The range of Minton designs include rarities such as the vulture and snake, the spiny fish, a cockerel and a cat on a flatiron.
This naturalistic model of a tortoise and snail, made by Minton, carries a date cypher for 1878 and is recorded in the factory archives as shape number 629.
With a broken and reglued handle, it came for sale at Boldon Auction Galleries in East Boldon, Sunderland, on August 10, via a valuation day, with a guide of £300-500.
The winning bid tendered on the phone was £1900 plus 17.5% buyer’s premium.