Madonna and Child glass panel sells for £44,200 at Lawrences' sale

Lawrences’ sale of Decorative Arts, Ceramics and Glass on April 10 comprised the usual vast array of lots from across the world and highlights came from China and, perhaps less predictably, Ireland.

A Lalique bowl in the `Perruches` pattern of parakeets was bought for £2,500, a set of eight Wedgwood tiles on a sporting theme (depicting dogs and game) made £1,190; and a stylish greyhound designed by Rivierre, on a cut sheet of bronze with a silvered finish, raced to £1,190 too. An appealing group of three Emperor penguins by the Royal Copenhagen factory waddled up to £330 but interest focused upon two stained glass panels by Irishman Harry Clarke (1889-1931). Clarke was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts movement and two very different examples of his work were on offer: a 10 x 5in panel showing an elegant musician in a palette of silver and yellow was bought for £10,270. A circular panel five inches in diameter from 1915 depicted a serene study of the Madonna and Child in tones of blue and attracted intense competition before the hammer fell at £44,200.

In a selection of British and Continental ceramics, a pair of Staffordshire figures of the celebrated bare knuckle fighters Molyneux and Cribb fought their way to £3,100; a KPM plaque with a finely painted portrait study of an old man after Balthasar Denner made £1,170; and a single Meissen dish decorated with birds, insects and butterflies made £710.

Three very different items took the highest prices in the Oriental section. A blue and white kraak porcelain dish, profusely decorated with urns of flowers and floral sprays, made £1,910. This was in contrast to the quiet understatement of the undecorated pale lime green glaze of a simple Yongzheng dish that made £5,970. A Chinese coat, embroidered in gilt thread with dragons on a trellis ground with clouds and foaming waves exemplified the skills of fine Chinese craftsmanship and was bought for £1,900.