For 40 years, Henry Sandon shared his ceramic expertise with attendees of the BBC’s long-running programme, Antiques tour, on which collectors have their antiques appraised. On April 18, the 94-year-old man private collection went under the hammer at Chorley’s in Gloucester, UK And it turns out Sandon has a pretty good eye: the auction brought in over $130,000, double his pre-sale estimate.
Although Sandon’s collection of porcelain and pottery is diverse – spanning Qing dynasty vases, 17th century Delft faience and shards of Roman pottery – some of the most successful items at auction came from his valuable collection. of Royal Worcester porcelain. Sandon began collecting porcelain 50 years ago, when the cathedral city was still a thriving center of production.
A Royal Worcester vase by Worcester artist Harry Davis (1885-1970). Photo courtesy of Chorley.
Among the Royal Worcester items was a vase painted by Harry Davis, whom Sandon knew personally, which sold for more than $4,500, more than double its high estimate. Another was a plate taken from a set ordered in 1928 by William Keith Kellogg, famous for breakfast cereals, with a windmill and a red background chosen to match the company logo. It sold for over $3,300, against an estimate of $1,200 to $1,700.
Royal Worcester plate by Worcester artist Harry Stinton (1883-1968). Photo courtesy of Chorley.
Sandon’s interest in ceramics began when he began digging up ancient pots in his Worcester garden, which rang with one of Chorley’s auction items: assorted fragments of Roman pottery and glass , Delft earthenwareand Cistercian Ware, which sold for $910, well above its high estimate of $186.
Excavated fragments including Roman pottery and glass, Delft faience, Cistercian ware, salt glaze and slip. Photo courtesy of Chorley.
Other successful items from Sandon’s auction were a monochrome Meiping Vase which sold for over $2,500 and an English Delft faience plate with Chinese figures from 1750-1760 which sold for $1,140.
A Chinese porcelain Meiping vase from the Qing dynasty. Photo courtesy of Chorley.
“We were delighted that [Sandon] was so happy with the results,” said Simon Chorley of Chorley Auctioneers. “He said he was delighted with the prizes and so relieved that others wanted his pots. Although there was the usual fierce competition on auction platforms, the auction room was full of bidders. wanting to obtain a piece from Henry’s collection. A very good result for all.
Before joining the Antiques Tour in 1979 Sandon was curator at the Dyson Perrins Museum at Royal Worcester Factory for 15 years from 1967 and taught at the University of Birmingham.
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