David Battie: A Study Collection

This Summer Tennants Auctioneers are delighted to present a single-owner sale of ceramics and collector’s curiosities in David Battie: A Study Collection. The sale, which will take place in Tennants’ North Yorkshire Salerooms on 15^th July, will comprise over 180 lots of academic interest from David Battie’s extensive and important collection. With an eye for the unusual, David Battie has assembled a fascinating collection filled with rare and interesting pieces.

Highlights of the collection include an unusual Chinese Porcelain Plate of the Qianlong period, decorated with a European palace or grand country house (estimate: £150-250 plus buyer’s premium). Made for export back to Europe, the image would have been copied from a print design sent out to China for a local painter to render onto porcelain; the graphic cross-hatching seen in the foreground is likely taken directly from the print design. Further interesting export pieces include a Chinese Canton Plate, circa 1855, decorated for the Persian market complete with Arabic inscription to the reverse (estimate: £200-300) and a Blanc de Chine Wine Cup from the second half of the 17^th century, exported undecorated to the Netherlands, where the design imitating Japanese Kakiemon pieces was then added (estimate: £200-300). Away from the ceramics in the sale, a finely made 19^th century Cut Steel and Parcel Gilt Needlework Table Clamp is offered with an estimate of £300-400. Sold with its original fitted case, the clamp would have been made for a wealthy Lady to hold her needlework steady.

David Battie joined Sotheby’s in 1965 and worked in the Ceramics and Oriental Art Departments before being made a director in 1976. He was a regular face on the Antiques Roadshow for many years and appeared on the show from the first episode, which was aired in 1977. A leading authority on ceramics, and in particular Chinese and Japanese ceramics, David has written numerous publications on the subject.