An important collection of 18th century Caughley Porcelain is returning to Shropshire to be sold at a leading fine art auction house this spring.
The collection, owned by a Worcestershire collector, will go under the hammer at Halls' auction of antique furniture, ceramics and works of art at the Welsh Bridge saleroom in Shrewsbury on April 28.
The company is devoting its entire ceramics section to the collection, which runs to more than 100 pieces.
"This is one of the most important sales of 18th century Caughley blue and white porcelain since 2002 and will appeal to collectors and dealers alike worldwide," said Halls' fine art director Jeremy Lamond "We are delighted that the owner has chosen Halls to sell this excellent collection in the county where it originated.
"The collection includes several rare pieces, the most valuable of which are an ink well at around £4,000, a pair of chestnut baskets at up to £2,000 and an eye bath at around £1,500.
"Thirty or 40 years ago, Shropshire's Caughley factory was considered the poor relation in the market to Worcester Now, thanks to new research and careful scholarship, Caughley is often more sought after than Worcester! If this trend continues, then today's purchases will become tomorrow's valuable gems.
Caughley Porcelain was established in Shropshire in 1772 on the banks of the River Severn near Ironbridge, the area that gave birth to the Industrial Revolution and now designated a World Heritage Site.
Over three quarters of the factory's production was blue and white porcelain printed
with chinoiserie designs or painted with Tournai or Chantilly influenced designs as founder Thomas Turner sought to compete at the highest level with the vast quantities of Chinese porcelain flooding in to 18th century Britain.
Caughley is well known for several major common blue and white patterns, such as the 'Fisherman and Cormorant' or 'Pleasure Boat', the 'Temple', 'Pagoda' and various French influence 'Salopian Sprigs' designs There are, however, many rarer designs and shapes commanding high prices in the auctions rooms today, including notably the 'Traveller's pattern', the 'Marrow' pattern and the 'Thorny Rose and Lily' pattern.
It is believed that Thomas Turner, who died in 1809, may have sold his factory to the Coalport proprietors in 1799 because his health was failing.
For more information please contact Mr Jeremy Lamond, Halls' fine art director, on 01743 284777
Pictures show, top: a rare Caughley blue and white cabbage moulded jug dedicated to Mr and Mrs Bailey and dated 1790
Above: a very rare Caughley blue and white porcelain eyebath painted with floral sprays, circa 1780-90
Labels: Caughley, Hall's Shrewsbury