Two very pleasing antique miniature blue enamel kitchen items: a twin-handled colander and a ewer shaped jug, each with a blue enamel exterior and a white enamel interior. These are part of an extensive collection of miniature pale blue enamel kitchen ware, previously owned by the miniaturist specialist and collector extraordinaire Joan Dunk. We were lucky enough to purchase some of her collection at auction, which we are now offering here.

We are selling these separately, please make your choice in the box below. 

History

The house contents of Joan Dunk (1930 – 2019) – a stalwart of Portobello Road Antique Market, London - went under the hammer in 2020, and the sale exceeded all expectations, doubling its presale estimate. It was rare to see a collection of such desirable and eclectic items fresh to the market and accumulated by such an expert eye.  For as well as selling antiques for a living Joan also collected and her tiny London terrace house was packed from floor to ceiling. 

Her stall was called "IDA", the trade name of an early twentieth century German kitchen equipment manufacturer, which she adapted to ‘Interesting Domestic Appliances’. She was particularly fond of miniatures, small irons, nutmeg graters, spectacles, bisque Christmas cake decorations, treen, moulds, spice racks, doll’s houses – and their furniture and miniature kitchenalia - and ephemeral curios. Fittingly, she passed away while in mid flow of ordering fish and chips.

The passing of Joan Dunk represents the passing of an era in the antiques trade. An era when specialists were genuine experts, and collectors collected. Purchasing a piece of Joan’s treasured collection of miniature enamel ware could well form the nucleus of a wonderful new collection – curated and owned by you.

Colander: Height 3cm  Diameter 7cm  Diameter handle to handle 9cm

Jug: Height 6.3cm  Diameter 5cm  Diameter handle to spout 8.5cm

Country of origin: UK

Date of manufacture: c.1920

Material: enamelled steel

Condition: some chips and dings to the enamel, as clearly shown in the images.