Rarities attract competitive bidding at Ceramics sale

English & European Ceramics and Glass Sale, Tuesday 13^th September

After a quiet summer for collectors, Woolley and Wallis’s Autumn season kicked off in style with a successful specialist Ceramics and Glass sale. The sale attracted large numbers of buyers in the room, on the telephones and on the internet, with an impressive £284,000 taken by the end of the day.

Included in a sale full of quality were some rarities which were recognised by buyers and pushed well over their pre-sale estimates by competitive bidding. A Cozzi society-group teabowl and saucer, c.1765-70, from a local private collection, achieved £8,600, in spite of some restoration to the rim. The last similar example to appear on the market was a decade ago. 

Another piece which exceeded its estimate despite some damage was a rare Meissen model of Atlas.  From the remarkable collection of the late Captain John Norie and dating to the mid-eighteenth century, this piece achieved almost £10,000 despite missing his right foot.

Also from the Norie collection was Lot 321, an attractive Barr Worcester inkwell, c.1800, with a slightly waisted form painted with a chamfered cartouche of flowers on a peach ground with elaborate gilt foliate scrolls. This was knocked down at £1,500. Another piece from his collection to exceed estimate was a fine pair of Chelsea chinoiserie flower holder figures which, having gone to auction with an estimate of £1,000-2,000, attracted competitive bidding to reach £8,300.

All prices referred to above include Buyers' Premium.