A pre-sale private view organised by Halls’ ceramics and glass specialist Caroline Dennard for the Caughley Society undoubtedly spurred bidding at the March 18 sale, where more than 90% of the pieces got away, mainly to other collectors but with the trade getting the occasional look-in.
Iron Bridge depicted
Top-seller was a 7½in (19cm) tall documentary mask head cabbage-leaf moulded jug. It was transfer-printed in underglaze blue with a view of the Iron Bridge to one side and painted 1790 Mr Berridge to the other.
The name probably refers to the Anglican evangelical revivalist and hymnist John Berridge (1716-93) who was a close friend of the Hill family of Hawkstone, themselves well-known patrons of the Caughley factory. Pitched at £3000-4000, the jug went to a UK private buyer at £5300.
