Ceramics

Victorian and Edwardian pottery butcher’s slabs made to display lard, butter and margarine are relatively frequent visitors to UK salerooms.

A new auction record for the Wade factory was set by Potteries Auctions in Stoke-on-Trent when this monumental 3ft 10in (1.15m) high figure made for the 1951 Festival of Britain sold at £4200.

It is 20 years ago that the auction record for Clarice Cliff was sent tumbling when an 18in (46cm) May Avenue charger sold for £34,000 at Christie’s South Kensington on May 14, 2003. Those were heady days indeed.

A large stoneware vessel by studio potter John Ward (1938- 2023) sold for £35,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) as part of a private collection of his work offered by Dreweatts on July 11.

Album of watercolours by mysterious but talented Indian artist takes £90,000 at Scottish saleroom

Auctions held in Australia and Germany rack up strong prices for major European makers

Classic examples of distinctive porcelain take four-figure sums in Gloucestershire

The June 8 sale at Toovey’s (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Washington, West Sussex included a fine example of Meiji cloisonné by Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927).

Vendor finds glass marbles are worth more than expected as they make surprise four-figure sums in Bury St Edmunds

Three auctions follow on from the October series to offer items from the collectors’ Californian residence

Painted by one of Royal Worcester’s finest artists and one of only three green examples known to the knowledgeable buyer, this vase and cover was the focus and prize of Cromwells’ (20% buyer’s premium) sale.

This pair of Bow porcelain figures of a cockerel and a hen sold for £7200 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at Dore & Rees in Frome.

The first recorded order for Arita porcelain by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) is dated 1653.

I would like to thank George Kingham of Kinghams Auctioneers and Michael Jefferies at Woolley & Wallis for organising two exhibitions to commemorate 150 years since the Martin Brothers Pottery was founded and 100 years since Robert Wallace Martin died (see ATG Nos 2587 and 2594).

Made in 1762 at the cusp of the vogue for rococo and neo-classicism, this 15in (44cm) high Sèvres vase combines elements of both styles.

Ceramics specialist offers a range of antiques

A remarkable Nautilus Clock sold for £7000 when Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) offered the first part of the Ann Turner collection of Doulton pottery.

Mallams regained the record for a pot by Jennifer Lee (b.1956) on May 18 when a large asymmetrical vessel from c.1990 sold at £40,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium).