Coalport porcelain sells for thousands in Shropshire auction
Historic Coalport and Caughley porcelain collections have sold for more than £20,000 in the county where they were made. The successful sale took place last week at Halls Fine Art in Shrewsbury.
Local history proved to be a major draw for collectors. Online bidders from Japan, Germany, and Turkey competed with a busy saleroom for the Shropshire-made ceramics.
Local collections reach high prices
A collection of Coalport and Caughley porcelain previously exhibited at the Coalport China Works Museum sold for nearly £9,000. Top prices included £700 for a group of cabinet cups and saucers. A set of dessert plates from around 1900 also fetched £420.
The Caughley collection of the late David Waterhouse sold for over £11,000. A rare dessert tureen from the 1770s achieved £850, while a ‘Pine Cone’ tankard sold for £500.
Global interest in Shropshire items
Ceramics specialist Caroline Dennard reported a 95% sale rate for her section.
“It was really interesting to see the interest from Continental Europe and the Far East in the highly decorated Coalport and Royal Worcester blush ivory pieces,” she said.
One Shropshire collector sold eight lots of Royal Worcester for nearly £3,000. This included a pair of vases painted with Highland cattle for £700.
Rare finds and garden discoveries
The highest price of the auction was £7,500 for a rare orchestral music box from 1895. Specialist Alexander Clement described it as the best he had ever handled.
Other notable sales included:
- A Chinese figure of Guanyin which sold for £6,500.
- A pair of damaged Chinese vases found in a house clearance which fetched £1,700.
- An 18th-century wine bottle found during a garden excavation in Shrewsbury which sold for £550.
Alexander Clement noted that the furniture market is showing encouraging signs. He also suggested that now is a good time to buy antique clocks as an investment.
Halls Fine Art is now looking for items for their next auction on June 17.
