THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE E.J. WHYTE (1931-2022) After wor...

Hammer

£2,000

THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE E.J. WHYTE (1931-2022) After working in the fire service for 10 years, 'Jack' Whyte joined Brian Bearne at his Warren Road, Torquay auction rooms in the mid 1960s as saleroom manager. However he always had a particular interest in antique pottery and porcelain and he soon became Bearnes' ceramic specialist and cataloguer. Jack carried on heading the department during the years at Rainbow, Torquay and after the company moved to Exeter worked as a part time consultant until 2019. He used his extensive knowledge and skill to good effect when acquiring pieces for his own collection from the many antique shops and markets in and around Torbay, particularly in the 1970s and 80s. He will be remembered by dealers and collectors for his expertise and helpfulness but his many friends and past colleagues will never forget his infectious enthusiasm and wonderful dry sense of humour. Studio ceramics from the collection will be offered in our 20th Century & Contemporary Sale on 28th February. A Chinese famille rose Cong vase of small size, with buddhist lion dog ring handles, finely painted on two sides with geese, swallows and flowering plants, the opposing sides with black poetic inscriptions on an iron-red and grisaille flowerhead and diaper ground, the concave shaped rim and foot decorated with a black key pattern and peony scrolls on a gilt ground, iron-red four-character mark for the 'hall for the Cultivation of Virtue', Republic/20th century, 13cm [minor wear to gilt rim]. * The inscriptions can be translated to read 'Purple blossoms and green willow billowing in the fragrant air/Geese befriending amongst reeds in the pond'.