By Margaret Crosby

Published at 11:10, Thursday, 01 December 2011

A RARE old bowling ball believed to have been made locally is causing a stir amongst Whitehaven pottery enthusiasts.

ATTRACTING INTEREST: The two sides of the carpet bowl

The pottery ball, made for carpet bowls, is three and a quarter inches in diameter and will come up for auction with a £800-£1,200 guide price in a two-day catalogue sale of antiques, fine art and collectibles at Mitchell’s auction rooms at Cockermouth on December 8/9.

Local ceramic expert Florence Sibson has had several calls from collectors about the item but admits she has never seen one before.

It resembles the highly collectible, transfer-printed darning eggs that were made by Whitehaven potters and given as mementoes and keepsakes.

She says: “Most 19th century carpet bowls are made of granite so are heavy and dealers associate them with Scotland/Sunderland.

“The print on one side is our train print while the reverse shows a child feeding rabbits. I do wonder if it was perhaps a presentation item.’’

Mitchell’s sale catalogue describes it as “a 19th century Whitehaven Pottery carpet bowl, grey and white transfer printed with a train emerging from Bransty tunnel and boy with rabbits verso. Diameter approximately 3.25 ins Estimate: £800 – £1,200.’’

Mitchell’s director and fine art auctioneer Mark Wise said: “It is a rare piece. We’ve made the assumption that it was made at Whitehaven pottery on good grounds.

“It has come from a family who no longer live locally but did so for two generations; they emigrated to Europe.’’

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk