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A Life in Ceramics

The Peter and Mary White Collection
1 December 2025 | starting at 13:00 GMT

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"The White Collection vividly reveals the dialogue between Asian craftsmanship and European imagination."
- Professor Christiaan Jörg

Bonhams are honoured to present A Life in Ceramics: The Peter and Mary White Collection. Over more than thirty years, Peter and Mary have brought together a remarkable collection which includes ceramics from around the world and reflects their fascination with how the medium transcends cultures. In this inaugural live sale, we trace how Chinese, Japanese, European and British potters influenced one another and their markets.

For a foreword to the auction from Mary White herself and an essay by leading scholar Christiaan Jörg, please see the pdf catalogue.

Mary White will be in conversation with Anna Burnside and Sebastian Kuhn, 30 November 2025, at 101 New Bond Street. Please join us from 3pm, the talk will begin promptly at 3.30pm.
RSVP: leni.howard@bonhams.com

This Live auction follows an Online sale of Chinese ceramics from the collection, ending 10 November.

Please note that condition is not specified in the catalogue descriptions for this auction. Please get in touch for condition reports.

Live Auction
London, New Bond Street
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Auction highlights

An exceptional St James's (Charles Gouyn) white figure group of Europa and the Bull, circa 1750-52An exceptional St James's (Charles Gouyn) white figure group of Europa and the Bull, circa 1750-52. Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000
A rare Sèvres gold-mounted bleu-céleste ground bonbonnière in the shape of an egg (oeuf), circa 1763-64A rare Sèvres gold-mounted bleu-céleste ground bonbonnière in the shape of an egg (oeuf), circa 1763-64. Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000
A rare Chinese group of the Tyrolean Dancers, Qianlong period, circa 1752A rare Chinese group of the Tyrolean Dancers, Qianlong period, circa 1752. Estimate: £10,000 - £15,000
A Saint-Cloud figure of an actress, circa 1730-40A Saint-Cloud figure of an actress, circa 1730-40. Estimate: £8,000 - £12,000
A rare Chelsea carp tureen and cover, circa 1755A rare Chelsea carp tureen and cover, circa 1755. Estimate: £8,000 - £12,000
A Capodimonte ecuelle, cover and stand, circa 1755-59A Capodimonte ecuelle, cover and stand, circa 1755-59. Estimate: £8,000 - £12,000
A Sèvres 'rose marbré' ground cup, cover and saucer (gobelet 'litron' et soucoupe), dated 1762A Sèvres 'rose marbré' ground cup, cover and saucer (gobelet 'litron' et soucoupe), dated 1762. Estimate: £8,000 - £12,000
An Arita porcelain model of a lion-dog or 'Shishi', circa 1680An Arita porcelain model of a lion-dog or 'Shishi', circa 1680. Estimate: £6,000 - £8,000
A rare Chelsea peach-shaped cup and stand, circa 1750-52A rare Chelsea peach-shaped cup and stand, circa 1750-52. Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000
An Arita figure of a boy, Edo period (1615-1868), circa 1660-1690An Arita figure of a boy, Edo period (1615-1868), circa 1660-1690. Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

Lot gallery

210 lots available

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A rare Chinese group of the Tyrolean Dancers, Qianlong period, circa 1752
A Chelsea figure group of the Tyrolean Dancers, circa 1756
An exceptional St James's (Charles Gouyn) white figure group of Europa and the Bull, circa 1750-52
A good Vauxhall group of Hercules and the Nemean lion, circa 1756-58
A Plymouth model of a lion, circa 1768-70
A very rare Chelsea white model of a sphinx, circa 1750
A Chelsea 'Fable' saucer, circa 1752-53
A rare Chelsea small dish, circa 1752-53
A Chelsea 'Fable' teapot, circa 1753-54
A rare Chelsea teapot and cover, circa 1753-54
A large Chelsea dish, circa 1753-54
A Chinese 'Fable' coffee cup and a London-decorated Chinese 'Fable' teabowl and a saucer, circa 1750-60
An extraordinary Vauxhall sauceboat, circa 1754-55
A unique canteen of cutlery with Vauxhall porcelain handles, circa 1756-58
A Vauxhall cornucopia wall pocket, circa 1754-56
A Saint-Cloud beaker and trembleuse saucer, circa 1710-30
A Doccia oval moulded dish, circa 1750
A Vezzi teabowl, circa 1725
A Du Paquier armorial plate from the Avalos Service, circa 1725-30
A Du Paquier beaker and trembleuse saucer, circa 1725
A rare Du Paquier octagonal beaker, circa 1730
A very rare 'A'-marked coffee cup, circa 1745
A highly important 'A'-marked snuff box, circa 1744-45
A Chantilly circular silver-gilt mounted snuff box, circa 1740
A Saint-Cloud silver-mounted snuff box, circa 1745
A Chantilly gilt-metal mounted lobed snuff box and cover, circa 1740
A St James's (Charles Gouyn) Harlequin scent bottle and stopper, circa 1753-55
A Chelsea swan scent bottle and stopper, circa 1755
A rare Sèvres gold-mounted bleu-céleste ground bonbonnière in the shape of an egg (oeuf), circa 1763-64
A very rare Bow model of a swan, circa 1756-60
A rare Bow model of a red squirrel, circa 1760
A Doccia model of a panther or leopard, circa 1760
A rare Arita model of a recumbent horse, circa 1750-70
Two very rare models of rearing horses, probably Cozzi, circa 1760
A pair of Arita vases shaped as bamboo and tigers, Edo period (1615-1868), circa 1660
A rare Arita circular dish, Edo period (1615-1868), circa 1720
A rare and early Meissen white figure of Augustus the Strong as Imperator, circa 1715
A Kakiemon circular dish, Edo Period (1615-1886), circa 1680-1700
A Meissen circular dish from the Japanese Palace, circa 1730
A Meissen beaker, circa 1730
A small Meissen five-sided lobed dish or saucer, circa 1735
A Meissen beaker from the Japanese Palace, circa 1729-31
A Meissen bowl and cover from the Japanese Palace, circa 1730
A Dutch-decorated Japanese small lobed bowl, circa 1720
An Arita plate from the Japanese Palace, circa 1670
A rare Arita circular dish, circa 1780
A Meissen octagonal two-handled cup and saucer, circa 1735
An Arita circular saucer, Edo period (1603-1868) circa 1690
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