the $200-300 range (once at an antique shop), but I check with Nicole first.

I believe my Wharetana mug was cheap at the price ($255 I think) and was surprised when the other bidder stopped. Not the prettiest one in the plain brown glaze but Wharetana nonetheless.

I've also dropped out of a few auctions in that range, when something is not a priority.

I believe I have bid higher on trademe, possibly over $1000, can't even remember what, but typically it would be to find out what the reserve is at the end of an auction, or when I'm pretty sure I'll be outbid. (I think that's what happened with the Wharetana.) That can be scary when it takes a while for the next bid to come in, but I've not won anything I didn't want.

I have had regrets at auctions missed, when in hindsight I think I should have hung in there a bit longer.

Cheers to those who just spend small dollars and still create amazing collections!

I confess I paid $145 (I think) for a beautiful piece of contemporary pottery that I had fallen in love with!

The most expensive was just over $200 for a Titian waka on Trade Me and $230 for a perfect yellow McAlpine jug from an Antiques Shop .

My most expensive was my Wharetana Kokowai Bowl, so much I'm not even going to say, but we had to add the cost to the mortgage to get it!