Documentary pieces of early English porcelain always command a premium, writes Roland Arkell.
This underglaze blue decorated English soft-paste porcelain mug sold for £18,000 (plus 20% premium) at Stacey’s in Rayleigh, Essex, on September 18.
The 6in (15cm) high mug, which was discovered in a local routine probate assessment, is painted with the armorial of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers, as well as two figures of men and classical architectural ornament. The base (inset) features the initials MWE and date Jan’ 1757.