Doyle Offers European Porcelain From the Sarah Belk Gambrell Collection

Sarah Belk Gambrell was a department store heiress, businesswoman, philanthropist, and advocate. When she was not managing Belk stores in the American South or heading various charity efforts, Gambrell collected antique European porcelain. Doyle will present a selection of porcelain pieces from the Sarah Belk Gambrell Collection in an upcoming sale. An 18^th-century Meissen quatrefoil bowl is among the leading lots. The bowl dates back to the 1740s and potentially belonged to French royalty. It bears painted scenes of country gentlemen reading books, riding horses, and looking toward distant castles. Only a few examples from this service still survive. 

Vienna porcelain is also represented in the catalog. Doyle will offer a partial condiment set from the mid-1700s. A jubilant figure stands in the middle of the set, raising their arms in the air. A red stoneware coffee pot from Böttger is also notable. The squared pot blends Chinese and European influences with serpent details and a Baroque handle. Gambrell often collected pieces that explored such cross-cultural exchanges. These include Meissen porcelain pieces in the Japanese Kakiemon style and a Du Paquier tankard with traditional Chinese figures. Visit Doyle’s website to view more lots from the Sarah Belk Gambrell Collection and to place a bid.