It did reach minus 15 degrees in this part of Cheshire in January and now we’ve got polar bears!

Royal Worcester vase and cover made £8600 at Patrick Cheyne’s sale in Hale

OF all the many subjects painted by Harry Davis 1898-1970 during his long tenure at the Royal Worcester factory, among the rarest and most desirable are polar bears in an Arctic landscape. Only a handful of pieces carry this striking decoration – so there was great interest in this 9in (22cm) high vase and cover offered by Patrick Cheyne of Hale, near Altrincham on February 27. Dated 1905, and signed by the Master himself  H. Davis, it had been consigned for sale by a local lady who, having cleared out her mother-in-law’s house, had been pleased with the valuation of £200. “Mea culpa,” commented the auctioneer after it sold in the room to a Southport dealer against nine telephone bids for £8600 (plus 15 per cent buyer’s premium). Over the years Royal Worcester and all of its many incarnations have employed or been associated with some of the best and most innovate ceramics artists. Although Worcester pieces take a great many skilled hands to manufacture, from around the year 1900 Royal Worcester allowed the painters to mark the work produced. The painters being the most notable member of the workforce as seen from the publics perspective and Royal Worcester allowed them to sign the work on the front face rather than include a monogram in the base marks. In addition most painters were encouraged to specialise in a particular theme and Harry was best known for his fish, sheep, landscapes and architecture. Source ATG Media and Patrick Cheyne Auctioneers