A Scottish Pig

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Press releases are made to be copied. So I cannot resist the pleasure to forward this one, found at Bonhams. No additional comment needed. Enjoy !

"Forty years after a large 19th century ‘Wemyss Ware’ pig was bought at auction for £2.10 – Bonhams expects to sell it for £3,000-5,000. The rare and now valuable piece of pottery will be sold at Bonhams annual Scottish Sale on 28 August 2008 at 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh – the company’s new auction rooms.

"The vendor of the Wemyss pig, who wishes to remain anonymous, recalls: “When I first got married, 40 years ago, my late husband sent me to buy a bed at an auction. We had £70 to furnish our whole house, but I couldn’t resist this pig, so I bought it for £2.10. When I got home my husbands response was: ‘Well, we’re going to get a good night’s sleep on that!’”

"The 45cm-long pig is believed to be unique because of its Apple style pattern. Bonhams’ Edinburgh-based European Ceramics and Glass specialist, Ian Glennie, explains: “The Apples decoration is known to have been produced on small pigs, but not on the large ones.”

"Wemyss Ware is probably the most attractive and sought-after Scottish pottery. It was first produced in Fife in 1882 and was named after the Wemyss family of the local Wemyss castle. Nineteenth century Fife made pigs come in three varieties: small (sometimes with money bank slots or nozzle in the snout for use as a spirit flask), small sleeping and large – also known as ‘Nursery pigs’ as they were often used as toys or door-stoppers.

"The vendor may yet get her good night’s sleep if all goes well on 28 August 2008."

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

This result will appeal to both fans of curiosity and to humorists: 5.8 K£ excluding costs for this single large pig with apples.

If your dream was to acquire it, but you're not especially eager to "historical" pieces, don't worry: there were in the same sale other similar items, but smaller and newer, which were sold at very small prices.