Rare examples of early English porcelain are still capable of remarkable sums.

Extracted from Antiques Trade Gazette | Roland Arkell

This Chelsea white-glazed model of a red squirrel was one of two that emerged at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood (21% buyer’s premium) on January 29. They date from the earliest years of the London factory: the so-called Incised Triangle period c.1745-49.

While other known examples of Chelsea squirrels are modelled with the animal seated upright on its haunches and eating a nut, these show the subject with its head turned slightly to dexter and tail curled over its back, on a rustic mound base. Although both were damaged, the model appears to be unrecorded in the factory literature.

Estimated at £2000-4000 each, one made £16,500, the other £17,000 (plus 21% buyer’s premium).

From the next evolution of the factory c.1755, a pair of Red Anchor models of a recumbent ewe and ram on bases applied with flowers (some restoration) sold at £3500.