Rare Dan Dare-inspired Mekon sculpture by Pip Warwick offered at auction

By John Freeman on March 6, 2024

Cheshire-based auction house Ashley Waller is auctioning one of Pip Warwick‘s “Mekon” sculptures, created in the 1970s in tribute to Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson, as part of a two-day collectables sale running 13th – 14th March 2024.

The sculpture is being offered alongside first editions of early James Bond novels by Ian Fleming, model trains, tin plate advertising signs, model cars, stuffed toys and jewellery. You can view the auction details, which includes copies of letters from Frank Hamopson about the artwork, here

As Frank’s son, Peter Hampson has previously recounted, Pip Warwick, who also organised art and music festivals with musician and artist Derek Massey, was a great admirer of his father’s work, and visited him in the 1970s. With Frank’s full blessing, Pip went on create several ceramic Mekon heads of varying size as well as a truly amazing full size Mekon.

The sculptures were featured in the back of the Eaglecon 1980 brochure.

“The sculptures were subsequently exhibited in galleries around the country as well as appearing on The Russell Harty Show and selling to a number of celebrities,” Peter notes.

Pip’s Mekon sculptures were inherited by ceramicist Catherine Warwick, whose website is here.

More details about them can be found on Peter Hampson’s tribute site to his father here. As well as the images, Peter’s site includes notes on the extraordinary technical complexity of creating these sculptures (5000 man-hours; 113 inter-locking parts; £10,000 of [mid-1970s] development money).

Situated next to Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope, Ashley Waller hold fortnightly auctions of collectables, jewellery, gold, silver, vintage items, furniture and more.

• View the catalogue for this Ashley Waller collectable auction here on The-Saleroom | 13th – 145h March 2024 – you must be registered to bid | View The Mekon lot

• Ashley Waller are online at ashleywaller.co.uk

• Frank Hampson Site: Pip Warwick’s Ceramic Mekon

• Derek Massey, who worked with Pip Warwick is online at lbidigallery.co.uk

With thanks to Richard Sheaf

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.