He had founded the Guild of Handicrafts with Charles Ashbee and designed tiles with William de Morgan before arriving in the Cornish village where he made this copper charger pictured right, – the highlight of a Decorative Arts section at the November 5 sale at Phillips Bath (15/10% buyer’s premium).
Hammered out with birds in flight among berry laden vines. the 20in (51cm) charger was signed and dated 1890, and was contested to £3100 – a price at the top end of the market for Pearson. A Pearson charger with the more common design of a galleon surrounded by a border of tendrils and plants, sold at £1050. Other notable results included a c.1962, 8in (21cm) Hans Coper Digswell stoneware vase, at £2000 – the sum also bid for a 1920s lady’s smoking set,
possibly Austrian, comprising cigarette holder, vesta case and roach clip, all mounted with two lines of rose diamonds and fitted in a case.
The sleepers of the silver and works of art sections were a c.1750 Cork sugar bowl by Robert Potter, 51/4oz, at £3200 where £300-400 was expected, and an early Victorian set of 12 mother of pearl buttons decorated with fox hunting scenes, which mustered £1150.
Birds help a Pearson charger to take flight
John Pearson is to the Newlyn School what Margaret Gilmour is to the Glasgow School – an Arts and Crafts metalworker who specialised in repousee work of naturalistic style.
