Decorative Art

It’s with regret that I report that Michael Graham, the well-known partner in the long-established firm, Graham & Oxley, died on November 25.

What is very probably a new record for the Nymphenburg porcelain factory was set at the 500 Years of European Ceramics sale at Bonhams (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) on December 7.

This monumental and documentary Staffordshire blue and white transfer printed jug sold for $4800 (£4000) as part of Bonhams Skinner’s sale of British pottery and porcelain that ran online from Marlborough, Massachusetts, in the last days of 2022.

Found at a flea market, this tin-glazed earthenware mug sold for £12,000 (plus 19.5% buyer’s premium) at Claydon Auctioneers.

A set of eight Minton Aesthetic movement bone cabinet plates topped the Bonhams Skinner (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) sale of British pottery and porcelain that ran online from Marlborough, Massachusetts, in the last days of 2022.

Collectors of Staffordshire have noted a number of higher prices of late and further evidence of a more active market came when a pair of Victorian Staffordshire flatback figures was offered by Lacy, Scott & Knight (22.5% buyer’s premium).

A late 19th century novelty silver teapot offered at Halls (22% buyer’s premium) was made by US silversmith Gorham of Rhode Island.

More than 80 lots of early English and Dutch delftware are included in the collection of scholar, collector and author Margaret Berwind Schiffer to be offered on January 18 by Pook & Pook in Pennsylvania.

On January 15-16 Andrew Jones in Los Angeles will offer over 550 lots of paintings, furniture and works of art comprising the collection of Jack and Ellen Phillips of California.

Eye-catching bijouterie attracted international buyers to Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) 320-lot European Works of Art sale.

Edward and Marilyn Flower embraced a huge variety of collecting enthusiasms.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Two Herschel family-related historic items – a Royal Society King’s medal and a manuscript memoir – have changed hands at auction and in a private sale.

Long before the auction in Krefeld began, it was clear that the price for a vase by Hans Coper would be way higher than the estimate of €8000.