Antique period mid 18th century Staffordshire pottery saltglaze pitcher with enamel decorations c1755

Dated: 1755 Staffordshire England.

Antique period mid 18th century Staffordshire stoneware pottery saltglaze pitcher with enamel decorations. The enamel decoration is very profusely applied with detailed outdoor scenes of gentle folk taking tea and on the reverse dancing to a piper seated on a bench. The borders of this fine pottery piece are decorated with flowers and leaves surrounded by a striking green cross hatched feature. The spout is very crisply modeled and the handle has a wonderful pinched terminal typical of the style of the mid 18th century.

Dimensions: 6.5 inches high

Current Condition: Hairline restored at body, professional and invisible.

Provenance: A label is attached on the base denoting that this saltglaze stoneware pitcher was part of the antique collection of R.Drane of Cardiff, the label notes that the piece was acquired by him in 1901.Robert Drane, the eldest of four children, was born on August 21 1833 in Norfolk. He went as an apprentice chemist to Mr Francis in Woodbridge, Surrey in July 1849 but remained only “4 or 5 weeks”, and then to Smith & Sons Chemists, Norwich. His own pharmacy commenced business at 11 Bute Street, Cardiff in 1858 and moved to 16 Queen Street ten years later. The business seems to have been moderately successful, and he was able to employ four assistants to work in his shop, along with a porter, cook, and housemaid. Drane was a founding member of Cardiff Naturalists Society in 1867 and was its sometime president. He is credited with discovering the Skomer Vole (a distinct species of Bank Vole, specific to Skomer Island). He often kept voles and fieldmice, recording their development in his diary, and his tame hares had the run of his house above the shop. Drane was also an honorary curator for the Cardiff Museum and involved in the debate leading to the opening and location of the National Museum of Wales in Cathays Park. He was considered to be an authority on English ceramics, especially old Worcester. He systematically amassed a collection of this himself, and was commissioned to purchase samples of Swansea and Nantgarw pottery for the Cardiff Museum. These are now in the National Museum of Wales. His other main collecting interest was antique spoons but he also acquired some glassware,pottery, books, and antique oddities, especially those that demonstrated the ‘development of religious myths’.

£4250    $5737