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A rare Lowestoft inkwell, circa 1790-95 image 1
A rare Lowestoft inkwell, circa 1790-95 image 2
Lot 397

A rare Lowestoft inkwell, circa 1790-95

14 November 2018, 10:30 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £5,625 inc. premium

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A rare Lowestoft inkwell, circa 1790-95

Of capstan shape with an everted rim around the well, the shoulder pierced with four quill holders, inscribed in brown 'A Trifle from LOWESTOFT', within a puce scrolled cartouche, the reverse with a flower spray and two smaller sprigs in Curtis style, a floral garland undulating around a red tramline band on the shoulder, 7.1cm diam

Footnotes

Provenance
Hotblack Collection
Brian Wood Collection


Exhibited in the English Ceramic Circle 1948 Exhibition, no.475 and illustrated in the catalogue at pl.109. All of the Lowestoft 'trifles' appear to be inscribed by the same hand, probably that of Robert Allen. A blue and white Lowestoft jug dated 1774 and made for William Ladell provides the stylistic link between the earlier Allen-decorated pieces and the 'Trifle from Lowestoft' pots. See the discussion by Sheenah Smith, Lowestoft in the Norwich Castle Museum, p.48-49. Closest in style to the 'Trifles' is the teapot inscribed 'ER Lowestoft' and dated 1790. Another inkwell painted in blue with the same description was sold by Bonhams on 23 April 2008, lot 227. See also Geoffrey Godden, Lowestoft Porcelains (1985), p.181, pl.225

Additional information

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