Ceramics

Ceramics are among the most frequently collected antiques. Items made from earthernware (pottery) or porcelain (hard or soft paste) can serve functional roles such as tablewares, serving implements, vases and jugs or as ornaments, especially figures.

They usually have some form of decoration, either painted or transfer-printed, that is covered in transparent or coloured glaze. Ceramics are often catalogued by the name of their manufacturer or factory such as Meissen, Worcester, Doulton, Wedgwood and Sèvres.


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Rangoon ‘exhibition’ bowl makes £11,500 in Essex

03 December 2015

A growing market for silver from the sub-continent culminated in a bid of £11,500 for this 9in (23cm) early 20th century Burmese bowl by Maung Yin Maung of Rangoon.

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Majolica masterpieces buck the trend

30 November 2015

Two versions of a celebrated German majolica tureen appeared for sale in a matter of weeks – both bringing sterling prices in an otherwise soft market for 19th century ceramics.

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Phillips migrate Martinware to New York while Greenslade’s gourds surface at Salisbury auction

29 October 2015

Two single-owner collections of Martinware – each exceptional in their own way – will appear for sale on either side of the Atlantic this autumn.

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£155,000 tile saved from the jumble

27 October 2015

There was drama at the Stonepark auction rooms of Rendells near Ashburton when this Isnik fritware tile was hammered down at £155,000 at their latest sale.

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Blue John shines in the Midlands

14 October 2015

After viewing events in London, Derbyshire and at the Antiques for Everyone fair in Birmingham, Fellows held their much-anticipated Blue John Sale in the Jewellery Quarter last week.

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Bow tiny toy cup makes serious money in Yorkshire

04 September 2015

Size and value often have an inverse relationship in the antiques world where small can be beautiful.

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Police appeal after Osterley Park House theft

24 August 2015

The Metropolitan Police has appealed to readers of ATG to contact them if they are offered two Georgian porcelain cups and saucer sets stolen from Osterley Park House, London in July.

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Blue john bonanza at Fellows in Birmingham

19 August 2015

Quite possibly the largest sale of Derbyshire blue john ever held is going under the hammer at Fellows of Birmingham.

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Mitchells of Cockermouth to sell treasure trove owned by an artists’ champion

18 August 2015

An impressive collection of pictures, studio pottery, furniture, personal effects and letters has been consigned to auctioneers Mitchells of Cockermouth from the estate of Mary Burkett, former director of Abbot Hall art gallery in Kendal.

Restituted gold ornaments go on show in China

13 August 2015

A group of 32 ancient gold ornaments have been returned to China following claims they had been illegally removed.

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Rare glass paperweights at Cirencester sale

04 August 2015

Paperweights from makers such as Caithness, Mdina, Selkirk, Wedgwood and Whitefriars go under the hammer at auctioneers Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester on August 7.

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Vincennes sugar bowl sells for £45,000

31 July 2015

Yellow-ground wares from the Vincennes soft-paste porcelain workshops are great rarities.

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Saved from a skip, Ault pattern book on display at DresserFest

08 June 2015

A previously unpublished book of ceramic designs that could shed new light on the work of Dr Christopher Dresser goes on public view for the first time during a three-day festival celebrating the life and work of the Victorian designer.

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Stunning delft chargers take £34,500 in Exeter

14 May 2015

The two outstanding blue dash chargers offered at a recent sale held by Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter form part of a small but distinctive group of early 18th century delft dishes boldly painted with a variety of quirky bird, animal and figure subjects.

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From £20 to £7000 – vendor spots rare Burmantofts plaque at car boot fair

23 April 2015

This large Burmantofts faience plaque sold for £7000 at 1818 Auctions of Milnthorpe, Cumbria. The vendor, who bought it at a car boot sale for £20, was in the room to watch bidding surge way beyond a £400-600 estimate.

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Nantgarw dessert service is a sweet success

13 April 2015

A 20-piece Nantgarw dessert service has sold for £20,000 at Campbells of Worthing. It was consigned on behalf of a titled lady.

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Gladiator Trojan is now an English porcelain dealer

02 April 2015

Like many an antiques dealer, Mark Griffin of Arbatel Antiques lives something of a double life.

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Picasso predicted to fetch $140m

27 March 2015

It has the highest-ever estimate placed on a work of art at auction. Predicted to fetch ‘in the region of $140m’, Christie’s are offering Pablo Picasso’s ‘Les femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’)’ in New York on May 11.

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Plaques head to auction in Leeds

23 March 2015

Discovered in a pile of objects waiting to be tipped at a routine house clearance, a pair of large ceramic plaques will be offered at Gary Don in Leeds this week.

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£37,000 clue to another side of Chelsea

10 March 2015

A Chelsea porcelain beaker with blue and white botanical decoration caused a sensation at Peter Wilson latest sale in Nantwich. Estimated at £100-200, it sold at £37,000.

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