The 141/2in (36cm) diameter charger was from the Fulham period (1898-1907) was painted in ruby ochre and mushroom lustre and decorated with stylised swans and galleon before a sunburst. With a small hairline crack, it cost the consignor just £10. The London trade purchased it at Bletchingley with a £3000 bid.
Another fine expression of the British Arts and Crafts movement was a 1920s Moorcroft baluster-form vase, 12in (30cm) high in the popular Eventide Landscape pattern. It went at £2400. A Clarice Cliff part-coffee service in the Gay Day pattern, including teapot, sugar bowl and milk jug, took £880.
Other highlights in the section included an 18th century porcelain baluster vase decorated in underglaze blue with a tea garden scene. In fine condition (although possibly missing a lid) it went to a London specialist at £2500.
These Surrey auctioneers are gaining quite a reputation for selling Tunbridge Ware, “We have a few regular collectors supplying us with the wares and a few buying them from us,” said auctioneer Robin Lawrence.
This June sale included around 10 lots of the popular souvenir items.
The best seller was a typical mid-19th century sarcophagus-shaped sewing box, with floral and geometric inlays to the lid. Bearing the label T. Barton, Tunbridge Wells, it made £820.
A 19th century blonde tortoiseshell single tea caddy on low supports was a nice looking piece of small dimensions, and sporting brass ball feet and an urn finial. A dealer took it at £1100.
Lawrences, Bletchingley, June 10-12
Buyer’s premium: 15 per cent
Car-boot buy is a de Morgan bargain
Rising early after a heavy night out and trawling through a muddy field with the local riff-raff may not sound like an ideal way to spend a Sunday morning. But, like thousands of Brits obsessed with car boot sales, the vendor of a William De Morgan charger in this sale had done just that to obtain his treasure.
