Like many of Dresser’s most ambitious ‘ahead of their time’ metalwork creations, they sold in only small quantities.
The more commonly seen of the two, one that appears at auction perhaps once or twice a year, has a conical base (model number 17558) and the registered number 22872. Depending on condition and decoration, it can bring £5000-15,000.
Much the scarcer model is this flask-shaped jug with the model number 17556 and the registration number 22871 (see detail above). Standing on three tripod feet, it has an unusual ‘coopered’ body with pronounced horizontal grooves where one band joins another.
Another is in the Victoria and Albert Museum collection but this one emerged for sale at Eastbourne Auctions (30% buyer’s premium inc VAT) where, although accurately catalogued and in decent condition, it carried a guide of just £50-100. On October 13 the estimate was made to look more than conservative when the piece sold to an online bidder via thesaleroom.com at £10,200.
