A Lifetime of Connoisseurship

9th January 2025

Sir Bruno Welby was a familiar figure in the ceramic world whose in-depth knowledge regularly rivalled that of the specialist dealers he bought from. Often seen at events organised by the English Ceramic Circle and the French Porcelain Society and at fairs and exhibitions, he was a frequent visitor to the dealers around Kensington Church Street. At Denton Manor in Lincolnshire, his country home, he would display a selection of pieces in a walnut cabinet in the guest room, carefully selected to intrigue and delight his visitors. This selection was the tip of the rich and varied iceberg seen in this sale.

Sir Bruno began collecting in the 1950s with an interest that was both academic and aesthetic, often focusing on unusually decorated pieces, or items decorated outside of the factory. The collection comprises of around three hundred and fifty teawares and smaller items. For Sir Bruno it was all about the artists and their painting, some known by name, many anonymous. By assembling so many variants, Sir Bruno was able to trace the characteristics of each hand in differing genres and periods. In fact, it is only with such a collection that one can differentiate between the hands of the London flower painters on Chinese porcelain.

The collection is a history in miniature of the art of ceramic decoration from the golden age of European porcelain. England is covered in depth with examples of the most important hands of Chelsea, Longton Hall and the Giles workshop and other factories. Italy includes some exceptional rarities from the factories of the Veneto and Naples. France, Early Dutch porcelain, Zurich and, of course, Meissen and the other German decorators of the great factories as well as the hausmaler are full of challenges and surprises. Two pieces from Tournai’s service for the Duc d’Orleans also feature, and a Nymphenburg cup and saucer painted by Purtscher.

The unique, single owner collection went under the hammer on Tuesday 6th February achieving a sale total of over £300,000 (including fees). Lot 1634, two rare Vincennes cups c. 1750-52 sold for £22,680 (with fees) against a pre-sale estimate of £400-£600.

Clare Durham, Ceramics specialist, said: “These rare cups were so finely potted and beautifully, naturalistically painted, that we were not surprised that there was strong competition for them. French porcelain is also very much in demand at the moment.”