Tag Archives: Derby porcelain

Westminster’s Church Street, London NW8 – Present (24th June) and Past (Salisbury Cathedral)

Antiques Anonymous 2017 - image courtesy of Aerial Storytelling (Instagram @joelelman) (7)_preview

Antiques Anonymous 2017 – image courtesy of Aerial Storytelling (Instagram @joelelman) (7)

 Last September I had the pleasure of writing about a new antiques event taking place in the antique hub that is Church Street NW8 – the Antiques Anonymous Flea Market – and as the photographs show it was a successful and well-attended event. I am delighted to be able to tell you that a second edition takes place on Sunday, 24th June 2018 (11am-5pm, free entry). So do get along there for there is much to discover and enjoy, including food and music.

mose window internal picture plus drawing 007

Salisbury Cathedral – Moses and the Brazen Serpent Window. Courtesy of Salisbury Cathedral

I am unable to be there this time for I no longer live nearby but here in Salisbury there is a direct connection with Church Street which dates back to the late 18th century. In Salisbury Cathedral, above the High Altar, is a triple window depicting Moses and the Brazen Serpent which was given by the second Earl of Radnor, who lived in nearby Longford Castle. The scene, after a picture by John Hamilton Mortimer ARA, is a work in ‘pot-metal glass, enamel and stains’ * executed by Richard Askew who was working in Church Street for the glass painters James Pearson and his wife Eglington Margaret Paterson. What makes the window special is the technique used which was enamelling directly on to plain glass sheets before firing them. Askew also worked for William Duesbury at the Derby porcelain factory.

* Richard Askew – Derby Artist by Major W. H. Tapp, M.C.; The Antique Collector, April 1936.

 

 

http://www.antiquesanonymous.london

www.salisburycathedral.org.uk

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

A Disappointment at Kedleston Hall

Reflections on a Derby porcelain exhibition at Kedleston Hall

Kedleston Hall National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra.

Kedleston Hall
National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra.

The idea of having an exhibition of Derby porcelain at Kedleston Hall, just outside Derby, is an appealing one. The original aim was to combine Derby porcelain from Kedleston with fine examples of the factory held by other National Trust properties. Sadly, things have appeared not to go to plan as at least ten National Trust houses with relevant pieces failed to respond adequately or at all.

It was therefore fortunate that this show had the support of Royal Crown Derby, who have generously loaned the Kedleston Vase (c 1790) back to the house it was made for, and the Derby Porcelain International Society, for two members of the latter have loaned pieces from their own collections to make up for the shortfall of National Trust items.

The Kedleston Vase on display in the exhibition National Trust Images/Maggie Tillson

The Kedleston Vase on display in the exhibition
National Trust Images/Maggie Tillson

There is no doubt that what is there on show is of some interest and appeal but it is sad to think that more of the Trust’s own Derby treasures were not forthcoming and I think that serious questions need to be asked within the organisation as to why.

The press release I received said “Kedleston plates up Derby porcelain exhibition”, and some wag may now possibly be tempted to ask “has the National Trust gone to pot?” I must add that having been a keen National Trust visitor over the years and having the pleasure of writing about them that I feel somewhat disappointed and let down.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston

http://www.royalcrownderby.co.uk/visiting

http://www.derbyporcelain.org.uk