AN AUCTION of Poole Pottery items made over £40,000 when it went under the hammer earlier this month.

The sale took place at Cottees, based in Wareham, where there were a number of items which went for thousands of pounds at the auction from 357 lots, of which only 58 went unsold.

John Condie, from the auctioneers, said: “The star of the show was another Phoeber Stabler bull. In the first sale of 2013, Cottees sold a bull for £3,900. However, this example had a small piece missing yet still managed to reach £1,600, while another example estimated at £2,000 to £2,500 failed to sell, proving that as always, you need two people on the day who desperately want a lot.

“Tony Morris, one of the few surviving originators of Poole’s distinctive Studio style was reunited with one of his colourful large bowls before the auction.”

The bowl went on to be sold for more than double its estimate of £500, by reaching £1,200, which was the same amount also paid for a bowl featuring a blonde-haired girl.

It featured an art deco inspired design of a ‘Leipzig’ dancing girl, painted by Anne Hatchard after the Olive Bourne design.

“The vendor had five other lots in the sale and had been offered £80 for all of them before the sale.

“Fortunately, although knowing nothing about Poole, she turned the offer down, brought the items to Cottees and the six lots sold for a combined £2,690.”

The next Poole Pottery auction will be held in May 2014, with entries already being accepted.

For more information, go to cottees.co.uk or call 01929 552826.