A Spode saucer bought by a Merseyside couple around 50 years ago has achieved £10,500 at auction – more than eight times its top estimate – after an energetic bidding war sparked by its connection to the Titanic.
When Angela Atkinson contacted Hansons Auctioneers earlier this year, she simply wanted to know whether a saucer her husband had bought around half a century ago was genuine and whether it might be worth anything.
She had been prompted to make the enquiry after a friend spotted a cutting about a similar Spode item discovered and sold by Hansons.
Little could she have expected the answer.
The saucer, made by Spode as part of its White Star Line service, was given a pre-sale estimate of just £800-£1,200. But when it went under the hammer, fierce competition between bidders sent the price soaring to £10,500.
The result left those in the saleroom stunned.
The saucer’s appeal lies partly in its association with the White Star Line, the shipping company behind the RMS Titanic. Spode produced specially marked tableware for the company, making surviving examples highly desirable to collectors.
The latest result follows another remarkable Hansons discovery connected to the same service.
In 2023, Hansons sold a single Spode White Star Line coffee cup discovered in a Burton-on-Trent kitchen. Despite being chipped, the cup achieved £3,200 at auction after its Titanic connection was revealed.
Hansons founder Charles Hanson, who was involved in discovering the earlier cup, said the latest result demonstrated the enduring fascination with objects connected to the Titanic.
“The Titanic story continues to capture people’s imagination more than a century after the ship sank,” said Charles. “When you combine that extraordinary history with a beautiful piece of surviving tableware, it is easy to understand why collectors become so passionate.
“What makes this result particularly exciting is the story behind the saucer. It was bought by Angela’s husband around 50 years ago and carefully looked after by the family. They had no idea it could attract this level of interest.”
Angela had originally contacted Hansons in June, explaining that her husband had purchased the saucer approximately 50 years earlier and that it had been carefully preserved ever since.
Following its assessment, Hansons valued the saucer at £800-£1,200 and invited Angela to consign it for the September sale.
The auction proved that estimate to be extremely cautious, with the final £10,500 hammer price representing more than 13 times the lower estimate and more than eight times the top estimate.
Charles said the result was a perfect example of why people should have interesting or inherited objects professionally assessed.
“You simply never know what you might have,” he said. “Something that has been sitting quietly in a cupboard for decades can suddenly become highly desirable when its history and significance are uncovered.
“Auction rooms are full of surprises, and this was certainly one of them. Nobody expected a saucer estimated at £800-£1,200 to reach £10,500. The bidding was incredibly energetic and there was a real sense of excitement as the price continued to climb.”
He added: “The previous White Star Line cup we sold in 2023 was another fantastic discovery. It shows that these pieces of tableware, which might look quite ordinary at first glance, can have a fascinating story and considerable appeal to collectors.”
Hansons is keen to hear from anyone who may have similar pieces of historic ceramics, shipping memorabilia or other unusual objects tucked away at home.
Could you have a hidden treasure at home? Hansons is keen to hear from anyone with an interesting collection, inherited item or unusual piece they would like to have valued.
To discuss a collection, arrange a valuation or find out more about consigning for a future auction, call Hansons on 01283 733988 or visit www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk to find your nearest valuation event.
