Fit for an 18th century dining table!

Four Private Collections – including a collection of ceramic handled cutlery, Stockspring Antiques, 114 Kensington Church St, London W8, 27th March – 4th April 2017

A boxed set of Worcester knives and forks c. 1758-60, in a ray skin covered standing box lined with crimson silk velvet and silver braid with twelve pairs of knives and forks, English steel blades of scimitar shape and three pronged forks with silver ferrules.

This exhibition comprises ceramics from four different private collections and includes Japanese and Worcester porcelains and a group of cane handles.  Of special note is the collection of more than seventy pieces of ceramic handled cutlery.  The majority of these are French and English but there are some interesting examples of Chinese and Continental porcelain too. They provide an exciting and fascinating guide to not only the changes in ceramic handle shapes but also the development and dating of the silver and steel fittings during the course of the 18th century.

A Bow knife and fork, painted in polychrome with the crest of Moses (Luis) Mendes, c. 1756, a merchant in the City of London.

www.antique-porcelain.co.uk 

A Ceramic Feast

Selling Exhibition: Private Collections and Noteworthy Acquisitions, Stockspring Antiques, 114 Kensington Church St, London W8, 16th – 21st November 2015

A Pair of Vauxhall Vases decorated by James Giles c. 1764-68

A Pair of Vauxhall Vases decorated by James Giles
c. 1764-68

One can understand why collectors eagerly await this annual selling exhibition of English, Continental and Oriental porcelain for there is always much to tempt them. This year delivers some great pieces of which I show a few.

A Mennecy Owl c. 1750-55

A Mennecy Owl
c. 1750-55

The opening words of the catalogue’s foreword offer a useful reminder as to why some of us collect: Collecting ceramics gives us intriguing windows into the past with each piece resonating with the life, times, hopes and aspirations of its original owner.

A Lefebvre Paris Portrait Plaque of Princess Charlotte c. 1818

A Lefebvre Paris Portrait Plaque of Princess Charlotte
c. 1818

 

A Chinese Ko-sometsuke Dish for the Japanese Market Tianqui, c. 1621-7

A Chinese Ko-sometsuke Dish for the Japanese Market
Tianqui, c. 1621-7

 

A Liverpool Delftware Charger after a Chinese Kangxi design c. 1760

A Liverpool Delftware Charger after a Chinese Kangxi design
c. 1760

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Derby Figure of Andromache Weeping over the Ashes of Hector c. 1780-85

A Derby Figure of Andromache Weeping over the Ashes of Hector
c. 1780-85

http://www.antique-porcelain.co.uk

French and other porcelains of the 18th century

The Lady Cynthia Postan Collection of French and other porcelains of the 18th century, E & H Manners, 66C Kensington Church Street, W8, 21st – 29th May 2015

Catalogue no. 43 A VINCENNES TEAPOT AND  A COVER (théière ronde), circa 1750-52

Catalogue no. 43
A VINCENNES TEAPOT AND A COVER (théière ronde), circa 1750-52

This is a great opportunity to acquire pieces from a gifted and true collector who not only bought the best from leading dealers such as Winifred Williams, Pierre de Regaini and Lévy-Lacaze, but was also equally keen to acquire slightly less perfect pieces that were both attractive and helpful in increasing her knowledge of the subject.

Catalogue no. 21 A CHANTILLY KAKIEMON FEEDING VESSEL (biberon), circa 1740

Catalogue no. 21
A CHANTILLY KAKIEMON FEEDING VESSEL (biberon), circa 1740

She first started buying in Paris in the 1950s when her husband Sir Michael Postan, professor of Economic History at Cambridge was at the Sorbonne. He was a collector of Chinese ceramics, especially Song monochrome wares, and no doubt this influenced Lady Cynthia’s interest in the Japanese-inspired decoration found on Chantilly porcelain. She was also interested in Vincennes and early Sèvres.

Catalogue no.16 A CHANTILLY KAKIEMON MUSTARD POT and associated cover, circa 1745

Catalogue no.16
A CHANTILLY KAKIEMON MUSTARD POT and associated cover, circa 1745

It is an exquisite exhibition which is complemented by the finely produced catalogue that accompanies it.

Catalogue no. 47 A VINCENNES OR EARLY SÈVRES COOLER (seau à topette), 1756

Catalogue no. 47
A VINCENNES OR EARLY SÈVRES COOLER (seau à topette), 1756

 

http://www.europeanporcelain.com