Part of a large consignment of inkwells from the late Bob Davidson’s wide-ranging and extensive collection – swathes of which have been previously dispersed in the last year or so at BBR – the 2 1/2 x 2 3/4in (6.5cm x 7cm) piece took the form of the bonneted head and shoulders of an ungainly looking woman modelled with a gaping mouth. A UK collector pursued her to £520.
Also selling on colour, it was the dark green tinge to one of a pair of early Hamilton glass bottles which propelled this £30-40 entry to £560.
However, the most expensive lot was an 8in (20cm) tall Geo Jeff & Co ginger beer bottle. Given that these bottles were regularly refilled and re-used, the near-perfect condition of this example was unusual and saw it fetch £900.
Elsewhere, a healthy price was also bid for a 19th century blue and white ceramic equivalent to the 21st century’s sterilised plastic baby bottle.
Foremost in a collection of four feeders was a 6 3/4in (17cm) bottle decorated with flowers, butterflies and insects that would originally have used a pickled cow’s udder as a teat.
In good condition, it contributed £420 to the £43,820 overall hammer total.
Factors that made an Ugly Woman so attractive
THE importance of colour to collectors of saltglaze ceramics was emphasised at BBR's (10% buyer's premium) March 7 500-lot specialist sale near Barnsley when the orangey-brown hue and unusual subject matter made an Ugly Woman saltglazed inkwell one of the most desirable entries.
