Minton majolica boar’s head tureen, £15,000 at Keys.
The 15in (37cm) model, with the date letter for 1877, replicates an 18th century design made popular by Chelsea in soft paste porcelain.
Only a handful of these are known and those that have appeared at auction have made spectacular sums. In May 2022 another appeared for sale as part of the Betsy and Rick Porter collection at Strawser Auctions in Indiana where it took $47,500.
This example offered by Keys (22% buyer’s premium) of Aylsham on the first day of the firm’s July 26-28 Fine Art and Antiques sale was found earlier this year in a Norfolk home.
In excellent condition apart from a reglued chip to the base, it was given what was a realistic estimate of £15,000-18,000 and got away at the lower guide.
