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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Buyer takes the underground route to Meissen

23 June 2025

Meissen decoration linked to mining is not a rare sight but a cachepot with cavern scene is sought after

Flambé Carp vase by William Moorcroft

Moorcroft vase breaks its own auction record

19 June 2025

A new auction high for a Moorcroft vase was set as the previous record holder returned to the rostrum.

Flambé Carp vase by William Moorcroft

Record-setting Moorcroft vase heads back to the auction block

17 June 2025

A piece that holds the record for a Moorcroft vase at auction returns to the rostrum this week.

Moorcroft premises

Founder's family buys back Moorcroft pottery and vows to return production to original site

16 June 2025

The stricken Moorcroft pottery business will have a member of the founder's family involved with the firm for the first time in nearly 20 years.

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Scimitar ‘presented by Napoleon’ stars in London specialist sale

16 June 2025

Sword linked to former emperor is one of the highlights at London sale held by maritime specialist

Iznik tile

Magnificent Iznik tile takes £195,000 price at auction

16 June 2025

A rare Iznik pottery tile made for the Çini li Hamam bathhouse during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent sold for £195,000 at Lyon & Turnbull.

Gold box with Hanau marks

Next Haughton seminar focuses on artistic exchange

10 June 2025

The Haughton International Seminar returns this year with a focus on invention and imitation.

Bentwood apothecary canisters

'UK's largest private collection of antique apothecary objects' comes to auction

09 June 2025

What is touted as the UK’s largest private collection of antique apothecary objects will be sold by the Cotswold Auction Company as part of a sale in Cirencester on June 24-25.

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Noke plaques take pride of place at US auction

09 June 2025

Doulton designs consigned by a descendant demonstrate the ceramicist’s great glaze achievement

Micromosaic

Midlands antiques dealer sells micromosaic to Houston museum

05 June 2025

Sutton Coldfield dealer Thomas Coulborn & Sons has sold another artwork to a US museum following a major art fair.

Vincennes clam shaped dish

Vincennes porcelain dish makes 20 times estimate at Wimbledon Auctions

02 June 2025

A shell shaped Vincennes dish from c.1757 featuring the bleu céleste ground colour appeared at Wimbledon Auctions on May 28.

Laurence Mitchell

After decades of dealing I’m retiring to a healthy space

02 June 2025

Recently, I decided to retire from the antiques trade, though I remain connected – much like Peter Cameron said in a recent issue of ATG: “true antiques dealers don’t truly leave the trade". I still subscribe to Antiques Trade Gazette and occasionally consider online purchases.

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Bone models story fleshed out: by prisoners of war or craftsmen?

26 May 2025

Some ‘prisoner of war’ productions are now thought to have been made by skilled craftsmen

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Teaset design by Vanessa Bell fits the bill in Cornwall

26 May 2025

Vanessa Bell submitted two designs for the 1934 Modern Art for the Table exhibition at Harrods.

Moorcroft mosaic

Historical Moorcroft archive could be auctioned

19 May 2025

The historic collection of pottery manufacturer Moorcroft could soon be heading to auction following the collapse of the company.

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Boulton’s belting vases bust estimates in two salerooms

19 May 2025

Leading a recent sale at Sheffield Auction Gallery (24% buyer’s premium) was a pair of George III ormolu mounted Derbyshire fluorspar candle vases.

Moorcroft mosaic

John Pye to conduct sale of Moorcroft's business and assets

13 May 2025

Auction house John Pye has been appointed to help find a buyer for the collapsed pottery firm W. Moorcroft Ltd.

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Treasures from a ‘miniature V&A’ family home crammed full with art and antiques

12 May 2025

Graham Slater’s collection that packed a Cambridge house provided 670 lots over two auctions

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Shipshape teapot: Wedgwood commemorative surfaces in the saleroom

05 May 2025

This Wedgwood creamware tea or punch pot commemorating the launch of a gun ship at Deptford in 1784 was among 29 lots from the collection of The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights sold by specialist Charles Miller.

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Vases demonstrate changing styles of Berlin porcelain

05 May 2025

The evolution of Berlin porcelain – produced by Royal Porcelain Factory founded in 1763 by King Frederick II of Prussia – was well illustrated by two vases which both went way over the estimates in recent sales.

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