COLLECTORS of fine porcelain will have something to sink their teeth into at the next Aqueduct Auction in Froncysyllte – A Royal Worcester loaf.
The unusual item is one of only a limited number produced by the famous English firm and is expected to cause quite a stir at the antique sale on Saturday, March 13.
Founded in Worcester, England, in 1751, the company is renowned for its fine wares, making this novelty preserve pot from about 1900 quite a rarity.
This particular loaf also has a story attached.
Auctioneer Peter Worthington explained: “One of the vendor’s ancestors was in the insurance business.
"They were one of three people from three big firms who met in Bristol around the turn of the century to come to some kind of agreement.
"After the meeting they decided that it had been so successful that they should commemorate the occasion.
“One of their clients at the time was Royal Worcester so one of them visited the factory to buy a commemorative item.
“He saw this item, there were four in the shop and he bought three of them. He thought it a good reminder that they had ‘used their loaves’.”
The loaf is estimated to fetch between £150 and £250.