The rare William De Morgan tile – £5100 at Woolley & Wallis.
The tile is known in a triple-lustre version (a version sold for £2800 at Bonhams in February 2004), but this monochrome treatment was seemingly previously unrecorded.
The 6in (15cm) square tile that was offered at the sale on June 20 came from the collection of renowned British collector, the late Albert Wade.
Estimated at £500-800, it sold for £5100 which was above the previous high for a single De Morgan tile is thought to be the £4400 (£5258 including 19.5% buyer's premium) paid for a triple-lustre snake and lioness tile, again at Bonhams in February 2004.
Woolley's primary bidders were both UK private collectors: an Arts and Crafts enthusiast and the tile collector who was ultimately successful.
The buyer's premium was 20%.
