A Modern Antiquarian

The Collection of Graham Slater Part I

15 April 2025 | starting at 10:00 BST

Please click here for Post-Auction information on Collections, Shipping & Storage

While a 'modern antiquarian' seems contradictory, the collection of Graham Slater (1927-2024) encompasses just this paradox as it represents a very selective, predominantly British history of the last 2000 years. Anglo-Gallic coins rub shoulders with Modern British pictures and prints by the likes of Patrick Heron and John Piper, while the vast collection of English delftware (offered at Bonhams in support of Art Fund) encapsulates one man's fascination with this very specific period in English craftmanship.

Discovery and research weave their way through the collection; both chance encounters with fragments of pottery washed up on the shores of the Thames and dedicated and methodical research which led to Graham becoming a true authority on English delftware. His most notable academic achievement is his work on 'Fecundity' dishes which resulted in a first of its kind, comprehensive paper on the history of these dishes, given to the English Ceramic Circle in 1997.

Bonhams is delighted to showcase this collection in our New Bond Street salerooms in April 2025, allowing this eclectic collection to be displayed together for one last time.

The sale of the English delftware will support Art Fund's work with museums across the UK, specifically its funding for museum professionals through the Expanding Horizons campaign - a major investment in expertise and development opportunities for people who bring museum collections to life, from curators to conservators, educator to exhibition-makers.

Anna Burnside

Head of Sale

Tel: +44 20 7468 8246

Anna.Burnside@bonhams.com

Jim Peake

Head of Department

Tel: +44 20 7468 8244

Jim.Peake@bonhams.com

Ella Jerman-Riddell

Sale Coordinator

Tel: +44 20 7468 8359

Ella.Jerman-Riddell@bonhams.com

Ghislaine Howard

Sale Coordinator

Tel: +44 20 7393 3825

Ghislaine.Howard@bonhams.com

Madeleine Cater

Associate Specialist

Tel: +44 20 7468 5895

Madeleine.Cater@bonhams.com

Charlie Thomas

Group Head, Private Collections, Furniture & Works of Art, U.K

Tel: +44 20 7468 8358

Charlie.Thomas@bonhams.com

Fergus Gambon

Director

Tel: +44 20 7468 8245

Fergus.Gambon@bonhams.com

Shipping (UK)

Tel: +44 20 7468 8302

shipping@bonhams.com

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact client services.
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import Licence or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such Licence or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancellation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Buyers' Premium and Charges
For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:
Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.
A 3rd party bidding platform fee of 4% of the Hammer Price for Buyers using the following bidding platforms will be added to the invoices of successful Buyers for auctions starting on or after 6th July 2024 – Invaluable; Live Auctioneers; The Saleroom; Lot-tissimo.
VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.
Payment Notices
For payment information please refer to the sale catalog.
Shipping Notices
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.

•	Exempt from VAT
	Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.
AR	Artists Resale Right
	Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium.
R	US import restrictions
	This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States.
TP	Off site storage location
	For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Constantine, Constantine House, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge ML5 4EF, Scotland, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please refer to the catalogue for further information. For all other auctions: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.

A Modern Antiquarian

Auction highlights

Lot gallery

49 — A carved limestone mask fragment of a head of a king, possibly Saint EdmundProbably Medieval, 15th century

50TP — A Romanesque style carved limestone architectural panel fragment, together with a pair of similar style carved marble acanthus leaf capitalsThe panel fragment, probably French, 12th century, the capitals, possibly Italian and of a later date

51 — A matched pair of brass pricket candlesticksProbably Dutch or Flemish, 16th century

52 — A German brass alms dishNuremburg, 16th century

53TP — A large rare carved oak fragment depicting The Resurrection and Ascension of Christ15th or early 16th century, Probably from a reredos screen or an elaborate pew end

54 — A 17th century carved oak figural group Probably North German and an allegorical group depicting Charity

55 — A late Medieval carved oak figural panel depicting The AnnunciationLate 15th/early 16th century

56 — A 17th century carved and gesso stained wood figure of a kneeling maiden

57 — A 16th century Flemish carved oak figure of a St Antony

58 — A French carved oak figural group of the crowned Virgin and child14th century

59 — A rare pair of Elizabethan architectural relief carved oak three-quarter portrait bust termsLate 16th century

60• — BOOK OF HOURS, USE OF ROME Hore dive virginis Marie secundum verum usum Romanum, PRINTED ON VELLUM, Paris, Thielman Kerver, 17 June 1508

61• — BOOK OF HOURS, USE OF ROME Hore divine virginis Marie secundum usum Romanum, ILLUMINATED AND PRINTED ON VELLUM, [Paris], Egydii et Germain Hardouyn, [1518]

62 — A medieval Malvernian encaustic tile, 15th century

63 — A medieval Malvernian encaustic tile, circa 1456-1460

64 — A medieval encaustic tile, Malvernian or possibly Monmouth, early 15th century

65 — A medieval encaustic wall tile from Great Malvern Priory, circa 1457-58

66 — An English medieval anthropomorphic jug, 13th century

67 — A medieval Borderware jug, 14th century

68 — A medieval jug of Cheam whiteware, 14th-15th century

69 — A Nottingham medieval jug, 14th century

70 — Two Cologne/Frechen stoneware Bellarmines (Bartmannskrugs), late 16th century

71 — A Valencia (Manises) lustre charger, circa 1470-90

72 — A good Staffordshire slipware honey pot and cover, late 17th or early 18th century

73 — An English delftware apothecary storage jar or albarello, mid-17th century

74 — A Vauxhall delftware 'Union' plate, circa 1715

75 — An English delftware dish, late 17th century

76 — A London delftware 'Bleu Persan' dish, circa 1680-90

77 — A rare London delftware 'Bleu Persan' vase, circa 1680-90

78 — A London delftware apothecary syrup jar, dated 1690

79 — A London delftware apothecary syrup jar, circa 1680-90

80 — A London delftware drug jar, circa 1680-90

81 — A striking English delftware Adam and Eve charger, circa 1670-85

82 — A London delftware Royal portrait plate, circa 1690

83 — An English delftware octagonal plate, circa 1680

84 — A London delftware marriage plate, dated 1688

85 — A London delftware 'La Fecondite' dish by the potter 'WP', circa 1657-59

86 — A Bristol delftware 'Farmyard' plate, circa 1720-30

87 — A London delftware plate, circa 1740-50

88 — An English delftware marriage plate, dated 1756

89 — A Liverpool delftware plate, circa 1750-60

90 — An attractive English delftware large dish, circa 1750

91 — An English delftware large dish, circa 1755

92 — A rare English delftware charger bowl, circa 1660-70

93 — An exceptional English delftware equestrian charger, circa 1680-90

94 — A Lambeth (Thomas Morgan and Abigail Griffith) delftware ballooning plate, circa 1785

95 — An English delftware saucer dish, circa 1750-60

96 — An English delftware water bottle or guglet, circa 1760

Specialist contacts

Anna Burnside

Jim Peake

Ella Jerman-Riddell

Ghislaine Howard

Madeleine Cater

Charlie Thomas

Fergus Gambon

Shipping (UK)

News and stories

Impressive Results For The Graham Slater Collection At Bonhams

Under the Hammer | The Collection of Graham Slater

Bonhams Magazine | Ancient and modern

A Modern Antiquarian: The Graham Slater Collection Offered at Bonhams in Support of Art Fund

Additional information

Auction information

Lot Symbols

Related Departments

Conditions of Sale

49 —
A carved limestone mask fragment of a head of a king, possibly Saint Edmund
Probably Medieval, 15th century

50^TP —
A Romanesque style carved limestone architectural panel fragment, together with a pair of similar style carved marble acanthus leaf capitals
The panel fragment, probably French, 12th century, the capitals, possibly Italian and of a later date

51 —
A matched pair of brass pricket candlesticks
Probably Dutch or Flemish, 16th century

52 —
A German brass alms dish
Nuremburg, 16th century

53^TP —
A large rare carved oak fragment depicting The Resurrection and Ascension of Christ
15th or early 16th century, Probably from a reredos screen or an elaborate pew end

54 —
A 17th century carved oak figural group
Probably North German and an allegorical group depicting Charity

55 —
A late Medieval carved oak figural panel depicting The Annunciation
Late 15th/early 16th century

56 —
A 17th century carved and gesso stained wood figure of a kneeling maiden

57 —
A 16th century Flemish carved oak figure of a St Antony

58 —
A French carved oak figural group of the crowned Virgin and child
14th century

59 —
A rare pair of Elizabethan architectural relief carved oak three-quarter portrait bust terms
Late 16th century

60^• —
BOOK OF HOURS, USE OF ROME
Hore dive virginis Marie secundum verum usum Romanum, PRINTED ON VELLUM, Paris, Thielman Kerver, 17 June 1508

61^• —
BOOK OF HOURS, USE OF ROME
Hore divine virginis Marie secundum usum Romanum, ILLUMINATED AND PRINTED ON VELLUM, [Paris], Egydii et Germain Hardouyn, [1518]

62 —
A medieval Malvernian encaustic tile, 15th century

63 —
A medieval Malvernian encaustic tile, circa 1456-1460

64 —
A medieval encaustic tile, Malvernian or possibly Monmouth, early 15th century

65 —
A medieval encaustic wall tile from Great Malvern Priory, circa 1457-58

66 —
An English medieval anthropomorphic jug, 13th century

67 —
A medieval Borderware jug, 14th century

68 —
A medieval jug of Cheam whiteware, 14th-15th century

69 —
A Nottingham medieval jug, 14th century

70 —
Two Cologne/Frechen stoneware Bellarmines (Bartmannskrugs), late 16th century

71 —
A Valencia (Manises) lustre charger, circa 1470-90

72 —
A good Staffordshire slipware honey pot and cover, late 17th or early 18th century

73 —
An English delftware apothecary storage jar or albarello, mid-17th century

74 —
A Vauxhall delftware 'Union' plate, circa 1715

75 —
An English delftware dish, late 17th century

76 —
A London delftware 'Bleu Persan' dish, circa 1680-90

77 —
A rare London delftware 'Bleu Persan' vase, circa 1680-90

78 —
A London delftware apothecary syrup jar, dated 1690

79 —
A London delftware apothecary syrup jar, circa 1680-90

80 —
A London delftware drug jar, circa 1680-90

81 —
A striking English delftware Adam and Eve charger, circa 1670-85

82 —
A London delftware Royal portrait plate, circa 1690

83 —
An English delftware octagonal plate, circa 1680

84 —
A London delftware marriage plate, dated 1688

85 —
A London delftware 'La Fecondite' dish by the potter 'WP', circa 1657-59

86 —
A Bristol delftware 'Farmyard' plate, circa 1720-30

87 —
A London delftware plate, circa 1740-50

88 —
An English delftware marriage plate, dated 1756

89 —
A Liverpool delftware plate, circa 1750-60

90 —
An attractive English delftware large dish, circa 1750

91 —
An English delftware large dish, circa 1755

92 —
A rare English delftware charger bowl, circa 1660-70

93 —
An exceptional English delftware equestrian charger, circa 1680-90

94 —
A Lambeth (Thomas Morgan and Abigail Griffith) delftware ballooning plate, circa 1785

95 —
An English delftware saucer dish, circa 1750-60

96 —
An English delftware water bottle or guglet, circa 1760