It was in ‘dug’ condition with damage to the rim and neck and some roughness to the surface. However, when offered for sale at Richard Winterton (20% buyer’s premium) in Lichfield on July 19 estimated at £150-200, it sold online for £400.
Of the same period but undated is the onion sold for £1700 at Tennants (22% buyer’s premium) in Leyburn on July 16, below. It similarly has a ‘skin’ of nature’s gilding suggesting it had been buried for much of its life.
The applied seal with the initials FM and a moulded bust of a classical gentleman is perhaps a reference to a tavern name.
