Porcelain dealer Jupiter Antiques will offer more than 30 pieces of Plymouth and Bristol porcelain from a significant single-owner collection at The Chelsea Antiques Fair.
The collection, put together by Dr Michael Witherick, comprises more than 300 items, including every facet of production at Cookworthy’s Plymouth and Bristol factories and pieces made by Champion after taking over the factory.
There are pieces of blue-and-white, polychrome and white glaze from tea and dinnerwares available as well as figures and groups from both Plymouth and Bristol.
Bristol fashion
Among the highlights is a Bristol sucrier and cover painted in puce camaieu with estuary scenes, c.1775, which is priced at £2750.
Witherick started his collection in 1969, buying his first piece of Plymouth, a coffee cup in underglaze blue and overglaze red with a sprung handle, from Simon Spero for £10.
For the next 29 years Witherick focused on more affordable New Hall pieces before returning to Cookworthy porcelain.
This year the schedule of The Chelsea Antiques Fair has changed and it will run over three weekdays, March 18-20, rather than five days including the weekend.
Founded in 1950s, it is the longest-running antiques event in England.
Last year, organiser Caroline Penman announced her retirement, distributing her portfolio among various fair organisers.
However, when no buyer was forthcoming for the 70-year-old Chelsea event, Penman put her plans on hold and continued running it.
The shortened schedule means lower overheads making it more affordable for exhibitors and visitors in turn. A raft of new exhibitors will stand including Antiques in Oxford, Osborne Fine Art, Mark J West, and Cooper & Castell.
Stands are still fully vetted, and items on offer at the event range in price from around £25-10,000.
The Chelsea Antiques Fair also coincides with The Open Art Fair, as it has traditionally done with the BADA Fair, giving visitors the chance to browse both on the same day.
5 Questions and Web Shop Window will return next week.
