Lesser enamel collection set to be 'the greatest' ever auctioned in London
The sale of the Mort and Moira Lesser Collection of Fine English Enamels will take place at Bonhams on October 19, 2011. Consisting of 203 lots, estimates range from £500-18,000 and the entire collection is expected to fetch £250,000-350,000 (up to $577,000).

When society ladies went shopping for objects d'vertu in 18th century England, few could resist the colourful charm of enamel.

Snuff boxes and bonbonnières, scent bottles and other trinkets, made from painted enamel, were a speciality of 'toy-makers' in Birmingham and the nearby village of Bilston in South-Staffordshire. English enamel has a charming folk quality that appeals to discerning collectors. 

Britain's Royal family has one of the finest collections, formed by Queen Mary and added to by the late Queen Mother.

Not every piece costs a queen's ransom, however, and Bonhams' auction presents a special opportunity for new collectors to acquire many exceptional pieces at affordable prices.

The Lesser collection is the finest and most comprehensive collection of English enamels to come on the market since the celebrated Ionides Collection, which was dispersed forty years ago.

Novelty enamel animal and bird snuff boxes
Novelty enamel animal and bird snuff boxes
(Click to enlarge)

Since the early 1980s Mort and Moira Lesser from Ontario were regular visitors to London where they indulged their passion, buying choice enamels from Grosvenor House and other antiques fairs and from leading dealers and auctions.

Among many highlights of their collection are a selection of enamel wine labels known as Bottle Tickets, made at Battersea (estimate £4,000-6,000 each) and a wide selection of snuff boxes in the form of animals and birds.

These rare and delightful novelties range in price and for under £500 it is possible to buy charming patch boxes, the interiors containing a mirror used by fashionable ladies to apply 'beauty spots' to their painted faces.

Contrasted with the fabulous Meissen porcelain snuff boxes and other precious boxes in silver and gold that Bonhams has recently sold, English enamel is something altogether different.

This sale is a wonderful opportunity to learn about this neglected field and to begin a new collection.

 

 

Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today

Register to receive more in-depth articles from our dedicated team.

Register Here

Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£1,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock