Sotheby's London to present Hanley Collection of Teapots in Arts of Europe sale

KOLKATA: On 15 May 2014, Sotheby's London will present the Hanley Collection of Teapots in its Arts of Europe sale. Assembled by British collector Colin E. Hanley over 25 years, this ensemble of 105 pieces estimated in excess of £293,000 spans 200 years of history of the teapot, from the early 18th century to 20th century.

The collection is distinguished by very rare examples of teapots produced by some of the world's greatest porcelain and ceramic manufactures. Many of the lots on offer have illustrious provenance, having belonged to the collections of Shand-Kydd, Dr. Bernard Watney, Billie Pain and Dr. Paul Riley.

Leading the sale is an important Chelsea scolopendrium-moulded teapot, circa 1750-52. Highly regarded as the only surviving example known in this pattern, this teapot copies a French model of the 1740s. It has already been sold five times at Sotheby's, having first appeared at auction in 1941.

There are also many whimsical and fun things, such as a Royal Worcester 'Aesthetic' teapot, dated 1882 which mocks the excessive taste of the Aesthetic movement at the end of the 19th century. The design of the present piece refers to W. S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan's operetta Patience, first performed at the Opera Comique, London in April 1881 (estimate £1,500-2,500).