In the mid-1970s Mike and Pat Cosgrove began collecting 19th and early 20th century decorative ceramics under the guidance and encouragement of Mike’s colleague, friend and renowned collector of Royal Doulton, the late Ronald Austin of Southampton and Swansea. Initially focusing on Doulton Lambeth Silicon ware objects and Lovatt Langley Mill pieces the Cosgroves’ collection grew and their interest soon widened to the many other decorative stoneware styles from the Royal Doulton stable. Over the following decades they assembled a beautiful and carefully curated selection of exceptionally fine Royal Doulton ceramics, pieces that reflect both the artistry and craftsmanship of one of Britain’s most celebrated pottery houses. Each piece was chosen not only for its aesthetic appeal but also for the history and character it carries, embodying the spirit of British ceramic design at its finest.
The collection captures the diversity of Royal Doulton’s creative output encompassing hand-crafted vases with intricate relief work and delicately glazed decorative wares that demonstrate the skill of individual artists working under the Doulton name. Many of the items bear the distinctive monograms and marks of the artists working at the Doulton Lambeth studio, including Hannah Barlow, Florence Barlow, Eliza Simmance and Kate Rogers for example. Other objects represent the later Royal Doulton production from the company’s Burslem works in Staffordshire, combining innovation with timeless elegance.
For Mike and Pat Cosgrove, collecting Royal Doulton was more than a pastime, it was a genuine passion and a lifelong appreciation for beauty, design, and heritage. Each piece held a story: of an artist’s hand, a period of British art and industry, and the shared enjoyment of collecting together. As the collection now passes to auction, it marks both a conclusion and a continuation; a chance for new collectors to enjoy the same artistry and history that inspired the Cosgroves for so many years.
The sale represents not just the dispersal of a collection, but the celebration of a shared love for fine ceramics. Through the auction, these pieces will find new homes where they can once again be admired and cherished, continuing the legacy of Royal Doulton craftsmanship that has endured for more than two centuries.
