London-based Historical & Collectable is the only auction house in the world that regularly holds specialist auctions of commemoratives and Staffordshire pot lids.
Their upcoming auction of Commemoratives, Fairings, Stevengraphs, Staffordshire Pot Lids and Prattware takes place on Tuesday 18th October 2022 at 10am.
I have a growing interest in all the different antique bottles and pot lids from the Victorian and Edwardian era. I follow various ‘bottle diggers’ and ‘mud larkers’ on Instagram and am fascinated at the types of things they uncover. Like the anti-slavery tea kettle and British Antarctic Expedition cup & saucer from last week’s Auction alert post, they provide insight into this country’s social history of that period.
It’s a very niche subject, and prices vary widely depending on scarcity, condition and subject matter. You have to really know your stuff!
At this auction, there’s a buyer’s premium of 24% + VAT on the hammer price and further online charges if you bid via EasyLiveAuction or The Saleroom.
Lot 68: Coal Mining pottery mug
A rare cylindrical pottery mug printed in black with scenes inscribed for the Oaks Colliery disaster of 1866 and a heavy cast bronze medallion for the opening of the New Coal Exchange in 1849, with embossed case (3)
Estimate: £60 – £90
Lot 77: A very rare cotton work bag printed en-grisaille
With the scene of a slave cradling an infant whilst being addressed by a driver, whip in hand, the reverse inscribed with verse, circa 1830, 270 x 220mm, stained and minor tear * See lot 76 for a contemporary description of these work bags in the Ladies Society for the Relief of Negro Slaves newsletter with an explanation of their suggested contents also contemporary engravings from which the portrayal on the front and the script on the reverse of the bag were taken.
Estimate: £1,800 – £2,400
Lot 223: Three jars with named scenes
Two Crosse & Blackwell jars, one with lid and a Burgess’s jar (7)
Estimate: £30 – £40
Lot 235: Ten Burgess’s anchovy paste lids
Plus five Banger anchovy paste lids; a Woods areca nut lid and an Army & Navy shaving lid; The Three Choristers, restored and six blank lids (a lot)
Estimate: £40 – £80
Lot 240: Patey’s Bears Grease Perfumers, London
69mm, hairline crack to flange
Estimate: £80 – £120
Lot 243: Russian Bears Grease, genuine as imported, delicately scented
100mm, later issue
Estimate: £40 – £80
Lot 380: Rimmels Bunch of Cherries pot lid
Estimate: £30 – £50
Lot 381: Cherry Tooth Paste, 81mm
Estimate: £50 – £70
Lot 382: The Beehive (130) * Ex Mortimer collection
Estimate: £200 – £300
Lot 455: Uncle Tom and Eva and Uncle Tom – both with bases (4)
Estimate: £100 – £140