A fine Leeds Pottery horse dating back to around 1825 and estimated at £8,000 to £12,000 is set to go under the hammer at the Bonhams Auctioneers in their Fine British Pottery and Porcelain sale in Bond Street, London.
The Pottery horse is a rare example of white pearlware with a black mane, hooves, tail, and an ornate orange bridle that is decorated with blue florets stands on a green base, majestically poised with ears pricked.
From Worldcollectorsnet.com:
This rare example has been in a single family’s ownership since it was made in the Leeds Pottery. The Leeds Pottery situated on Jack Lane in the Hunslett area of Leeds became known as ‘The Leeds Pottery Company’ in 1834 after a string of owners and different names and was managed by Stephen Chappel who went on to become in 1840 the sole owner of the business, when he was also joined by his brother James. An employee John Charlesworth Porritt married Hannah Chappel who was most probably a relative of either Stephen or James in 1824 and the Leeds Horse was passed through the generations of the Porritt/Chappel family to the present owner.
The horse known by the family as ‘Clarence’ lived in a wardrobe for many years until it was decided it was too valuable to languish unloved and unseen. It is thought to be an early or prototype example indicated by the shallow plinth. Later models had deeper plinths after it was discovered that the shallow bases tended to warp and distort. Standing 43cms high it is expected to romp home on an estimate of £8,000-12,000. Alison Gillatt, Bonhams Leeds’s Ceramic and Glass specialist said she was “delighted to find such a rare example of Leeds Pottery with such a pedigree provenance.”
The Leeds Pottery reached the height of its popularity in the 1780s, producing an elaborate book of designs and exporting its products to Germany, Holland, France, Spain and Russia. By 1847 the Company was bankrupt and although it was revived in 1850, it limped on until 1878. Sadly for Leeds, the pottery was finally closed and demolished in 1881. Despite the demise of the Leeds Pottery, Bonhams are certain the odds on Clarence are a winning cert.
The horses were originally meant for veterinary surgeons, saddlers, and druggists as a sign that they traded in products for horses.
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Hello my name is Allen Wynne Hughes i live in Leeds i have just handed over to Bonhams London Jan 2011 my Leeds pottery horse .it has been in my family aprox 150yrs .unlike the pearlware horses ours is earthenware painted brown made aprox 1845 it stood in my great grandfathers shop window in Holbeck Leeds he was a master boot maker also dealt in leather goods the horse has a deeper plinth because early ones tended to crack but is of the same mold we have tryed for years to find out why it was never glazed but we have never seen another like it! it goes to auction 18th may 2011 any ideas 01132863650 thanks