Henry Sandon, a renowned ceramics expert known for his appearances on the long-running BBC program, Antiques Roadshow, made headlines once again with the sale of his private collection of porcelain and pottery. The 94-year-old’s collection, which spanned several centuries and styles, went under the hammer at Chorley’s in Gloucester, U.K., on April 18th, and fetched an impressive sum of over $130,000 – double its presale estimate.
Sandon’s collection was a diverse mix of antique ceramics, including Qing dynasty vases, 17th-century Delftware, and Roman pottery shards. However, some of the most successful auction items were from his prized collection of Royal Worcester porcelain, which he began collecting over 50 years ago in the cathedral city of Worcester.
One standout piece was a vase painted by Harry Davis, a personal acquaintance of Sandon’s, which sold for over $4,500 – more than double its high estimate. Another was a plate from a set commissioned in 1928 by William Keith Kellogg, the founder of the famous breakfast cereal brand, which sold for over $3,300, against an estimate of $1,200 to $1,700.
Sandon’s interest in ceramics started when he began digging up ancient pots in his Worcester Garden, which is similar to one of the items that were sold at the auction – assorted fragments of Roman pottery and glass, Delftware, and Cistercian Ware, which sold for $910, well above its high estimate of $186.
Other notable items from the Sandon auction included a monochrome Meiping vase that sold for more than $2,500 and an English Delftware plate with Chinese figures from 1750-60 that fetched $1,140.
Simon Chorley of Chorley’s auctioneers expressed his delight at the success of the auction, stating that “the saleroom was full of bidders wanting to secure a piece from Henry’s collection. A very good result for all.”
Before becoming a regular on Antiques Roadshow in 1979, Sandon spent 15 years as a curator at the Dyson Perrins Museum, which is part of the Royal Worcester Factory, and also lectured at Birmingham University.
Collection by Henry Sandon proved to be a testament to his keen eye for ceramics and his lifelong passion for collecting. The impressive results of the auction are a fitting tribute to his expertise and contribution to the world of antique ceramics.