The most celebrated of Davis subject matters adorned a dozen pieces from a private collection of Royal Worcester seen at Dreweatt Neate's (15% buyer's premium) Donnington Priory on June 23. Leading this £162,000 sale of ceramics and glass - and the front cover image to the catalogue - was the 16in (41cm) high ewer of 1903 with typical Highland decoration pictured top right. There was a restored section to the pierced scroll handle but it made its low estimate at £5000, selling to an overseas telephone bidder.
A smaller, but superbly painted, bulbous ovoid vase, 6 1/2in (16.5cm) high, decorated with lowland sheep grazing in a meadow of bluebells and date-coded for 1926 sold for £4400 (estimate £3000-£5000) while a slender two-handled ovoid vase, 9in (22cm) high, painted with hill sheep in a Highland landscape, date-coded for 1914, sold for £3200 (estimate £2000-£3000).
Although they had chips, other damages and repairs, among the most colourful and visually impressive lots in the sale was a pair of 18in (46cm) high Minton majolica wall sconces, modelled as two half-length figures of men in Renaissance dress holding torches, one with date code for 1866. They sold for £4500 (estimate £2000-£3000).
High quality early 20th century porcelain also found admirers at the specialist sale held by Bonhams Chester (17.5% buyer's premium) on June 16. The c.1900 Coalport vase pictured bottom right stands an impressive 18in (45cm) high and, to its gilded dark blue and pale yellow ground, are two finely-painted views of Windsor Castle. Both are signed by the respected factory artist John Hugh Plant. Its only imperfections some crazing lines around the base, it led the sale at £3800 (estimate £2500-3500).
