Among the highlights of the Robin Simpson (1940-2020) collection of British commemorative ceramics was this rare Staffordshire blue dip teapot (above) championing the Stuarts as rightful heirs to the English throne.
The only other example known, also painted in white and black with large Jacobite white roses and the inscription CR III is in the British Museum. They were probably made in relative secrecy in 1766 when, on the death of the ‘Old Pretender’ James Edward Stuart, the ‘Bonnie Prince’ Charles Edward Stuart assumed the title of Charles III in the Jacobite succession.
This example was last sold by Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh in 2015 as part of a collection of Jacobite relics belonging to the Byrom family of Manchester when it was bought by Simpson for £8000.
It reappeared at the Salisbury Salerooms on September 8 – in a sale held by Woolley & Wallis in association with specialist auctioneer Andrew Hilton of Historical & Collectable – with a guide of £3000-5000 and sold at £10,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium).
More on the sale in a future issue.
