China As Investment

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 3

China As Investment

LONDON.

The fine porcelain teacups, the imaginatively decorated bone china dinner services, made in Britain seem to find their way all round the world—wherever, in fact, an elegant table is appreciated.

Bitt these days, a new trend is tmerging: not only is fine china bought for its beauty and its practical use, it is also being acquired as an investment.

Quietly, for a number of years, some of the leading manufacturers have been producing “limited editions” of certain pieces. At one time, only collectors were aware of, and bought, these pieces—pieces like the 125 Spode urns made to commemorate the death of Sir Winston Churchill.

These urns, priced at $281.38 each, were snapped up within 24 hours. Now, they change hands for more than £525 (about sloBsl—for a large and knowledgeable secIt is true to say that any piece of china made as part of a limited edition will ap-

predate in value. Obviously, the smaller the edition, the greater the appreciation, tion of the public has now become aware of the scarcity value of fine china pieces like these. A bust of Churchill in an edition of 2000, taken from the one by the sculptor Oscar Niemens, has appreciated only slightly—whereas a pair of bob white quail, modelled by Dorothy Doughty for the Royal Worcester Porcelain Company, recently fetched $U536,000 ($NZ31,535) in America.

These quail, of which only 22 pairs were made, were first bought by an American collector in 1935 for their original retail price of SUS27S (SNZ24S). Before she died in 1962, Dorothy Doughty modelled a series of 12 English birds, which are still being brought out. This year, 500 pairs of redstarts, at £625 ($1339) a

pair were launched; in a few years these, too, will change hands at a much higher price Any model involving a member of the Royal Family seems to be especially popular. In 1947, Doris Lindner did one (also for Worcester) of the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, on the police horse Tommy—an item which sold at £l4O ($300). Last February, one of these fetched £lBOO ($3857) when sold by Sotheby’s, the London auctioneers.

Last year, Doris Lindner modelled that great horse Arkle—reckoned the greatest steeplechaser of the century The edition of 500 is still coming out priced at £lOO 16s ($216) each—but advertisements are already appearing, in the personal column of “The Times” and elsewhere, offering £2OO ($428) or more. To guard against fraud or deception, every piece of china from a limited edition is numbered on the base, and accompanied by a certificate of authentication. In the case of the St Edward Plate, 900 of which were made to mark the 900th anniversary of the building of Westminster Abbey, these certificates were signed by the Dean of Westminster. Quick Appreciation Spode sold them for £lO 10s ($22.49) each; they now fetch £3OO ($642). Where can would-be investors begin? For a start, several firms will be bringing out limited editions to mark the investiture next year of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.

Wedgwood will make a dish—“rather lake a large ash tray”—and Mintons hopes to produce on ornamental goblet, incorporating various Royal insignia and coats of arms and finished in acid gold. This will come out as an edition of 100, and the price should be around the £lOO ($214) mark. Abbey Plates

Spode is going to bring out 900 plates showing Selby Abbey in Yorkshire, northern England. These will sell for about £8 ($l7) each. Finally, if you have £5OO ($1071) going spare, you could do worse than buy one of Royal Doulton's 500 Indian braves on horseback. Once the mould is broken, in a few years time, your investment will quickly rise in value—always provided, that you have a pair of steady hands.—Overseas Press Features.

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