The piece was in pattern number 5014 in black and moulded with daisies and wheat ears behind a fence all on a turquoise ground. The 11in (28cm) high piece had a naturalistic handle entwined with brambles and a conforming base. But sometimes rarity is more important than condition and after competitive bidding the dish was eventually taken by at £4300.
Ceramics found favour throughout the rest of the sale and the resurgence in prices of Royal Worcester was evident among the large number of pieces on offer. One classic example of the factory’s output was a pair of 51/2in (14cm) tapering ovoid vases painted with Highland cattle in moorland landscapes. Each vase was signed beneath the moulded stiff collar by renowned Worcester artist Harry Stinton and bore a date code for 1912.
Complete with gilt line border and gilt scroll handles, they were an ideal base for a Royal Worcester collection and sold at at £940.
Another Worcester success was an 83/4in (22cm) high quatrelobe section pedestal cup with the main body of the cup was painted with pheasants on an ivory ground by James Stinton, uncle of Harry, who had signed each piece under the floral moulded blush ivory collar. The stem of the cup was decorated with moulded conforming acanthus forms and was raised on a fluted and rope twist circular base.
With gilt highlights and line borders the cup, was marked with a date code for 1909 and went over estimate at £920.
There were no major successes among the furniture but good standard stock pieces were selling reasonably well, such as the small Regency bow-fronted serving table which led the day.
The 2ft 4in by 2ft 8in (71 x 81cm) table had a blind frieze drawer with leopard head and ring handles and sold at £1120. This was closely followed by a 19th century secretaire bookcase with a double glazed top and four adjustable shelves above a frieze fitted secretaire drawer. The bookcase was knocked down at £1100.
Other notables in the furniture included a good 19th century mahogany bank of 45 drawers. Each drawer had brass plate handles and the whole was raised on small turned tapering supports.
Biddle & Webb, Birmingham,
November 9
Buyer’s premium: 14.69 per cent
George Jones and Royal Worcester in keen demand
George Jones majolica continues to be extraordinarily popular with buyers, both trade and private. Some damage to a George Jones cheese dish and cover offered in Birmingham at Biddle & Webb saw it estimated at £300-500 so it came as rather a surprise when it soared above this.
