Whiskey Pup Sips, 2026

Ilona Romule

Porcelain

3.25 in x 2.5 in x 2.5 in

Rye donated by Lock Stock & Barrel Rye Whiskey

This lot cannot be shipped.

It's difficult to say which is the star of this lot: a delightful pair of cups by ceramic artist Ilona Romule or an exceptional bottle of Lock Stock & Barrel Rye Whiskey.

Romule's beautifully crafted cups feature a pair of charming Dalmatian pups rendered in exquisite detail, bringing personality and playfulness to every sip. Paired with them is an elegant bottle of aged rye from Lock Stock & Barrel, recognized as Best of Class Rye Whiskey at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Artful, spirited, and just a little unexpected, this pairing has everything you need to elevate your next pour. Add the rye, raise a Dalmatian, and enjoy art exactly as it was meant to be experienced.

Lock Stock & Barrel Rye Whiskey:

A Straight Rye Whiskey aged 21 years in new charred American Oak barrels. This is a 100% rye grain, distilled and barrelled in May 1999. Nose: Warm spiced date cake, treacle toffee, orange peel, baking spicesPalate: Full bodied with luxurious viscosity, treacle, caramel, coconut, cocoa, cinnamon, and anise

Artist Statement

"All my artworks are figurative and the figure is at times close to Desire itself. The figure-matrix, like the unconscious as described by Freud, acts like a language of Desire. Desire as a primary mode for communication expands the possibilities of figurative art with a bold, expressionistic style. Love, lust, and desire - both spiritual and physical - are among the dominant themes in the thematic of Desire in my female, male sculptures, and mythological creatures.

One provocative aspect of these works is not their imagery, per se, but the manner by which many of them take intimate experiences and translate them into public expression. Desire is a complex human emotion, direct emotion, raw feeling… But Art is not a mirror…"

Artist Biography

Graduated from Latvian Art Academy in 1985 (MFA in Ceramics). Member of IAC since 2001. Freelance artist, working with high temperature porcelain. Ilona has held 20 solo shows, over 50 International Juried Competitions, over 30 group exhibitions, winning 8 awards, including: "Mino'95" Competition in Japan; 6th Taiwan Golden Ceramics Awards in 2000; Icheon World Ceramic Biennale in 2001, 2003; "6th international Small teapot Competition", Grand Prize, Pomona Ceramics Museum, CA, USA in 2014.

This piece was donated by the Family of Marge and Phil Kalodner.

• All winning bids are paid in full before artwork leaves The Clay Studio.
• Winning Bids are automatically billed at the close of the Auction at 12:00 pm on September 27th 2026.
• Shipping is NOT included in the winning bid.
• Items can be packed and shipped, and the winner will pay the cost.
• Items can be picked up at The Clay Studio for no additional cost.
• Items with alcohol CANNOT be shipped.