A ‘unique’ pottery goat made by King Charles more than 50 years ago could sell for £10,000 at auction.
The small royal ceramic animal has been treasured for 55 years by Canadian Raymond Patten. It was given to him on his 21st birthday by a great aunt. Thanks to her job as a cook at Cambridge University, she came into contact with British royalty.
The newly-discovered artwork, possibly the only known piece of sculpture by King Charles in existence, could achieve £10,000 at Hansons Auctioneers on June 4. Believed to be unique, it’s expected to spark an international bidding battle.
Raymond, 76, a retired carpenter from British Columbia, said: “My Aunt Nellie, Helen Patten, gave me the goat on my 21st birthday on June 22, 1969. She told me Prince Charles had made it. She was proud of the fact he attended Cambridge University in the late 1960s when she worked as a cook for the president of Queen’s College. I believe she knew the future king on a personal basis. I have treasured the goat all my life.
“My aunt (below), who passed away at the age of 87 in 1993 in Cheshire, used to live at 37 Norfolk Terrace, Cambridge. She was my grandfather’s sister and never married. She was honoured to serve members of the royal family. She cooked a meal for the Queen Mother.”
Prince Charles was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1967 to read Archaeology and Anthropology and then History. He became the first British heir apparent to earn a university degree, graduating Bachelor of Arts in June, 1970.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “We’re thrilled to have made this exceptional royal find. Raymond initially got in touch by email and we were hugely excited.
“We’ve been privileged to auction other early artworks by King Charles and the interest is always phenomenal. Such is the goat’s importance, Raymond flew to the UK to deliver it to us in person at Hansons’ Staffordshire saleroom, Bishton Hall.
“The ceramic highland goat with its yellow horns and yellow, pink and brown stripes is beautifully enamelled and modelled. It captures the relaxed vibrancy and charm of the late 1960s/early 1970s.
“Perhaps Charles was inspired by the goat mascot of The Royal Regiment of Wales. As the regiment’s first colonel-in-chief, he wore its uniform at his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969.
“King Charles has demonstrated a passion for art throughout his life but is mainly known for his paintings. The discovery of this ceramics piece demonstrates another side to his talent. As far as we are aware it is the only example of pottery made by King Charles in existence. It represents his early passion and artistic flare working in ceramics in the late 1960s.
“The provenance is strong for what I regard as the greatest of goats made by a king. We’re thrilled to be handling it through our saleroom. We expect it to command a sum of between £5,000 and £10,000 at auction.
“Raymond has decided to part with it now due to its historical significance. He is in his retirement years and would like to find it a new home where it will be treasured for decades to come.”
In 2023 Hansons Auctioneers sold childhood drawings by King Charles of his mother and father, Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh. Inscribed ‘Mummy’ and ‘Papa’, they were produced by Charles when he was five or six years old, circa 1953-55. They were guided at £5,000-£10,000 but achieved a premium inclusive total of £59,800 (£46,000 hammer).
Auction: King Charles’ pottery goat will be offered in Hansons Auctioneers’ Library Auction in Staffordshire, England, on June 4, 2024.
Enquiries: Jim Spencer: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
CREDIT: Image of Prince Charles in 1972 on photo collage: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HRH_Prince_Charles_Allan_Warren.jpg
