London – A collection of British Regency porcelain described as "the finest to appear at auction within living memory" is to be offered at The Twinight Collection sale at Bonhams on Wednesday 29 September. The 103-lot sale represents the very best of the products of all the great English makers of the late 18th and 19th century including Chamberlain, Flight, Barr and Barr and Derby. Among the highlights is a Chamberlain soup tureen, cover and stand from the Abergavenny Service, made in around 1813, and estimated at £8,000-12,000.

Bonhams Head of British Ceramics and Glass, Fergus Gambon, said: "I have never come across a collection of British porcelain from the Regency era of such quality and variety. The painted decoration alone, often enhanced with rich ground colours, and the elaborate gilding, is remarkable and represents the finest available at the time. Many of the pieces have provenance from important British aristocratic families and others bear portraits of key figures such as George III and the Duke of Wellington. This is a once in a generation sale and I expect a great deal of interest from collectors."

Other highlights include:

• A Chamberlain cabinet plate, by Thomas Baxter circa 1820. The plate features the Precious Wentletrap shell, named from the Dutch for 'spiral staircase', once considered to be extremely rare and in the 18th century some specimens were sold to collectors for enormous sums. Estimate: £10,000-15,000.

• A Flight, Barr and Barr centrepiece, circa 1815. Painted with shells by Thomas Baxter around 1815, before he moved to the Chamberlain factory. Estimate: £10,000-15,000.

• Two important Copeland and Garrett presentation cabinet cups and stands, dated 1833. Made for Mr Copeland and Mr Garrett, the bright turquoise grounds are finely painted with flowers, fruit and scattered butterflies. Estimate: £8,000-12,000.

• A Swansea tureen and cover from the Lysaght service, circa 1817-20 painted at the factory by Henry Morris. Tureens from this service are extremely rare. Estimate: £7,000-10,000

• A pair of Derby vases, circa 1815, painted all around in the manner of William 'Quaker' Pegg. The pale blue ground is most unusual on Derby porcelain. A similar background colour was used by William Billingsley at Worcester around the same date as these magnificent vases. Estimate: £7,000-10,000.

2 September 2021