Priestley & Ferraro

About

Priestley & Ferraro

Priestley & Ferraro specialises in early Chinese art, with a focus on the ceramics of the Song dynasty and the periods immediately before and after. This was an exceptional time in the history of Chinese – and world – ceramics. Innovation was matched only by the perfection of technique, resulting in the proliferation of kilns all over China, each dedicated to a range of beautiful and characteristic wares. It is in this rich and rewarding field that we aim to find the finest pieces for the collector.

Although our primary emphasis is on ceramics, we enjoy dealing in many categories of earlier Chinese works of art, including lacquer, both carved and undecorated, jades and cloisonné enamels, and from the pre-Song period, Han and Tang dynasty pottery animals and figures and Buddhist stone carving.

The business was established in 1994 by David Priestley and Benedicta Ferraro. David studied Song dynasty ceramics under Mary Tregear at Oxford, before joining Sotheby's in London where he worked as an expert in the Chinese Department. In 2002 Priestley & Ferraro was joined by Alice Williamson, also formerly of Sotheby’s and a graduate of SOAS.

Priestley & Ferraro is a member of the British Antique Dealers Association (BADA).