Decorative Art

The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers was a British charitable organisation established in the decade after the First World War ‘to foster the noble Art and gentle and healthy Pastime of froth blowing among Gentlemen of-leisure and ex-Soldiers’.

Three equestrian silver groups made by different London firms over the space of a century took centre stage in three separate sales in July.

This stoneware cream glaze vase, c.1960, by Bernard Leach (1887- 1979) is included in the programme of exhibitions at Willoughby Gerrish this autumn.

Leading the Autumn’s Arrival Auction at Akiba Galleries in Florida on September 12 is a spectacular pair of French bronze and enamel vases of a type shown at the 1878 Paris 'Exposition Universelle'.

This Palissy-style ‘art of the earth’ basin is inscribed and dated 'Avisseau, Tours, 1856' for Charles-Jean Avisseau (1795-1861).

A large collection of porcelain from the factory of Samuel Alcock (1799-1848) amassed by a well-known literary agent is coming up for sale.

Dated and inscribed and royal portrait subjects are the most desirable classes of early delftware

An English covered goblet made in 1820 to commemorate the first voyage of the ship Woodford is on offer at Bishop & Miller in Glandford, Norfolk

The Parcours de la Céramique et des Arts du Feu is an annual gallery-based event in Paris focusing on a broad range of ceramics and glass, both antique and modern, from Europe and Asia

The glass and ceramics sales held by Woolley & Wallis usually include several designated single-owner collections and properties and the September 19 auction is no exception

The salt-glazed portrait jug of Nelson by Doulton & Watts of Lambeth is considered the first character jug made by Doulton

Forty years ago, the market for crested china was booming – the subject of specialist sales, annual price guides and an international collecting base

We chat to a collector whose political and royal commemorative ceramics mean he can 'survey three centuries of British history in a single glance'

The most eagerly contested lot in a recent sale at Potteries Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) was a Doulton stoneware Isobath inkwell.

The boar’s head tureen with matching stand is considered the rarest of all the game tureens made by the Minton factory in its colourful majolica range.

Is Mason’s ironstone going through a collecting Renaissance? Well, perhaps

Bottles with fatal content had to be specially designed and coloured to avoid a nasty accident

A curious pearlware pottery hybrid animal with the head of a sheep and body of a winged fish proved a popular entry at Toovey’s (24.5% buyer’s premium).

By their nature, rare bottles can emerge for sale in some unlikely places

Wedgwood has long been such a popular collecting strand in the US that it is no surprise to see quantities reappear on the market at auction, either as mixed-owner consignments or single-owner collections