William Weston Young watercolours expected to fetch up to £25,000 at auction

An auction is anticipated to yield up to £25,000 for a collection of original bird watercolours created by William Weston Young, a pivotal figure in Welsh ceramics. Young, who passed away in 1847, was not only an artist but also an inventor and entrepreneur, credited with the accidental invention of the modern blast-furnace brick. Residing in the Neath Valley, he captured the essence of Welsh nature through his scientifically precise depictions of birds and botanical specimens on clay. The original working drawings for his renowned porcelain, compiled in a bound volume of 41 sketches, are being offered by Rogers Jones Auctioneers. According to auctioneer Ben Rogers Jones, Young's reputation holds significant value among Welsh ceramics collectors, yet his original watercolours are seldom available. The auction is scheduled for 27 July in Cardiff.