CERAMICS HIGHLIGHT OF KEYS FINE ART AUCTIONEERS SUMMER FINE SALE
An exquisite Chinese white jade tripod covered censer and an extremely rare and important Lowestoft porcelain armorial teapot are among the highlights of Keys Fine Art Auctioneers’ three day summer Fine Sale which takes place from Tuesday 24th July to Thursday 26th July.
The two items are among 850 lots going under the hammer during the three day sale at the firm’s Aylsham, Norfolk salerooms.
The 10.4cm high Chinese white jade tripod covered censer features a lid with reticulated dragon finial and three loop handles, and a body with two drop ring handles suspended from stylised beasts, and relief carved panels in archaic style supported on three 5-clawed paw feet below lion mask heads. The lot has a pre-sale estimate of £4,000-£6,000.
Meanwhile the polychrome Lowestoft teapot (or punch pot) dates from 1780, and was possibly London decorated in the James Giles atelier. It is decorated in polychrome enamels with a coat of arms to one side and a European landscape scene after Meissen/Chelsea to the reverse, within gilt and puce borders,. The cover has an armorial and similar landscape with floral sprays. The pot with its cover is 22cm high, and has a pre-sale estimate of £4,000-£6,000.
The teapot is the latest rare Lowestoft piece to be offered for sale by Keys, which has built a reputation as the country’s leading experts in the Suffolk factory. In March Keys sold a tulip pattern Lowestoft mug for £4,500, and in November a number of rare Lowestoft items included a birth tablet (£7,400) and a trifle inkwell (£4,500).
Once again ceramics provide the highlight of the first day of our Fine Sale,” said David Broom, Keys’ ceramics expert. “We continue to see very strong demand for both oriental ceramics and rare Lowestoft pieces.”
The jade censer and the Lowestoft teapot will go under the hammer on the first day of Keys three day Fine Sale, which runs from Tuesday 24th July to Thursday 26th July. More details at www.keysauctions.co.uk.