Royal Worcester ceramics are smashing estimates to smithereens at auction as English pottery sparks intense global demand.
Hansons Auctioneers is seeing all types of quality ceramics from respected British manufacturers sell for up to five or six times their guide prices. And some items with estimates as low as £60 are hammering in the hundreds.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “We are seeing a lot of very happy clients. Their unwanted ceramics, often inherited and gathering dust, are achieving exceptional prices at auction.
“The global demand for English pottery is strengthening thanks to the country’s wealth of quality manufacturers such as Royal Crown Derby, Doulton, Moorcroft, Wedgwood, Spode, Staffordshire and Royal Worcester. Even Toby jugs, which took a dip, are in demand again.
“Our June ceramics sales witnessed particularly strong results for Royal Worcester, and if you have unwanted Royal Crown Derby Imari 1128 pattern wares at home it’s definitely a good time to sell.”
Among Royal Worcester items to excel in Hansons’ June sale – leaving a £60-£80 estimate far behind – was lot 1035. It consisted of two Royal Worcester dessert plates and a square dish decorated with fruit, signed R Sebright, and a plate and square dish decorated with fruit and signed W Beckett. This set, above, hammered at £480.
Royal Worcester collectors also came out in force for lot 1036, a mid 20th century urn-shaped vase and cover decorated with fruit and signed J Reed. It achieved £700 from a £150-£200 guide.
Likewise lot 1037, a Royal Worcester mid-20th Century rope-edged cream jug and sugar bowl, signed F Roberts, reached £560 from a £60-£80 estimate. In addition, lots 1038, 1039, 1040, three pairs of Royal Worcester mid-20th century rope-edged tea plates decorated with fruits and signed by artists, soared to £500, £540 and £520 from £100-£150 guides. In similar vein, lots 1041, 1042 and 1043, three pairs of Royal Worcester mid-20th century rope-edged cups and saucers decorated with fruits and signed by artists, hammered at £800, £850 and £700 from £100-£150 estimates.
Another winner with bidders was lot 1157, a mid-20th Century Royal Chelsea part coffee service with tea ware which left its £60-£80 guide high and dry to hammer at £750.
Toby jugs also exceeded expectations. Lot 1057, a late 18th Century pearlware toby jug, Hearty Good Fellow, reached £160 from a £50-£60 estimate. Also sought after was lot 1131, a 19th Century Measham ware Toby teapot and 19th Century Measham ware Toby jug. This reached £520 from a £140-£160 guide.
Charles said: “All of these results underline the strength of the buoyant ceramics market. It’sparticularly pleasing to see demand for Royal Worcester’ summery fruit-inspired ceramics grow. Its fruit painters specialised in depicting fruits on porcelain tableware. The tradition originated with painter Octar H. Copson, who in 1880 painted a plaque commissioned by a farmer to commemorate the introduction of the Pershore plum. Royal Worcester fruit pieces are highly desirable and rare pieces in good condition can fetch thousands of pounds.”
Ceramic entries invited
Ceramics are offered in Hansons’ monthly Derbyshire Antiques and Collectors sales. For advice/valuations, please email ceramics valuer Robert Churchill: [email protected]
To book a free valuation of antiques, collectibles or jewellery at Hansons’ Etwall saleroom, near Derby, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
