Hansons Auctioneers Press Release

Apples set to ripen at auction after 250 years A rare porcelain figure group discovered in a house in Lichfield is set to sell for up to £2,000 when it is auctioned by local firm Hansons Auctioneers on 8 October Commenting on the find, Charles Hanson, manager of Hansons and as seen on BBC1 Bargain Hunt remarked, ‘the porcelain group was made by the Meissen factory in Germany in around 1760. It would have been manufactured at the very beginning of the reign of our own King mad King George III’ The figure group is known from historical archives as ‘The Apple Pickers’ and was a figure group designed by modeller Johann Kandler. Kandler is observed as the most important ceramic modeller from the 18th century The figure was made remarked Mr Hanson, ‘virtually at the start of the history of making porcelain in Europe.

The Meissen factory in Dresden discovered the Chinese secrets of making porcelain in 1708 when Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony owned the factory. In the early 18th century, porcelain was as highly valued as gold.

The figure group manufactured and fired at 1200 celcius is crafted with two figures collecting apples whilst a young boy in sculptured in a tree. To the rear of the ornament is a young boy eating an apple.

It would be fascinating to find out where the ornament has been for the last two centuries reported Mr Hanson.

The auction will take place at The Mackworth Hotel on Ashbourne Road near Derby on Thursday 8 October. Estimated at £1500-2000 the group is expected to create worldwide interest particularly amongst collectors in Germany.

‘We hope national and international clients will compete for the group/ Thankfully the apples are still ripe and complete’ Hansons hold antique valuation days at Kings Bromley Village Hall in Staffordshire fortnightly on a Friday between 2-5pm For further details about Hansons auction view www.hansonsauctioneers. co.uk (http://www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk) or telephone 01283 733 988.