They were from the desirable red anchor period, both were naturalistically painted with flowers and one also moulded with flower heads.
The moulded version was cracked and repaired but they were nonetheless rare enough and of sufficient quality to overturn a temptingly low £100- 200 estimate to take £3200 at the sale on March 26.
Red Anchor weighs in
A month later a naturalistically moulded 4¾in (12cm) high cos lettuce covered tureen and two 2¾in (7cm) high cabbage condiments came up for sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dorchester on April 26.
As well as dating from c.1755 (again putting them in the Red Anchor period), they had the bonus of a provenance to the Thynne family from Longleat, thence by descent. They sold for £4000.
