Ceramics

Research shed light on the ‘Chelsea toys’ made by the mysterious ‘Girl on a Swing’ factory.

A film of artist potter Clarice Cliff’s (1899-1972) early life is now at cinemas and available via streaming services.

Amassed by the headmaster of one of Britain’s finest public schools, the Silk collection of Staffordshire portrait figures provides a fillip to an overlooked market

In Fairs, Markets & Centres in ATG No 2516 we featured a story about 'The Venus of Meudon', a 1.9m tall sculpture by the Dadaist sculptor Jean Arp. Owned by dealers Karin and John Haines, it stands in a commanding spot at the Melford Antiques, Interiors and Lifestyle Centre in Suffolk.

Rounding off the Wedgwood section of Skinner’s December 3 auction of European Furniture and Decorative Arts is a small selection of Fairyland lustre ware.

A dab hand at Christmas shows, Andrew Singleton of Suffolk House Antiques in Yoxford has held one annually for over 25 years.

On December 2 Australian auction firm Shapiro will be offering the collection of Spode blue and white earthenwares assembled over the past 25 years by Russell Brooks. The majority were purchased in first 15 years mainly in England but also in Australia.

Records were set for studio pottery when the collection of the late New York art dealer Dr John P Driscoll was sold last week.

British porcelain element of renowned US collection amassed in European salerooms comes to auction in London

While the kilns at Sèvres languished during the Revolution, Napoleon recognised the value of a national porcelain factory and used it as an extension of his power.

Dessert plate taken to St Helena exile by Napoleon demonstrates provenance value

Estimated at £200-300 in the belief they were later copies, a pair of Sèvres dishes sold for £9500 at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium).

Among the best-performing lots at the Woolley & Wallis (25/12% buyer’s premium) Ceramics & Glass sale was a rare Wedgwood black basalt seal.

Metz auction house will feature plenty of pieces of Meissen among the ceramics in its sale to be held in Heidelberg from December 9-11.

Estimated at £400-600, a Meissen chinoiserie decorated porcelain snuff box took £12,000 at Bellmans (22% buyer’s premium) in West Sussex.

This KPM porcelain plaque will feature in Woody Auction’s next sale in Kansas on December 4.

Pictured here are two early English pottery tankards – both of them documentary pieces.

A Bamfords (20% buyer’s premium) sale included this 3¼in (34cm) tall Chelsea figure from the Red Anchor Senses set created by the Low Countries sculptor Joseph Willems (1710-66), in c.1755.

At a recent sale at Stamford Auction Rooms (20% buyer’s premium) in Lincolnshire this pair of mid-19th century Staffordshire red squirrels sold for a surprise £2000.