Chinese Ceramics - Lars Tharp

BBC4 - China in Six Easy Pieces
Ceramics expert Lars Tharp has picked his six favourite pieces representing Chinese taste. He goes on a journey through a thousand years of Chinese history, travelling from the ancient capital of Huangzhou in the south to Beijing's Forbidden City in the north, to uncover what these six pieces tell us about Chinese emperors, scholars, workers, merchants and artists. Watch it here on iPlayer (available until 23 July)

Spode's Imperial China - Blue Rose Pattern

Spode's Imperial China 'Blue Rose' Gadroon Edge Plate c1825

A pretty floral pattern introduced by Spode in 1825 for the Gadroon Edge dinner ware. Printed in medium blue with a central spray of roses and other flowers, together with a flying moth and butterfly. Framed by a pretty border of roses and smaller flowers on a stippled ground. For more details see Premier Antiques

Crown Ducal - Orange Tree

Crown Ducal 'Orange Tree' sandwich set c1930

A classic art deco design consisting of a printed landscape in black with hand enamelled 'oranges'. Introduced in the 1920s and popular into the 30s. For more Crown Ducal visit my website Premier Antiques

Crown Ducal 'Orange Tree' petits fours plate c1928

Crown Ducal 'Orange Tree' coffee can c1930

Maling Lustre - Embossed Blossom Bough

Maling 'Blossom Bough' jug c1955

In the post war period Maling began producing moulded wares using floral motifs and using their signature 'thumb print' lustres. Here we have a lovely jug in pink 'Blossom Bough' - one of the prettiest of these ranges. For more details see Premier Antiques

Davenport - Green Glazed Majolica

Davenport green glazed majolica plate c1870

The fashion for moulded green glazed wares was revived in the 1850s and continued throughout the Victorian period. It was particularly valued for dessert sets and indeed most cakes, fruits, etc. look stunning on these vibrant colours. Here we have a lovely vine leaf plate, not very common and nicely impressed with the Davenport mark and dated 1870. For more details visit my website Premier Antiques

Impressed Davenport make and year marks for February 1870

Royal Doulton and Charles Dickens

Royal Doulton Dickens Ware Miniature 'Bill Sykes' Vase D5175 c1935

A rare Royal Doulton Dickens Ware 'A' Series miniature 7018 shape vase. Designed by Charles Noke, it depicts one of the greatest villains of all time, Bill Sykes from 'Oliver Twist'. For more details see Premier Antiques

Early Blue & White - Passion Flower Border Series

Passion Flower Border series 'Belvoir Castle' c1825

A lovely series of fourteen known views of England and Ireland with prominent passion flowers forming a common border. The views are named on a ribbon and floral sprig, but no maker's mark has yet been found. Illustrated is a fine plate showing Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire. For more details visit my website Premier Antiques

Passion Flower Border series backstamp

Carlton Ware Rouge Royale

Carlton Ware Rouge Royale 'Mikado' Hexagonal Ashtray c1960

A superb rouge royale 'Mikado' deep ashtray hand enamelled with chinoiserie motifs finished in best gold. For more details visit my website Premier Antiques

Royal Winton Chanticleer or Rooster

Royal Winton 'Chanticleer' Rooster Cream Jug c1939

A lovely 1930's art deco period cream jug in the very collectable Grimwades 'Chanticleer' or 'Rooster' design. An early version with a vibrantly painted cockerel in pastel shades. For more details see Premier Antiques

Susie Cooper - Kestrel Shape

Susie Cooper Kestrel jug c1935

The Kestrel shape has become an icon of art deco design, and here we have the classic Dresden Spray on a fine example of a Kestrel cream jug. For more details see Premier Antiques