Saturday, May 25, 2013

The object of the day: Prattware figure of a Griffin, c. 1790

Antique English pottery Prattware figure of a Griffin, c 1790, England
F & R Pratt, also known as Prattware and Pratt Ware (c.1780-1840)Medium
Pottery
Dimensions 10.50 inch high (26.67 cm high)
Description / Expertise English pottery figure of a griffin (half lion half eagle).The figure is well colored in the typical Prattware palette. The head of the griffin sports a candle holder which adds a rather bizarre and comical twist to the piece. Antique English pottery period c1790.




Sunday, May 19, 2013

Collectable Victorian pot lids

Who among readers of this weekly missive collects Staffordshire pot lids? Clearly no one who was at a sale I watched the other day because not one of 16 lots of the things, mostly with two lids in each lot, found a buyer prepared to pay the – generally – £80-120 per lot that the auctioneer was expecting.



Let’s assume the reserves were on the low estimate. Is £40 too much to pay for a colourful, ready-made (and often ready-framed) little work of art that once had collectors falling over themselves to own? Answer: a resounding yes. Fashions change and just like the Clarice Cliff vase that I know cost its owner £450 and she let go in the same sale for £260, it’s very easy to get caught out and left to count the cost.
Which I suppose means that now is the time to buy Staffordshire pot lids. They will probably never be cheaper. Read on and perhaps by the end, you’ll know what you’re looking for.

Like so many antiques that have fascinated us, we were introduced to pot lids by Arthur Negus. In 1981, he interviewed actor Leslie Crowther, arguably the best known collector of them, and “The Price is Right” star explained how Victorian manufacturers of fish and meat pastes were quick to realise that the attractively decorated lids enhanced the sales of their products.

The object of the day: A Royal Doulton Piscatorial plate

A rare, finely painted Royal Doulton cabinet plate depicting a pair of Salmon among water weed within a fine gilt rim band, with a further gilt band to the base rim.

Artwork Signed C.Holloway and bearing Robert Allen studio marks for c1927.
Auction Estimate Sept. 2009: 150 to 200 (GBP)

In 1901, the popularity of Doulton products came to the attention of the Royal family and the Burslem factory was granted the Royal Warrant by King Edward VII. The business adopted bold new markings and the new name of Royal Doulton.

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