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‘Surprising and incredible’ 18th-century Bristol porcelain vases up for auction
An “extremely rare” set of 18th-century vases will soon be up for auction at a pottery and porcelain sale.
The three-vase garniture is believed to be part of the famous Bristol porcelain referring to porcelain that was designed in Bristol in the 18th and 19th century.
While the factory believed to have first made this kind of porcelain was initially in Plymouth it moved to Bristol in 1770, where it continued to operate till 1782 calling itself the Bristol China Manufactory.
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The decoration on the vases, resembling work from the Bristol factory, has been attributed to a French artist Mons Soqui who was employed at the Bristol factory for a long time. A biographer has said that the proprietors of the factory hired an excellent painter from Sevres to work on the vases, who has been identified as Michel Soquet.
The three vases up for auction can be seen placed in Woollas Hall in a painting – photo: Woolley and Wallis
The three-vase garniture was once in the possession of Aymer Whitworth, of the Whitworth family who once belonged to the Woollas Hall before it was passed down generations. The Whitworth family sold Woollas Hall in the 1950s, shortly after the vases were mentioned in an article for the Apollo magazine in September 1947.
In the article, artist and author, F Severne Mackenna explained the discovery of the vases as “surprising and incredible”.
At the time of Mackenna’s discovery, there are believed to have been six vases in the set, three of which were sold in a national auction in 2011.
The vases are now in possession of leading regional auctioneering firm Woolley and Wallis who have been described by the Antiques Trade Gazette as “arguably the most exciting provincial saleroom in the country”.
A painting that is up for auction with the three vases, shows the set of vases displayed in the Woollas Hall during the first half of the 20th century.
The vases are part of Woolley and Wallis’ Fine Pottery & Porcelain sale that goes live on February 5 and is believed to carry an estimated value of £8,000-£12,000.
Main photo: Woolley and Wallis
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