How Barry’s passion for Derbyshire porcelain delivers history on a plate
This week, we meet a man whose 50-year collection of rare porcelain celebrates Derbyshire’s rich ceremics heritage
ONE man’s 50-year devotion to antique porcelain has produced an exceptional collection which celebrates Derbyshire’s rich ceramics heritage. Its impact is down to the quality, variety and rarity of more than 60 examples of mainly Pinxton and Derby wares – some dating as far back as 1765. Together, they deliver history on a plate.
This remarkable historical record of the county’s ceramics achievements is down to the unstinting devotion of ceramics connoisseur and retired brewery estate manager Barry Michael Wheatcroft, 87, from Farndon, near Newark, Notts.
For more than half a century, from the 1950s onwards, the fatherof-two enjoyed collecting early examples of Derbyshire-made porcelain. His finds took pride of place in his small bungalow, dominating glass cabinets in four rooms. His daughters recall they were never allowed to dust the objects inside.
Due to ill health, Barry is reluctantly bidding farewell to pieces gathered with wife Jean, mainly at antiques fairs and through his membership of the Pinxton Porcelain Society. They will be offered in Hansons’ June 30 Derbyshire Fine Art Auction – and will delight collectors worldwide.
Barry’s interest was sparked by a couple of pieces of old Derby porcelain. His collecting days began and brought him much joy. The ultimate pleasure is the thrill of the find and Barry was elated if he came across a rare piece.
His interest in local history initially emerged thanks to his home village of Farndon. He visited book fairs in search of old postcards and started to meet interesting porcelain dealers such as Nick Gent, a consultant valuer at Hansons. Barry was persuaded to join Pixton Porcelain Society and attended meetings in Pixton Village Hall for many years, learning all the time.
Pinxton’s popularity with collectors is down to its rarity and quality – a rarity caused by the fact that the factory had a short lifespan. Pinxton Porcelain manufactured wares for 17 years from 1796 to 1813.
It was founded in 1795 by John Coke and porcelain painter William Billingsley in the Derbyshire village of Pinxton in Bolsover. Billingsley had worked as a senior flower painter at Derby Porcelain Factory and was renowned for his floral art. His name and artwork designs crop up time and again in Barry’s collection.
Pinxton has been described as the ‘most distinctive and distinguished of all English porcelain thanks to its beautiful shapes and patterns.
Important lots include a Pinxton pattern 218 landscape decorated tea cup and saucer, polychrome landscape in the style of William Billingsley, circa 17961799, £200-£300.
Other examples include a Pinxton tea cup and saucer, pattern no.2 blue sprig, 17961799, together with a spiral fluted Pinxton pattern no.1 tea bowl and saucer, decorated in the red sprig pattern, £100-£200 and a Pinxton tea cup, saucer and coffee can, pattern no.1 red spring, 17961799, £100-£150.
But there is more – much more. Another impressive lot is a French hard paste coffee can,
1800, decorated with yellow ground and English landscape panel. It was exhibited at the Billingsley Mansfield exhibition in 1999, £200-£300.
There is also a fine Nant Garw c-scroll moulded dessert plate, circa
1815, £350-£450, and a rare Swansea glacee porcelain saucer dish, decorated in Empire style with flower groups sitting on a green stand, Swansea mark in red script and no.27 in green. It, too, featured in the Billingsley Mansfield exhibition, £200-£300.
Numerous examples of Derby porcelain include a puce mark pattern no. 80 plate, decorated by William Billingsley with three flower groups, £200-£300, and a Chelsea/derby gold anchor feather moulded dinner plate,
decorated with polychrome flower group, circa 1765, £80-£120.
In the mid-1700s Derby became renowned for producing exceptional quality porcelain.
That proof of quality was evidenced by the fact that William Duesbury, then an enameller in London, paid considerably more for pieces manufactured in Derby than for figurines made by rival factories in Bow and Chelsea.
The exact start of Derby porcelain production remains a matter of conjecture.
The oldest remaining pieces in the late 19th century bore the words ‘Darb’ and ‘Darbishire’ and the years 1751-2-3. It’s also known Derby’s porcelain production predates the commencement of the works of William Duesbury,
started in 1756 when he joined Andrew Planche and John Heath to create the Nottingham Road factory, which later became Royal Crown Derby.
With such history to cherish and the Staffordshire Potteries on our doorstep, ceramics are an integral part of Hansons’ monthly sales. If you have a collection/item you are considering selling at auction, free valuations are available at Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, with Barry Jones. Plus on Tuesdays, 10am-4pm, consultant valuer Gillian Finney, a woman with an immense knowledge of early 17th and 18th bone china as well as Crown Derby, Beswick, Doulton, Moorcroft and more, is available. To book, email: service@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.