Bonhams Realizes £170,970 in Online Ceramics, Clocks, and Antiquities Auction

In an online auction that closed on 22 September 2026, Bonhams presented a diverse array of decorative arts, horological instruments, and historical ceramics. The auction, titled The Classics Online: Antiquities, Glass, British & European Ceramics and Clocks, achieved a total realized sum of £170,970^[1], with 258 of 366 lots finding buyers, representing a 70.5% sell-through^[1] rate. According to the official results published by Bonhams, the sale brought together specialized property from various private collections, highlighting the steady appeal of traditional European decorative arts and historical timekeeping instruments.

Among the notable decorative art offerings were a pair of monumental Nymphenburg majolica macaws modeled by Josef Wackerle. These twentieth-century figures stand as a testament to the long-standing collaboration between the sculptor and the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory. Wackerle, who trained as a sculptor at the School of Applied Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, designed the original majolica garden figures and decorative birds for the Brussels World Exhibition, some of which continue to decorate the Nymphenburg Botanical Garden. The figures offered in this sale feature the birds perched on urns, holding flower garlands in their beaks, with their plumage decorated in shades of turquoise and pink.

In the ceramics category, a Sèvres maroon-ground ewer and basin, known as a pot à l'eau et jatte forme nacelle, showcased the intricate craftsmanship of the French manufactory. Painted by Nicolas Bulidon, the set features delicate flower wreaths enclosing loose flower sprays. The interior of the basin is adorned with a central loose bouquet of flowers surrounded by a gilt trellis pattern and a wide band of flowers against a gilt oeil-de-perdrix pattern, while the ewer displays a portrait medallion of a classical lady in grey monochrome. The pieces bear the interlaced LL monograms in blue and the painter's mark for Bulidon.

Horological history was also well represented, both through physical timepieces and the literature documenting their makers. A fine second quarter of the twentieth century silver cased marine deck chronometer watch by Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, was offered in its original fitted transport box. The precision timepiece features a round brass cylindrical drum container with a threaded knurled bezel, a protective winding glass, and a silvered dial with black Arabic hour indices. Additionally, a group of three reference books regarding the celebrated clockmaker Thomas Tompion attracted significant interest. The literature lot included works by R. W. Symonds, Jeremy Evens, and Evens Carter Wright, providing a comprehensive look at the life and legacy of the legendary maker.

The performance of these lots highlights the enduring collector interest in specialized reference materials and precision timepieces. The three books regarding Thomas Tompion surpassed their expectations, while the Vacheron & Constantin marine deck chronometer demonstrated the steady appeal of vintage precision horology. Similarly, decorative objects such as the Meissen monkey band figures and the late eighteenth-century ormolu cartel clock by Ant. Martine of Paris found willing buyers, reflecting the consistent demand for classic European decorative arts and historical clocks.