Dinner service found in Montgomery fetches £11k at auction

The set, dating from the late 18th century and originating from Mid Wales, was discovered by Alexander Clement, senior auctioneer at Halls, during a valuation event in Montgomery.

Mr Clement said: "It was earlier known among collectors as 'Palace ware,' a term inspired by its sumptuous appearance rather than by any proven connection with the Chinese Imperial Palace.

"The later name 'Rockefeller pattern' arose in the 20th century because important examples were owned by members of the Rockefeller family.

"The family’s collecting of Chinese export porcelain was multi-generational and services with this richly enamelled decoration became known in the West as 'Rockefeller' pattern through that association.

"We have sold one or two pieces of a 'Rockefeller pattern' dinner service in the past, but to get this many pieces together is very rare and it generated a lot of interest, eventually selling to a Chinese bidder."

The service, inherited by the current owner, belonged to his great-great-great-grandfather Major John Bridge (1777–1837), who served as Sergeant Major with the 45th Regiment and later the 63rd after the Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington.

After the war, Major Bridge returned to Dublin, where he served as lead Master of the Barracks until his death in 1837.

The dinner service was not the only valuable item uncovered in Montgomery.

An 18th-century Chinese bronze censer sold for £5,100.

An 18th century Chinese bronze censer that sold for £5,100 (Image: Halls)

Mr Clement said: "The vendor lives in Mid Wales and had no idea what the censer was or if it was worth anything.

"It is nicely carved and the calligraphy and mark are really crisp, which definitely impacted its value."

A collection of 20 samplers from a North Shropshire collector realised £10,000, including a rare 17th-century Huguenot band sampler by Sarah Lethieullier, dated 1695, which sold for £4,400.

Sarah's Flemish grandfather, Jan (John), escaped religious persecution in 1605 under the Duke of Alva and settled in Spitalfields, London.

The Lethieullier family went on to become one of London’s wealthiest merchant families through trade with the Ottoman Empire.

Other highlights included a collection of Japanese Satsuma pottery from a West Midlands collector, which sold for £4,000, and a rare Indian Mughal carved and jewelled rock crystal eagle, circa 1850–1860, which fetched £2,700.

A George III, miniature terrestrial globe that sold for £1,800 (Image: Halls)

Among the British and continental ceramics and glass, a George III miniature terrestrial globe by John Newton, dated 1800, sold for £1,800, and a large bronze figure of a Borghese Gladiator brought in £1,200.

A John Rose (Coalport), London-decorated armorial part dessert service, dated circa 1805–1810, sold for £1,000.

A metal detectorist who discovered a 17th-century small silver annular hawking ring in Market Drayton saw his discovery fetch £1,000.

Rare 17th-century Huguenot band sampler that sold for £4,400 (Image: Halls)

The ring was traced to Sir John Talbot (1545–1611) of Grafton Manor, near Bromsgrove.

Wedgwood pieces also performed well, with a 'Travel' coffee and dinner service decorated by Eric Ravilious selling for £1,000, and a 'Garden' tea and dinner service by the same artist realising £800.

The top furniture lot was a 17th-century oak wainscot chair from a Cheshire estate, which sold for £750.

Elsewhere, a late 19th-century French bronze, marble, and ormolu figural mantel clock went for £1,000.

Mr Clement said: "We are very pleased with the auction result which demonstrates that quality items in good condition sell well."