LONDON.- This spring will see the first sale at Sotheby’s for almost a decade exclusively dedicated to European Ceramics, Silver and Objects of Vertu. Entitled “From Earth to Fire”, the sale, to take place on 10 May, will focus on the creation of pieces born from the earth and transformed through the kiln into exquisite works. Testament to the ever-growing appetite of international collectors for unique pieces encapsulating the finest craftsmanship and materials of their time, the 265 lots in the sale are led by Dutch silver, ceramics and glass from the collection of the renowned Amsterdam antiques dealer Joseph M. Morpurgo (see separate release for more information). With estimates ranging from £2,000-70,000, the sale also includes sculptural Paul Storr silver, early Chelsea porcelain scent bottles and a private collection of French gold boxes.

Discussing the forthcoming sale, Alice Bleuzen, Sotheby’s Specialist in Silver and Vertu said: “This highly curated sale was put together in response to popular demand from the market. Ceramics, silver and objects of vertu have performed extremely well over the past several years and collectors from around the world are eager for more. We hope that the great quality and diversity in this sale will appeal to an even wider group of collectors and we look forward to presenting these magnificent works of art in London next month”.

Highlights in the sale include:

SILVER
• A pair of Victorian silver table centre dessert bowls Paul Storr for Storr & Mortimer, London, 1838 Est. £50,000-70,000 (€64,000-89,500)

• A German parcel-gilt silver Musician’s cup (Musikbecher) and cover Probably by Christoph Gretzinger, Reutlingen, circa 1625 Est. £20,000-30,000 (€25,600-38,400)

• The Dodding Tankard: A Charles II silver tankard, London, 1671 Est. £15,000-20,000 (€19,200-25,600)

CERAMICS
• An English opaque-white glass vase and a cover, circa 1760 Est. £7,000-10,000 (€9,000-12,800)
This extremely rare vase is undoubtedly one of the largest pieces in this class of English opaque-white glass to survive.

• A rare Dutch ‘Black Delft’ figure of Budai Heshang, circa 1700-1710 Est. £12,000-18,000 (€ 15,400-23,100)
Black Delft is amongst the rarest of Delftware to survive, with approximately no fewer than seventy pieces recorded. The colour was extremely difficult to achieve and, as such, it is considered that many factories simply did not attempt to produce it. The model is taken from a 17th century Dehua blanc de chine original, an example of which is in the Metropolitan museum of Art, New York.

OBJECTS OF VERTU
• An important agate cup and cover with jewelled and enamelled silver-gilt and gold mounts, Jean-Valentin Morel, Paris, circa 1836-40 Est. £40,000-60,000 (€51,500-77,000)

• A gold and enamel Imperial portrait snuff box, Victoire Boizot (veuve Blerzy), Paris, circa 1809, retailed by Henry Gibert The lid is decorated with an oval portrait of Empress Josephine in court dress and pearl parure Est. £15,000-20,000 (€19,200-25,600)