STRONG BIDDING FOR COLLECTION OF LOWESTOFT PORCELAIN

A packed saleroom on the first day of Keys Fine Art Auctioneers’ three day Fine Sale saw brisk bidding for more than 100 lots of Lowestoft porcelain, including a large single owner collection of polychrome ware.

A total of £34,597 (hammer price) was realised, with 85 per cent of the lots selling, and many prices exceeding pre-sale estimates.

Star lot was a pair of white glazed figures of musicians dating from around 1770, which sold for £4,000 – believed to be the first pair of such figures to come onto the market for at least 30 years.

Other lots which achieved prices far beyond their pre-sale estimates included:

• A pair of Lowestoft milk jugs from around 1790 decorated with the so-called Bungay pattern and with a monogram for the owner which sold for £2,300 (estimate £100-£150)
• Two Lowestoft leaf shaped pickle dishes from around 1780 one of which is decorated with a rare pattern, which sold for £2,300 (estimate £80-£120)
• A pair of Lowestoft sparrow beak jugs dated around 1790, one decorated with a Chinese garden scene, which sold for £950 (estimate £150-£250)
• A Lowestoft sparrowbeak jug from around 1770 decorated with an early Mandarin pattern, which sold for £820 (estimate £200-£300)
• A rare Lowestoft armorial tea bowl with the crest of Revd Robert Potter, installed as  Vicar of Lowestoft in 1789, which sold for £750 (estimate £150-£250)
• A small Lowestoft mug painted in Tulip painter style from circa 1775, which sold for £750 (estimate £250-£350)

Keys ceramics specialist David Broom said, “Once again we have seen strong interest in Lowestoft porcelain, with prices consistently above estimate even for pieces with some damage or restoration.  It was interesting to see just how busy the saleroom was – most of the buyers were in the room, including many private collectors as well as dealers.”