Posts Tagged ‘earthenware’

Antique Glass Overview

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Glass is distinguished from other materials by its transparency.
People like glass because of its shine and the way drinker.
glass refracts the light that passes through it. Glass is also extremely practical. It does not allow liquids to permeate it and is a poor conductor of heat. On the other side of course is glass’s only disadvantage — its fragility. Glass today is something modern humankind takes for granted. There is an involved process before glass objects reach the consumer.
Glass is formed by heating various metal oxides and quartz. In addition to the raw materials of glass (quartz and borax), there are also alkaline substances (potassium or sodium oxide). These make the silicates indissoluble.
The right composition of substances for glass is the result of centuries of experience. Glass was probably first made about 4,000 years ago — perhaps discovered in ancient Egypt by chance.
The production of glass was then a relatively straightforward process. The glass-makers first smelted glass in earthenware vessels over an open fire. The glowing pieces of glass adhered together and were then plunged into cold water where they splintered.
These shards of glass-like material were known as frit. The frit was then ground between millstones under powdered when it was smelted once more to achieve the desired result.
This principle was in use until some time after 1500. Old illustrations often show two glass furnaces: one is for the initial smelting of the raw materials and the second for melting the powdered frit.
The production of glass was changed in the eighteenth century in Britain. Coal replaced wood for the glass furnace but this turned the glass yellow from the sulphur dioxide that is released. This meant that glass had to be smelted in a sealed kiln.
This also made it more difficult to keep an eye on the smelting process. A solution was found by producing softer glass mixtures.
Means of decoration
Glass can be decorated in a number of ways. The most direct method is to apply layers of other glass or to mark the surface during the glassblowing process while the glass is soft. Such results depend on the skill and artistry of the glassblower. Glass has been blown since early times and had reached a state of high art in Roman times.
There are various waysin which glass can be decorated during blowing. One way is to add small pieces of glass or `prunts’. Another way is to spin the glass of the same or contrasting colour so that it forms a spiral on the glass surface. Many of the varying techniques are based upon centuries old traditions.
An entirely different way of decorating glass is to enamel or paint it.
This technique does not rely on the artistry of the glassblower. This is done with either ‘cold’ or fired enamel. Glass can also be gilded with precious metals such as silver or gold. Further ways of decorating glass are by cutting or engraving it. Glass is engraved with a diamond which ‘draws’ a design on its surface and it can also be stippled (a Dutch invention) with either a diamond or softer stylus.
Different effects can be created by making either open or dense stipple marks.
Glass has been cut since early times but etching was discovered by the Swede Sheele who notice that the acidic gases of hydrogen fluoride ate in to glass. Glass can also be ‘etched’ by sand-blasting. Encapsulation is done by placing objects in glass while it is still soft that then become fixed in the solid glass. This method was especially popular in Europe between 1800 and 1850.
Glass production from east to west
The production of glass spread to other countries from Egypt around 1000 BC. The techniques were extensively improved between the sixth and second centuries before Christ.
A very important discovery was made at Sidon in Syria in the first century before Christ – the glassblower’s ‘blowing iron’.
This enabled objects to be made of thin glass. It was a technique that spread throughout the Roman empire to Italy and Spain to the west but also to Gaul (France), Britain, and Germany in the north. The major glassblowing centres were established along the Rhine and in Gaul (France).
Production in the east
In common with many other techniques, glass-making was also largely forgotten following the fall of the Roman empire but this was not true in the east. The most important glass-producing region was Byzantium where new techniques were also developed that can be seen in cut and engraved goblets, bottles, ewers, and mosaics of the era.
Arabs were extremely fond of glass embellished with gilt or enamel and major Arab glass centres were Damascus and Aleppo in Syria.
Very fine coloured glass goblets, bottles, ewers, lamps, and dishes were made in these towns between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries. These were often decorated with bright painting.
Persian glass-making took over the leading position in the fifteenth century and Persian glass even influenced Spanish glass. Surviving Persian glass from this era consists mainly of bottles of green or blue glass.
Medieval European glass
Glass production in the former western Roman empire after its fall only survived in Gaul (France), Germany, Flanders, and Britain.
In the early Middle Ages the preference was for decoration with grooves, flattening, and decoration with ‘threads’
of glass. Several new types of object appeared such as `trunked’ and ’studded’ beakers. Otherwise just simple medicine bottles were made from green glass that was far from perfect.
Glass production even went into decline in the ninth century and many in Christian countries regarded glass as a heathen product. After all the heathens used bottles for their ‘pagan’ burials. Pope Leo IV even banned the liturgical use of glass. Not everyone was of the same opinion.
Bishop Isidorus of Seville in Spain wrote a treatise about glass based on Naturalis Historiae, written by the Roman Plinius. The monk Theophilus wrote an extremely important work about glass —probably during the late tenth or early eleventh century, somewhere along the Rhine.
In a piece about the art of glass he described the constituents of Roman and Asian glass, wrote down many legends, and described the process of glassblowing in great detail.
Venice
Sometime around the birth of Christ, glass was produced in northern Italy. The technique was maintained by cloistered orders and spread from these during the Middle Ages throughout Europe. It was in this region that the one of the most famous glass-making centres was established.
Benedictine monks in Venice specialised in making bottles by the year 1000. Following the conquest and pillage of Constantinople by the crusaders in 1204, many Byzantine glassblowers sought to escape to the powerful trading city of Venice.
They strengthened Venetian glass-making with techniques such as glass mosaics. The first thin and hollow glass-ware and first glass jewellery were made in Venice in about 1250. Soon afterwards the production of glass became a monopoly of the Venetian state. The glassblowing works though were forced to move outside the city. With their extensive use of fire they threatened the safety of the city and hence were moved to the island of Murano.
The first reports of exports of glass from Venice are also recorded around 1250. They also made optical glass for spectacles and window glass.
A great deal of glass incorporating soda from burnt seaweed was made in the fourteenth century. The Venetians also began to make latticinio glass with thin white threads around 1400. The Venetians were also known to make golden coloured glass by chemical means and other colours too with copper and cobalt.
They also decorated their glass by `burning’ colours into it. This is very characteristic of fifteenth century Venetian glass. In the sixteenth century the Venetians mainly decorated their glass with patterns of opaque white threads. Vegetal and abstract designs were also created on the thin-walled soda glass.
In addition to clear cristallo glass, Venice also made opaque white lattimo glass that was translucent but not transparent, millefiori containing tiny rods of coloured glass, and frosted glass with a cracked surface. The glassblowers also produced all manner of decorative forms with glass. The chemical composition of Venetian glass was a secret with severe penalties for anyone who revealed the procedures to make it. Despite this, many Venetian glassblowers left for other parts in the early sixteenth century and became involved abroad in the production of imitations of Venetian glass. Excellent copies of glass d la facon de Venice were made in Spain, France, and the Low Countries. These are so good that it is very difficult to determine whether a piece is made in Venice or elsewhere. The main differentiation is that the metal (body of the glass) of the imitations is not so clear, fine, and thin as that produced on the Venetian island of Murano.
Developments elsewhere in Europe
In Bohemia and Germany they also tried to join in Venice’s success. The glass works there only flourished after the Middle Ages. Many attempts were made in France employing Italian immigrants to make totally transparent and clear glass. Dutch glass makers began to make diamond engraved fluted glasses in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and it was the Low Countries too that made glasses with a characteristic ‘winged foot’. It was also quite common for glass made in one place to be decorated elsewhere.
BOHEMIAN AND GERMAN FOREST GLASS
The extensive forests of Bavaria were home to many glass works. The production area lay within an area bordered by the Thuringia and Bavarian forests, and the Alps and Fichtel mountains. Because of iron and potash in the raw materials the glass produced was mainly green.
New types of glassware were created that were primarily functional with the main output being glass beakers but ink pots and alchemists’ and apothecaries’ jars were also made.
This was often decorated with prunts and molten threads of glass. Glass was also decorated with bizarre relief forms. All these products were small icrean size in the fourteenth and fifteenth century. Larger pieces were noss bt made until the sixteenth century.
The most widespread of these are so maigelein: shallow beakers of blown gas
A 17th century Dutch green Romer glass. This type first appeared in the 15th century.
of which the bottom is pressed inwards. There were also much larger Pasglas measured glasses, beakers in the form of cabbage stalk, beakers with finger grips, and vertically ribbed cylindrical beakers. The classical slim and tall beakers of Bohemian glass were made in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Their small stems are externally decorated with prunts of molten glass. The Romer glass was first made in the fifteenth century. These wine glasses were extraordinarily popular in the Rhineland. A bellied glass, shaped like an onion with a curved neck consisting of several plaited tubes of glass also appeared in Bohemia in the late Middle Ages.
ENAMELLING
Every glass works outside Italy strived to improve on Italian glass with their local products but the shape of their glassware is clearly different from that of Renaissance Italy. This is because of different local drinking customs. Wine was drunk in Italy but north of the Alps people mainly drank beer. This caused different demands of glasses. The Humpen beer glasses were made from the middle of the sixteenth century.
At first these were conical in form but later only cylindrical Humpen were made. This latter type had a low sole and sometimes also had a hinged lid. The style of painting was intended to give the impression of an Italian product and this also helped to mask the imperfections in the glass.
Enamelling was commonplace on sixteenth century central European glass. The best period for this form of decoration was reached in the earlier seventeenth century. The quality of glass was then improved through the addition of chemicals.
Another category of glassware was the beakers that bore the owner’s crest of arms.
These were also monogrammed and dated. Others, known as ’state eagle’ Humpen were decorated with the German state arms. Quite separate from these glasses though were the Fichtel mountain ox-head glasses that were painted with pictures of the wooded hills from which the Eger, Main, Naa, and Saale rivers rise. Old and New Testament references, fables, and allegories were also common painted decorations in both the Renaissance and Baroque eras.
Although enamelled glass originally came from Venice it gradually became the speciality of central Europe. This method of decoration was used for more than 250 years.
Spun stem Dutch glass. Spinning a thread of glass of the same or contrasting colour around a glass core is one method of decoration.
Enamel became less expensive in the later seventeenth century so that ‘ordinary’ citizens were able to buy it. Finally it became a product for the masses and when applied to milchglass became a cheap alternative to porcelain.
Finding out the origins of a piece is no easy matter. There are countless different types with regional and local characteristics but these became less pronounced as glassblowers moved to work at different places.
PAINTED TRANSPARENT GLASS
A new manner of decorating hollow glass objects was introduced in the later eighteenth century using transparent enamels instead of opaque ones. The porcelain artist Samuel Mohn of Dresden was the first to use this technique.
His ‘friendship’ glasses are painted with portraits, landscapes, allegories, and verses. He customarily signed his work with Mohn fecit. His son, Gottlob Mohn, established himself in Vienna in 1811 and signed himself G. Mohn in Wien. His first work was the painting of town views.
The Viennese porcelain and glass artist Hothgasser took up this popular subject, working mainly on bell-shaped glasses on long branched stems. He mainly signed his work with his monogram between the ‘teeth’ of the branched stem.
Sometimes though he used his full signature on his glasses. These were given as a present or friendship’s token, or served as souvenir. Kothgasser’s glasses with playing cards were very popular around 1875. Kothgasser’s work was in great demand and hence widely copied but reproductions are easily spotted by the naive compositions and lack of technique.
BOHEMIAN ENGRAVED GLASS
The process of engraving was already known during Roman times but the ancient technique was re-invigorated during the sixteenth century in southern German with fresh demand for this style of decoration. This arose because of exports of engraved crystal from Milan. The so-called ‘mountain’ crystal was rare and hence expensive. This led to people in southern Germany deciding to apply the decorative technique used with crystal on glass. Lehmann One of the most famous engravers is
Kasper Lehmann, engraver to the court at Prague. Until recently he was even deemed to have been the ‘inventor’ or glass engraving.
Engraved ginger glass, circa 1700. Although known since Roman times, it was not re-introduced until the 16th century, in southern Germany. Engraved glass became very popular in the north of the Low
Countries.
He established himself in Prague around 1600 and in 1609 he gained a monopoly from the king for the engraving of glass. Lehmann had a number of students, including Georg Schwanhardt, the most important of them, who returned to his home town of Nuremberg following Lehmann’s death. There were many engravers working in this town but each had his own area of speciality.
Schwanhardt mainly worked with Venetian-type goblets, although Venetian glass itself is not suitable for engraving because it is too fragile. Glass with lime added was used for engraving. This sparkling glass was clear and pure with strong refractory properties. It became known as Bohemian crystal.
Bohemian ‘crystal’ was discovered between 1670 and 1680 more or less simultaneously in three glashutten in southern and northern Bohemia. Knowledge of the process spread quickly throughout Bohemia.
Painting with enamel was depressed here by engraved Bohemian ‘crystal’. The first decorations were copies of motifs used in Venice. Because of the high quality of the new material it quickly became a formidable competitor for Venetian glass. Traders not only succeeded in selling Bohemian glass throughout Europe, it was also shipped to other parts of the world.
When the engraving switched to the Baroque style Bohemian glass was even more successful.
SILESIAN ENGRAVED GLASS
The successful formula of Bohemian glass works was also followed in Silesia. The works of Count Schaffgotsch were very important to this region. The glashut in Hermesdorf in particular produced some fine pieces. This was due to the engraver Friedrich Winter who engraved a series of friendship goblets and beakers there after 1690.
The engraved glass from the works at Lobkowitz in Wiesau and Warmbrunn were also of exceptionally high quality. Silesian glass is characterised by the narrowing at the bottom of the drinking vessel. Although Bohemian glass itself was of higher quality, the exceptional Silesian engraving was better than that of Bohemia.
Glass production was advanced following Prussia’s capture of Silesia from Austria in 1742. Glass production in Silesia and Bohemia began to become less significant in the mid eighteenth century due to a number of factors. These included a smaller market through European wars that had caused economic collapse and also a reduction in the size of the market through the development of porcelain and lead crystal. Superb glass goblets made way for simple beakers. Both form and decoration were simplified and more suited to the new circumstances.
The Bohemian glass industry searched for a way to emerge from the crisis.
One of their developments was milchglas that was supposed to compete with the rapidly growing market for porcelain. Entire sets of tableware and drinking services were produced from 1760 to the mid nineteenth century by works at Harrachov in Bohemia.
The opaque ‘milk glass’ was much cheaper than porcelain but could emulate it in both form an enamelled decoration.
GERMAN DEVELOPMENTS
The discovery of the addition of lime to forest or potash glass in Bohemia was also important for the German glashutten.
This was especially true of those works of the electors of Saxony and Brandenburg which bordered Bohemia. Silesian experience in both glass making and engraving was utilised at Brandenburg works at Potsdam, Berlin, and later also at Zechlin. Potsdam attracted Martin Winter, brother of the highly regarded Helmdorf engraver.
The glass specialist and alchemist Johann Kunckel was given the task of researching the best composition for glass. He is credited with discovery of Zwischengoldglas or ‘gold-ruby’ glass. Other gifted engravers also worked for Brandeburg glass makers in addition to Winter.
Glass from this time is solid and heavy. The foot or stem, drinking vessel, and lid were decorated with leaf motifs. Pieces were lighter after 1720 under the influence of the engraver Elias Rosbach. Zechlin glass though (which had gilt medallions melted into its surface) remained fairly robust.
Knowledge of how to produce Bohemian glass spread via Nuremberg northwards. Important centres were established at Brunswick and Hesse, while the glashutten of Thuringia were also important parts of the German glass industry. Just as with porcelain, the electors of Saxony also initiated establishment of glassworks in their domain.
The Saxon works copied Bohemia so precisely that their glassware closely resembles Bohemian glass. Saxon glass though uses slightly different forms, such as horizontal, diagonal, and faceted rims on the stem and underbelly of the bowl. There is a difference too in the gilded relief and gilded engraving
‘RUBY GOLD’ GLASS
In addition to engraved glass, Bohemian glass works also produced ‘ruby gold’ glass or Zwischengoldglas during the prime era for Baroque style. This type of glass had been known in Roman times but forgotten. Following its rediscovery by Johann Kunckel in Brandenburg, Bohemian glass makers also started to make it. The same type of decoration was employed as was used for Bohemian `crystal’.
This consisted of engraving, silver gilt or gilt leaf motifs placed between two layers of glass. Only a few pieces were double layered at that time.
English lead crystal and Dutch glass
Around 1750, glass that was stabilised with lead became important in Europe. The heavy lead ‘crystal’ was well adapted to practically-shaped pieces following
Painted glass box, circa 1850. This type of movingly painted glass boxes were made in Friesland in the Low Countries Classical lines. Lead crystal has unique properties.
It is absolutely clear and is decorated in an entirely different way. By use of a diamond cutting disc a large number of facets can be created that cause light refraction — acting as a series of prisms. Dutch glass was extensively engraved with diamond cutters and lead crystal became extremely popular there. After 1750, some exceptional Dutch pieces were made by stippling the glass with a diamond.
The solid goblets used for this purpose were partly imported from Britain.
Nineteenth century glass
Bohemian crystal found a strong competitor with English lead crystal cut glass. This was because the lead crystal was ideally suited to the forms of the fashion for Classicism. The Bohemian glass makers reacted by adopting the English cut-glass technique but Bohemian glass was not suitable for cutting. The consequences were therefore limited and the technique was restricted so that cutting remained solely an extension to engraving. The subjects for engraving were determined by the current fashion and this can be seen by the motifs used.
Count Georg Buquoy of Neugrdtzen in southern Bohemia became very taken with Wedgwood’s ‘Egyptian Black’. In common with Friedrich Egermann in Haida, Neugrdtzen began making black Hyalith glass that was mainly decorated in a golden chinoiserie style.
The wares included carafes, coffee services, dishes, and vases. Egermann created Lithyalin, a different form of opaque glass that resembled jasper and agate. Like these stones it could be facet cut. Egermann’s glass works also used a golden yellow glass paint that he invented. This was used on goblets and beakers from 1820. Egermann’s greatest achievement though was his contribution to the enriching of glass.
With the help of copper he was able to create cheap imitations of expensive
golden-coloured ruby glass. Glass makers sought an ever greater range of colours and forms for their wares. On the one hand they attempted to improve the process of applying coloured glass to a clear glass base while on the other they sought to develop new methods.
This led to a new technique in which several layers of coloured glass were applied to a base. It was a process that had originated in China. By cutting away parts of the different coloured layers, all manner of colour effects could be created. The use of several layers of milchglas was particularly popular. With this, when a pattern had been cut out it was further decorated with enamel.
Bohemian glass companies exported lots of this type of ware in the 1850’s. Around 1820 the Bohemian glassworks also made glass that was smelted with embedded plaster or porcelain with portraits of famous persons. From 1830 onwards the glass market changed radically because of the major changes in how glass was made. Until that time each piece was individually crafted by a glassblower. During the nineteenth century factories began to press mould glass. This process made it possible to mass produce glass making.
The artistic level of the output dropped of course but commercial considerations were generally more important than aesthetic ones. Very few managed to avoid this trend. One who did was the Viennese artist Ludwig Lobmeyr, who owned a quality glass making works in Steinsch6nau. He was one of a group of artists who opposed the levelling down and increasing lack of taste of the mass produced wares.
This group studied ancient and exotic forms of glass and this led to their works making new types of glassware with simple and functional shapes. Before this trend gained wider acceptance though it was consumed in an even more radical movement that swept Europe under the Art Nouveau and Jugendstil names. The artists A. Daum and E. GaI16 gave glass-making back its individual power of expression and returned to the old traditions. In the United States Louis Comfort Tiffany was inspired by oriental and classical glass. His work was widely admired and echoed in Europe.
One glass works that copied his lead was the Liitz works at Klostermiihle in Bohemia.
Glass and jewellery
Glass paste and beads were used for jewellery back in the age of the ancient Egyptians. Alexandria supplied the then known world with glass beads during the
ancient Greek civilisation and during the Roman empire. The strings of beads made with them were of different colours. The glass was decorated with wavy melted threads of lighter-coloured glass. The production of beads spread through Constantinople and the other towns of the Roman empire to Europe.
Venice was an important production centre for glass beads in the eleventh century. Imitation gem stones had been made in Bohemia as early as the fourteenth century. In the eighteenth century
Louis XIV style mirror of the 19th century.
They also started to make glass beads. Production of glass beads had started in the German Nuremberg in the sixteenth century followed by the Fichtel mountains area of Bavaria in the seventeenth century, and soon afterwards by Potsdam and Thuringia.
Bead production of importance got under way in France in the seventeenth century.

19th Century English Staffordshire Porcelain

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Staffordshire factories
The “Five Towns” of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Hanley, Tunstall, and Longton, in Staffordshire, were home to many pottery and porcelain factories during the 19th century, to the extent that the area became known as the “Potteries”. Because workers and designers moved from one factory to another, and factories supplied the same china dealers – few factories had their own shops –many shapes and patterns were very similiar. These china shops wanted the continuing patronage of their customers and so discouraged manufacturers from using any kind of factory mark. As a result most English porcelain of this period was sold anonymously and is very difficult to identify accurately.
MASS PRODUCTION
By the 1820s the recipe for bone china was no longer a secret; the ingredients were easy to obtain, and many new factories opened in Staffordshire making fine, affordable wares. Different factories copied each other, making similar pastes and glazes and nearly identical shapes. Pattern numbers painted on certain pieces are sometimes the only clue to the identity of the maker, and the variety of these is huge. Some of the leading factories grew to a great size and made a range of bodies, from very costly porcelain that involved expensive processes and materials to inexpensive earthenware intended for export. Their success lay in the popularity of English bone-china tea and dinner services; these were thinly potted in a pleasing white porcelain, and
attractively and fashionably but inexpensively decorated with transfer-printed botanical scenes, birds, topographical views, and “Oriental” patterns and styles, such as “Imari”.
IMPORTANT FACTORIES AND LESSER MAKERS Spode (est. 1776), in Stoke-on-Trent, produced fine painting and Japanese Imari patterns, and a number of services decorated with “bat-printed” designs. An alternative to paper transfers, ers, bat printing involved the application of tiny dots of oil to the surface of the porcelain, using bats of glue; finely powdered colour was then dusted onto the oil to form the design. The Davenport factory (c.1793-1887), which first produced porcelain c.1810, had one of the largest outputs of all the Staffordshire factories. Ridgway (est. 1792) also had a vast production, with a great many different patterns, particularly in the Rococo Revival style with brightly coloured grounds; these can be identified by their pattern numbers. Minton & Co. (est. 1793) became the most important porcelain factory in Stoke-on-Trent during the Victorian period; in the 1820s to 1830s it concentrated on quality, with careful gilding and delicate painting.
Many makers of bone china subsidized their richest productions by making inexpensive earthenware, and all had to compete for their share of the market. Other Staffordshire factories included Samuel Alcock & Co. (est. 1826) and H. & R. Daniel (1832-54), both of which carried out very fine work.
• FORMS wide, shallow teacups in 1830s to 1840s; elaborate shapes with complicated handles
• STYLES Rococo Revival was the most popular
• DECORATION rich and elaborate; coloured grounds with reserved panels; use of elaborate gilding
• IMPORTANT FACTORIES Spode (est. 1776); Davenport (c.1793-1887); Minton & Co. (est. 1793); Ridgway (1792-1848); H. & R. Daniel (1832-54)
Marks
Few factories marked on a regular basis; pattern numbers vary in style but often appear as fractions on the base of the piece; certain pattern-number sequences are unique and allow the identification of Unmarked tableware
Spode: (c. 1790-1830s) 790-18330s) red painted mark Spode

Brocade, Gilt Brass Mounts, Louis Xvi, Leaf Scroll Handles, Meiji, 14 X 22 X 13 In.

Imari Beaker
Armorial, Trellis Diaper Border, Early 18th Century, 2 3/4 In.

Imari Biscuit Jar
Cover, Japan, 1900-1920, 7 1/2 In.

Imari Biscuit Jar
Cover, Florals, Hand Painted, Red, Blue, Silver Plated Handle, 7 In.

Imari Biscuit Jar
Nickel Plated Cover, Ironstone China Handle, Porcelain, 7 In.

Imari Bottle
6 In., Pair

Imari Bottle
Gourd Form, Cobalt, Red & Gilt Flowers, Phoenix Birds & Dragons, 18 1/4 In.

Flared, 19th Century, 4 X 9 1/2 In.

Mounted, Wood Stand, 3 1/4 X 2 3/4 In.

Octagonal, Fukagawa, 19th Century, 5 In.

Polychrome, 9 1/2 In.

Potted Flowers Center, Alternating Flowers & Birds, 10 In.

Soup, Flowers & Butterflies, Blue Border, Gilt Rim, 9 In., Pair

Blue & Orange Panels, 6 Character Mark, C.1900, 9 1/2 In.

Cover, Polychrome, Marked Lid, 19th Century, 4 1/4 In., 6 Piece

Fish, Blue & Iron Red Floral & Figural Design, 14 In.

Flower Shape, Cartouches Of Carp & Flowers, 11 In.

Flower Shape, Scrolling Floral Panels, Late 19th Century, 15 In.

Flowers & Vines, Peony Center, Landscape Cartouches Interior, 13 1/2 In.

Foliage & Birds, Scrolled Handles, Bronze Mounted, 12 1/2 In.

Polychrome Herons, Brown Rim, 6 In.

Round, Figures On Exterior, Interior Landscape, 7 1/4 In.

C.1850, 9 1/2 In.

Cover, Ormolu Frame, Winged Lizard Handles, Scrolling Leaf Rim, 16 1/2 In.

Dragons & Birds, 2 Ladies In Garden, 1900, 14 1/2 In. ~illus

Floral Form Rim, Floral, Straight Sided, 20th Century, 9 In., 2 Piece

Floral Form, Reticulated Rim, 20th Century, 7 1/2 In., 4 Piece

Polychrome, 5 In.

Polychrome, Oval, 3 1/4 In.

Scalloped, Fluted Edge, C.1855, 6 In.

3 Friends Center, Flower Form, 9 In.

Black Ship, Figures & Ships In Typical Palette, 19th Century, 7 3/8 In.

Brocade Design, Floral Center, 4-lobed, 4 1/2 In.

Carp Design, Mid-19th Century, 8 1/2 In.

Dragon, Scalloped Edge, Ribbed Sides, 19th Century, 9 3/4 In.

Fan, Scroll Design, 8 1/2 In.

Farmer, Under Bamboo Tree, Karabitsu Shell Design, Early 19th Century, 10 In.

Floral Reserves & Fan Design, Blue Ground, Pierced Turned Out Rim, 8 x 7 In.

Flower Basket Center, Flower Form, 10 In.

Flower Form, Flower Basket Design, 12 In.

Geometric Design, Japan, 19th Century, 8 3/4 In.

Gold Floral Panels, Enclosing Vase Of Flowers, Oval, 10 1/4 x 9 1/4 In.

Green & Coral, 10 In.

Japan, 9 5/8 x 4 1/4 In.

Peony Center Surrounded By Landscape, Flower Cartouches, Flower Mark

Scalloped Rim, 19th Century, Pair

Scalloped Rim, Early 20th Century, 5 3/4 x 15 In.

Shaving, Early 18th Century

Black Ship Design, Everted Rim, 9 In.

Butterfly & Chrysanthemum Design, Lobed Form, 6 In.

Fluted, Porcelain, 9 In.

Fruit, Scalloped, 10 In.

Honeycomb, 19th Century, 7 In.

Landscape Scene, Passion Flower Border, Octagonal, 19th Century, 5 1/2 In.

Nesting, Chidori Design, Kitani, 7 In., 8 1/2 In., 9 1/2 In., 3 Piece

Plant-stand Center, Floral Spray Reserves, 19th Century, 5 x 13 In.

Allover Floral, Off-white Ground, 4 Character Mark, 11 1/4 In.

Aristocratic Lady, Terraced Lakeside Garden, C.1890, 11 In.

Blue, Red, Porcelain, 12 In.

Brocade, Chrysanthemum Shape, C.1880, 9 1/2 In.

Dutch Exploration Of Japan, Black Sailing Ship Center, 13 1/2 In.

Fisherman In Landscape, Polychromed Celestial Dragon, C.1890, 9 3/4 In.

Flower Basket Design Interior, Bird & Flower Exterior, 11 In.

Petal Shape, Scalloped Edge, Green, Blue, Rust, Ivory, 3 x 10 In.

Shishi Center, Landscape Surround, Phoenix Panels, 10 In.

Asymmetrical Floral Interior, Exterior Panels, Scalloped Mouth, 8 1/2 In.

Chrysanthemum Form, Enamel Floral Center, Brocade, 1860, 9 5/8 In.

Cover, Allover Red, Blue & Gold Floral, 18th Century, 4 x 5 1/2 In.

Fan Form, Phoenix Design, 10 1/2 In.

Floral Design, Iron Red, Cobalt, Gold Interior, 3 x 7 1/2 In.

Floral Design, Shallow, 12 1/4 In.

Floral Filled Panel, Hexagonal, 9 In.

Floral Medallion, Shield-shaped Panels, Flowers, Signed, 18th Century, 13 In.

Floral Reserve Center, Gold Outlined, Scalloped Rim, Late 19th Century, 15 In.

Kwannon Bosatsu, Blue Drip Rim, Cloud Ground, 19th Century, 6 In.

Overall Fan Shaped Panels With Exotic Birds, Free-form Leaf, Floral Design, 8 In.

Prunus Boughs With Roosting Birds, Brocaded Fan Panels, 10 In.

Red & Blue Chrysanthemums, Panels, Gate, Butterflies, Fukagawa Mark, 9 1/2 In.

Scalloped Edge, Circular, 10 In.

Armorial, Figures In Cartouches, Center Coat Of Arms, Late 19th Century, 15 In.

Armorial, Flared Rim, Horsemonden Of Kent, Buildings, Flowers, C.1716, 7 3/4 In.

Blue, Landscape, Phoenix, Flowers, Orange & Gilt, Scalloped, 11 x 3 1/4 In.

Brocade Design, 4 Petals, Chrysanthemum Shape, Gilt, Scalloped Edge, 7 In.

Butterfly, Flowers, Late 19th Century, 9 1/4 In.

Cover, Phoenix & Shishi, Melon Ribbed, 18th Century, 5 In.

Cover, Polychrome, Alternating Panels, Birds, Flowering Branches, 9 1/2 In.

Cranes Among Flowering Branches, Brocade Design, 11 In.

Cranes In Center, Surrounded By Ginko Leaves, 19th Century, 7 1/4 In.

Floral Brocades Around Central Landscape, Late 19th Century, 8 1/2 In.

Floral Design, 19th Century, +9 1/4 In.

Floral Geometric Design, Orange, Blue, Gold Enamel, 19th Century, 4 In., Pair

Floral, Scalloped Rim & Sides, Footed, 11 x 4 In.

Flower Filled Jardiniere Medallion, Flying Corners, Late 19th Century, 12 In.

Flower Form, Butterfly Rim, Crane & Prunus Center, 6 1/2 In.

Flowers & Animal Panels, Gilt, Ribbed, 11 In.

Landscape Design, 19th Century, 4 1/4 In.

Lobed, Central Medallion, Flower Jardiniere, Panels, Iron Red, Gilt, 2 x 12 In.

Polychrome Enamel & Gilt Brocade On Underglaze, 10 In.

Ribbed, Scalloped Edge, Triangular, 19th Century

Shishi On Interior, Yellow, Green Maple Leaves, 18th Century, 7 In.

Triangular, C.1879, 11 1/2 In.

Wave Design, Rabbit, 8 1/4 In.

Bell Shape, Pinwheel Brocade, Late 19th Century, 9 3/4 In.

Brocade Flowers, Metal Rim, Early 19th Century, 10 In.

Center, Bronze Dore, Floral & Leaf Design, 2 Handles, Pedestal, C.1860, 13 In.

Central Reserve Design, 3 Schooners, Sailors, Flower Sprays, Nanban, 3 1/2 In.

Cover, Blue & White, Red & Gold Overlay, 1900, 4 1/4 x 3 1/4 In.

Cover, Crane & Flower Panels, Gold Leaves Between, 1860, 4 1/4 x 3 In.

Cover, Garden Medallion, Blue & White, Gold & Red Accents, 5 1/4 x 4 In.

Cover, Multicolored Scene, Fence, Pine & Willow Branches, 1860, 4 1/4 In.

Decorated Interior, Outside Rim, 3 1/2 x 7 1/4 In.

Dragons, Vertical, Tapering Sides, Flared Rim, Cobalt, Gold Border, 5 x 12 1/4 In.

Figure Standing On Rock, Mt. Fuji Ground, Gold, Red, 1860, 8 1/4 x 3 1/4 In.

Fish, Blue Birds, Flowers, Paneled Scenes, Footed, Teakwood Stand, 5 x 12 In.

Flower Shape, Late 19th Century, 9 1/2 In.

Grass & Flowers, 3 Petal Blue Center, Scalloped, 4 x 10 In.

Lotus, Cranes, Flowers, Central Medallion, Scalloped, Ribbed, 4 3/4 x 9 1/2 In.

Scalloped, 4 x 8 1/4 In.

Brocade Pattern Around Minogame Center, C.1870, 8 1/2 In.

Center, Anton Scene, Blue, Red, Green, Footed, 19th Century, 4 x 9 1/2 In.

Chrysanthemum, Polychrome, C.1912, 11 3/4 In., 3 Piece

Crane, Marsh Medallion, Dragon, Phoenix, Flower Border, C.1860, 11 In.

Figure Of Dragon, Shallow, Scalloped Rim, 1800s, 9 In.

Flower Medallion, Garden Scenes, Scalloped Rim, 19th Century, 11 In.

Flowers, Fan-shaped Reserves, Meiji, 10 In.

Landscape, Karako Landscape, 19th Century, 8 3/4 In.

Lion & Brocade Border, Kirin Center, 11 1/4 In.

Melon Shape, Scalloped Rim, C.1890, 9 1/2 In.

Phoenix Center, Red & Blue, 19th Century, 7 1/4 In.

Ribbed, Scalloped Rim, Red Ground, Blue Underglaze, 19th Century, 12 In.

Ribs, Scalloped Rim, Enamels, 19th Century, Japan, 8 1/2 In.

Serving, Phoenix Medallion, C.1975, 8 1/2 In.

Ship & Pine Tree Center, Flowers, 8 Sides, 19th Century, 12 In.

10 Petals, Japan, Late 19th Century, 9 1/2 In.

Alternating Swirls Of Underglaze Blue & Red, Gilt, Japan, 1800s, 9 3/4 In.

Bamboo, Pine, Prunus, 3 Friends, Leaf Edges, Cover, 1800s, 9 1/2 In., Pair

Blue, White Design, Scalloped Rim, 3 1/2 x 8 1/2 In.

Calligraphy Outer Panels, 4 Inner Panel Scenes, C.1815, 9 1/2 In.

Central Flower Rondel, Dragons, Phoenixes, 1800s, 12 In.

Central Medallion, Blue Flowers, Gilt, 3 x 15 1/4 In.

Chrysanthemum Shape, Flower Brocade Design, 1800s, 4 3/4 In.

Chrysanthemums, Japan, 1800s, 14 In.

Flowering Vine, Cover, Japan, 19th Century, 4 3/4 In.

Flowers, Chinese, C.1740, 7 3/4 In.

Flowers, Pinwheel Border, Late 1800s, 13 3/4 In.

Foo Dog, Brocade Ball Center, 3 Friends, Brocade Border, 1800s, 8 1/2 In.

Fukagawa, Center Carp, Japan, Late 19th Century, 7 1/2 x 14 In.

Low, Fukagawa, Dragon Design, Late 19th Century, 10 1/2 In.

Nut, Flower Center, Brocade Border, Multicolored Enamels, Japan, C.1900, 6 In.

Orange, Blue, Scalloped Rim, 11 In.

Paneled Egg Shape, Flower Garden, Shishi, 1800s, 10 In.

12 3/8 X 5 3/4 In.

Floral Design, 19th Century, 10 In.

3 Friends, Flower Center, C.1850, 11 1/2 In., Pair

Bell Shape, Bird, Prunus Tree, Phoenix, Paulownia Flowers, Early 1800s, 7 1/2 In.

Bell Shape, Clamshell, Bird, Flower Garden, Landscape, 19th Century, 6 3/4 In.

Bell Shape, Sages, Bamboo Grove, Brocade, Early 1800s, 9 In.

Birds, Rabbits, Blue, White, Paneled Sides, C.1740, 5 3/4 In.

Chrysanthemum Shape, Crest, Brocade, Late 1800s, 5 In.

Chrysanthemum Shape, Phoenix, Flowers, Early 1800s, 5 In.

Chrysanthemum, Multicolored, Concentric Double Foot, C.1912, 13 1/2 In.

Cover, Phoenix Interior, Bird & Flower Exterior, C.1820, 10 1/2 In.

Cover, Women, Pomegranates, C.1840, 4 1/2 In., Pair

Cylinder Shape, Flared Rim, Landscape, Crane, Mythical Beast, Grass, 1700s, 7 In.

Dome Lid, Flowers, Multicolored Enamels, Applied Handle, C.1900, 10 In.

Dragon, Landscape, Birds, Flowers, C.1850, 8 1/2 In.

Floral, Urn Of Flowers Center, Scalloped Rim, Footed, Signed, 9 1/2 In.

Flower Shape, Crane, Pine Tree, C.1850, 7 1/2 In.

Flower, Landscape, Early 19th Century, 8 3/4 In.

Geese, Marsh Grass, Flower Gardens, C.1800, 13 1/2 In.

Landscape, Phoenix, Flowers, Early 1800s, 10 3/4 In.

Oval, Leaf Shape Feet, C.1770, 3 X 12 X 10 In.

Samurai Helmet Shape, Dragon, Lion, Flowers, Stylized Vines, C.1760, 11 In.

Scalloped Rim, Reeded Body, Red, Green, Gold, C.1880, 5 X 12 In.

Scroll Cartouche, Leaves, Banner, C.1830, 9 1/2 In.

Tassels, Flowers, Birds & Flower Lattice Exterior, 19th Century, 6 1/2 In.

Black Ships, Portuguese Figures, Eagle Center, Japan, 1800s, 3 1/2 X 9 1/2 In.

Blue Scrolls, Orange Peonies, 8-sided, Hardwood Stand, 1800s, 2 3/4 X 9 In.

Blue, White, Leaves, Flowers, Karakusa Design, Early 1800s, 6 In.

Flared Sides, Scalloped Rim, Flowers, Gold Trim, 1800s, 14 1/8 In.

Flat Rim, Double Foot Ring, Rabbit, Waves, 3 Friends Border, 3 X 9 In.

Flowers, Brocade, Pagoda, 16 In.

Flowers, Fukugawa, Japan, Late 19th Century, 9 3/4 In.

Flowers, Japan, Late 19th Century, 3 1/4 X 11 In.

Footed, Flat, Inverted Rim, Trellis, Fence, Birds, Prunus, Ruyi Head Border, 3 X 12 In.

Footed, Flower Vase, Paneled Sides, 4 X 10 In.

Oval, Footed, Ribbed, Scalloped Border, Phoenix, Vine, 2 7/8 X 13 1/2 X 9 7/8 In.

Reserve Decoration, Japan, 19th Century, 3 1/4 X 8 3/4 In.

Ribbed, Oval, Scalloped Edge, Central Flowers, Vines, 2 1/2 X 8 7/8 In.

Scalloped Border, Cobalt Blue & Iron Red Flowers, 2 1/2 X 13 3/4 In., Illustrated

Scalloped Everted Rim, Shishi, Peony, Scrolling Vine, Insect, Flower, 2 3/4 X 8 1/2 In.

Set
Flower Shape, 6 Poets, Pine Landscape, Japan, 19th Century, 6 In., 12 Piece

Set
Nesting, Peony Center, Flower Brocade Border, Japan, 19th Century, 3 Piece

Set
Nesting, Phoenix Center, Cranes, Prunus, 1800s, 7 1/2 & 8 In.

Set
Nesting, Stylized Bird, 1800s, 7 1/4, 8 1/2 & 9 3/4 In.

Set
Shoe Design, Crane, Flowers, Late 1800s, 4 3/4 In., 4 Piece

Set
Dragons, Auspicious Emblems, 19th Century, 6 In., 12 Bowls

Set
Pine, Bamboo, Prunus Tree, Bird, Wave, Early 1800s, 6 1/4 In., 4 Bowls

Imari Box
Scholars & Scroll, Egg Shape, Flower Borders, Koransha, Japan, C.1810, 3 3/4 In.

Imari Box
Passion Flower, Medallions, Karakusa Ground, 2 Parts, Cylindrical, Early 1800s, 3 In.

Imari Brush Pot
6 In.

Imari Cachepot
Courtesans In Garden, Japan, 1800s, 10 1/2 x 13 1/2 In.

Imari Censer
Polychrome, Lobed Body, Scroll Handles, C.1912, 8 In., Pair

Imari Centerpiece
Dore Bronze, Bowl Supported By 3 Female Figures, 20 X 16 In.

Imari Changer
Iron Red, Blue, Green, Central Medallion, Flower Vase, 12 In.

Birds, Flowers, Shaped Panels, Red Background, Meiji Period, 18 1/4 In.

Multicolored Carp, Enameled, Gilt, 19th Century, Signed

Pomegranate Center, 6 Bird Alternating Flowers Panels

6 Panels, Alternating Scenes, Stylized Florals, Gold, 16 In.

Blossoming Peony In Vase, Phoenix Amid Branches, 12 1/2 In.

Blue & White, 15 3/4 In.

Flower Shape, Peony Center, 12 1/2 In.

Round Center Design, 18 1/2 In.

Center Urn With Flowers, Chrysanthemum Border, Sprays On Back, 15 1/2 In.

Figural & Bird Panels, Fluted Sides, 18 In.

Foliage Design, Japan, 15 In.

Ho-os Circling Black & White Gourd Design, 13 In.

Panel Design, C.1865, Round, 12 In.

Pea Fowl, Mums, Blue & White, 12 In.

Scalloped Rim, Floral Cartouches, 12 1/4 In.

Scalloped, Fluted, C.1865, 12 1/2 In., Pair

Sugar, Cover, 19th Century, 4 1/4 In.

Blue, Red, Green Glaze, White Ground, Japan, 18 1/4 In.

Crane, Peony Design, 12 In., Pair

Figural, Floral Design, 4 Character Mark On Base, 21 3/4 In.

Floral Center, 16 1/4 In., Pair

Polychrome Scene Of 7 Figures, Orange Border, 26 1/2 In.

Red, Cobalt Blue, Green, Black, Japan, 18 1/2 In.

Stylized Green, Splash Of Colors, 1840s, 16 In.

3 Panels Of Foliate Design, Blue Exterior, Blue Design, White Ground, 18 In.

3 Panels, Bird On Branch With Flowers, Butterfly, Blue, Rust Floral Spray

Blue Bird, Floral, Foliate Design, Off-white Ground, 18 In.

Blue Ground, 15 3/8 In.

Blue, White, Celadon Glaze, 18 In.

Center Fu Lions In Landscape, Floral & Foliage Border, 16 In.

Central Floral Medallion, Late 19th Century, 15 1/2 In.

Floral Center, Landscape Surround, 16 In.

Flower & Bird Design Panel, 1850, 12 1/4 In.

Green Dragon, 18 1/4 In.

Landscape Scene, Iron Red, Green, Gold, Porcelain, 1890, 15 1/2 In.

Landscape Scene, Porcelain, 1900, 12 In.

Rockery, Pavilion, Flying Peacock On Wave, 18 1/2 In.

Rockery, Pavilion, Flying Peacock, Brocade Ground, 18 1/2 In.

Still Life Of Flowers, 19th Century, 18 In.

Warrior & Landscape Cartouches, 21 3/4 In.

Blue Center Design, Flowers, Butterflies In Various Shapes, 18 1/4 In.

Central Vase Of Floral Design, 18 1/4 In.

Floral Design, Late 19th Century, 13 1/4 In.

Floral Landscape, Birds, Late 19th Century, 15 3/4 In.

Foo Dogs, House Boats, Floral Design In Windows, Blue & Red Reverse, 18 In.

Landscape, Horse Filled, Prunus Center, Bird, Floral Cartouches, 18 In.

Mandarin Duck Scene, Early 19th Century, 14 1/2 In.

Peony Flowers, 3 Panels, Foo Dogs, Fans, Cobalt Zigzag Border, 18 In.

Phoenix, Landscape, Floral & Foliate Design, 8 1/2 In.

Pine Tree Design, Cobalt Bamboo, Deep Red, Green, Yellow, Gold Border, 3 In.

Polychrome, Man On Boat, Heron, Panels, Red & Blue On Reverse, 18 1/2 In.

Stand, 19 In.

Birds, Flower Design, Late 19th Century, 18 In.

Carp, Goose, Landscape, 17 1/2 In.

Center Chrysanthemum, Alternating Birds & Buildings Cartouche, 16 In.

Center Floral, Floral Border, Insect & Phoenix Scene, Polychrome, 18 In.

Center Flower Jardiniere, Flower Head Panels, Arabesques, 3 x 18 In.

Center Quatrefoil Flower, Cartouche Of Birds In Flight, 20th Century, 21 5/8 In.

Central Jardiniere Of Flowers, Flowers Panels, Early 19th Century, 18 In.

Central Landscape, Cranes & Foo Dogs Border, 19th Century, 16 In.

Chrysanthemum, Wide Floral & Insect Border, Phoenix, 13 In.

Figures, Floral Landscapes, Medallion, Raised Edge, Late 1800s, 3 x 5 1/2 In.

Floral, Paneled Border, Birds & Flowers On Reverse, 18 In.

Flower Medallion, Paneled Floral, Blue & White, Scalloped, 12 In.

Flower Shape, 2 Ships, Rolling Sea, Prowling Dragon, Enamel, Gilt, 14 1/2 In.

Foo Lions, Brocade, 19th Century, 18 In.

Hoteh & Karako Design, 12 1/4 In.

Landscape, Bats On Reverse, 12 In.

Panel Of 3 Friends, Brocade Border With Phoenix, Leaves, 16 In.

Phoenix, Blue Border, Floral Reserves, Late 19th Century, 14 In.

Riverscape, Dragon, Scalloped Rim, 20th Century, 15 In.

White Ground, Gilt Highlights, Early 19th Century, 16 In.

2 Crane Reserves, 2 Landscapes, Center Bonsai Tree, 1870s, 25 In.

3 Medallions, Overlapping Circle Border, Early 1800s, 12 In.

4 Large Flowering Plants, Blue Border, Lattice Design Between, 12 1/4 In.

Birds, Flowers, Serpent, Panels, Blue Border, 18 In.

Bowl, Flowers, Landscapes, Raised Rim, Panels, Late 19th Century, 3 x 12 In.

Central Medallion, Coiled Dragon, Flaming Pearl, C.1900, 22 In.

Central Medallion, Flowers, Lotus, Red Ground, 19th Century, 18 In.

Central Medallion, Peonies, Reserve Panels, Flowers, Birds, 20th Century, 18 In.

Central Medallions, Blossoming Trees, Birds, 10 Leaf Panels, 12 3/4 In., Pair

Deer In Wood, Border Of Birds, 21 3/4 In.

Fan Reserves, Floral Sprays, Alternating Cranes, Meiji, 18 1/2 In.

Figures, Birds, Flowers, Asymmetric Panel, Geometric, C.1880, 15 1/2 In.

Floral Panels Over Whirling Ground, 18 1/2 In.

Floral Spray, Medallions, Scalloped Reeded Rim, C.1860, 18 1/2 In.

Floral, Center Cartouche, Fan Shaped Panels, C.1860, 14 1/2 In.

Flowers, Birds, Blue, Rust, Red, Vignettes, Folding Stand, 24 1/2 In.

Foo Dog & Phoenix, Yellow, Green, Blue & Red Border, C.1860, 27 x 4 1/2 In.

Geometric & Floral, Polychrome Panels, 18 In.

Gilt, Fan Shaped Panels, 19th Century, 18 In.

Hoo-birds In Well, 1870s, 12 3/8 In.

Landscape, Fruit, Alternating Medallions, Late 19th Century, 14 In.

Mountainous Scene, Medallion, Birds & Fans Reserves, 8 Sides, Meiji, 12 In.

Oriental Man At Table, Floral On Reverse, Paneled Borders, 18 1/2 In.

Pheasant Center, Red & Gold Polychrome Design, 6 Sections, 18 In.

Phoenix Bird & Bull, C.1880, 18 1/4 In.

Scalloped, Reeded Rim, Body, Alternate Panels, C.1880, 12 In.

Sleeping Oriental Woman, Interior Medallion, Floral Rim, 15 5/8 In.

Tomato Red Pagoda, Dragons, Birds & Flowers, 15 3/4 In.

Bamboo, Children At Play, Meiji Period, Japan

Basket With Flowers In Center, 2 Boats, Scrolling Leaves, Japan, 20 In.

Bird On Blooming Branch, Late 19th Century, 17 3/4 In. ~illus

Blue, White, Chrysanthemum, Prunus Reserves, 12 In.

Butterflies, Cranes, Flowers, Medallions, 19th Century, 13 In.

Central Flowers, Grape & Brocade Borders, Japan, 19th Century, 14 1/2 In.

Central Medallion, 3 Friends, Blue & White, Aster Border, 16 1/2 In.

Flowers & Figural, Meiji, 18 5/8 In.

Flowers, Crane & Minogame Border, Late 19th Century, 13 1/2 In.

Ladies, Birds, Flowers, Fans, C.1880, 15 1/2 In. ~illus

Landscape, Floral Cartouches, Women, Scroll, 19th Century, 18 1/4 In.

Octagonal, Flower, Brocade, Meiji Period, Japan, 11 1/2 In.

Polychrome, Gilt Edge, C.1912, 21 1/2 In.

Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Gold, Family At Table Under Tree, 23 1/2 In.

Scalloped, Reeded Rim, Body, Alternate Panels, 1880, 12 In. ~illus

Scenic Cartouches, Mount Fuji, Birds, C.1870, 22 In.

3 Phoenix Bird Panels, First Half 19th Century, 21 1/2 In.

Blue, Red, Green, Gilt Highlights, 14 3/4 In.

Blue, White, Peonies, Scalloped Rim, 18 In.

Carp, Flowers, 21 In.

Chrysanthemum, Multicolored, 20th Century, 17 1/2 In.

Court Scene, Gilt Ground, Brocade Borders, Japan, 1800s, 22 In.

Curtain Center, Shishi, Peonies, Prunus, Bamboo, 1800s, 24 1/4 In.

Dragon Center, Sparrow & Flower Cartouches, C.1850, 22 In.

Figural & Lion Fan Form Cartouche, 1800s, 18 In.

Floral Reserve Panels, Underglaze Blue & Multicolored Enamels, 1800s, 16 In.

Flower Center, Birds, Cranes, 1800s, 15 In.

Flower Form, Bamboo & Peacock Design, Late 1800s, 11 In.

Flower Form, Flower Basket Center, Peonies, Blue Flowers, 1800s, 14 1/2 In.

Flower Form, Phoenix, Blue Flowers, Mandarin Duck, 1800s, 16 In.

Flower Vase, Veranda, Brocade, 6 Spurs & Flowers On Base, 1700s, 13 In.

Flowering Branch, Floral Medallions, Rust, Gold Scrolls, Exterior Horses, 19 In.

Flowers, 6 Panels, 19th Century, 16 In.

Flowers, Central Medallion, Brocade, Japan, 19th Century, 22 In., Pair

Landscape Screens, Brocade Ground, Late 1800s, 12 In., Pair

Landscape, 19th Century, 18 1/4 In.

Multicolored Enamel, Bamboo Medallion, Garden, Japan, C.1910, 12 1/4 In.

Paneled, Multicolored, Blue, Rust, Green, 19th Century, 11 3/4 In.

Phoenix, Blue Flower Center, Lion-dog, 1800s, 18 In.

Phoenix, Blue Flowers, Cranes, Pavilions, 1800s, 12 1/2 In., Pair

Phoenix, Peony Garden, Octagonal Form, 1800s, 13 In.

Scalloped Edge, Flower Basket, Fan Shape Border, Japan, 1800s, 18 In., Pair

Scalloped Rim, Cranes & Tortoises Border, Japan, C.1860, 12 3/4 In.

Shishi & Peony, C.1850, 18 In.

Upswept Rim, Phoenix, Trees, Flowers, Japan, Late 1800s, 12 In.

Vase Of Flowers, Geometric Decorations, Scalloped Border, 18 1/4 In. , Illustrated

Wisteria, Figures, Dragon Screen, Flower, 1800s, 14 1/2 In.

100 Flowers, Blue Flower Border, 19th Century, 18 In.

100 Flowers, Red & Blue Flower Border, 19th Century, 18 In.

Birds, Snails, Butterflies, On Red, White Scrolls, Cobalt Blue Boat Center, 12 In.

Blue, Rust, Fan, Bird, Dragon, Flowers, Hanging Cross Strap, 22 In.

Central Flower Basket, Foo Dogs, Brocade Balls, 17 3/4 In.

Cranes, Tortoises On Border, Scalloped Rim, C.1860, 12 3/4 In.

Drunken Sprite, Wine Barrel, Brocade Border, Flower, Vine, 1800s, 24 In., Pair

Flower Medallion, Hearts, Foo Dogs, Peacocks, Lotus Blossoms, 16 In.

Flowering Plants, Central Medallion, Red, Blue, Gilt, Circles, 1 3/4 X 15 1/2 In.

Landscape, Boy, Fruit, Flowers, C.1750, 17 3/4 In.

Open Books, Figures, Landscapes, Dragons, Flowers, 1700s, 18 In.

6 Panels, Multicolored, 15 1/2 In.

Bamboo, Pine, Prunus, Brocades, Shishi, Peonies, Japan, Late 1800s, 18 In.

Bird, Flower, Brocade, Japan, Late 19th Century, 18 1/2 In.

Birds, Landscapes, Red Ground, 1850-90, 2 3/4 X 15 5/8 In.

Birds, Trees, Multicolored, Early 1900s, 18 In.

Brocade, Flower Lotus Petals, Panels, Center Phoenix Medallion, 12 3/4 In.

Carp, Relief, Waves, Japan, 19th Century, 18 1/2 In.

Central Medallion, Pagoda, Birds, Flowers, Flying Crane, 19 In.

Chrysanthemums, Tree, Bird, Flowers, 1800s, 15 3/4 In.

Dragon & Banner Center, 3 Friends Border, Japan, 1800s, 15 1/2 In.

Dragon, Palace Lions, Lotus Blossoms, 1800s, 13 1/2 In.

Fans, Multicolored, Japan, 1800s, 18 In.

Flower Basket, Passion Flower Border, Japan, Late 1700s, 17 1/4 In.

Flower Reserves, Leaf Edge, Brocade Borders, 17 In.

Flower Shape, Bird, Flower, Japan, Late 19th Century, 12 1/2 In.

Flower Shape, Juemrous Bat, Chrysanthemum Center, Japan, Late 1800s, 16 In.

Flowers, Landscape, Peony, Wisteria Bonsai, Late 1800s, 22 In.

Geometrics, Blue, White, 18 1/2 In.

Medallion, Stylized Flower, Shaped Cartouches, Leaf, Vine, 3 X 21 3/4 In.

Peonies, Shishi Over Waves Cartouches, Leaves, Green, Lavender, 1 1/2 X 12 1/2 In.

Ribbed, 3 Central Flowers, Flower Ground, 1 7/8 X 12 In.

Scalloped Rim, Reticulated Cavetto, Flowers, Japan, 18 1/4 In., Pair

Swirling Brocade, Center Flower Roundel, Japan, 1800s, 14 3/4 In.

Underglaze Blue, Multicolored Enamels, Gilt, Floral Panels, Ground, 24 In.

Imari Chawan
Flame & Cloud, Early 19th Century, 4 In., Pair

Imari Chop Plate
Blue & White, Japan, 12 1/4 In.

Imari Chop Plate
Floral Design, 3 Panels, 2 Birds, Cobalt & Geometric Design, 14 1/2 In.

Imari Chop Plate
Dragon Faces & Leaves, White Panels, Gold Trim, 12 1/4 In.

Imari Coffeepot
Dome Cover, Hinged, Silver Mounted, Early 1700s, 9 1/4 In.

Imari Compote
Chrysanthemum, Floral Design, Bowl Form, Flared Pedestal Base, 4 In., Pair

Imari Compote
Flowers & Waves, 2 Blue & 1 Pink Fish Interior, 1850, 5 1/4 x 4 1/4 In.

Imari Compote
Sea Waves, Blue Carp Interior, Double Crimped Rim, 1860, 6 1/4 x 4 1/2 In.

Imari Compote
Small Fish, 2 Blue Carp Swimming In Seaweed Interior, 1860, 6 x 4 1/2 In.

Imari Condiment Set
Sterling Silver Frame, Center Handle, C.1910

Imari Cup
Prunus Branches, Bamboo, Peony, C.1860, 3 In., 10 Piece

Hand Painted, Gold, 1892-1899, England

Floral Design, Porcelain

Gold Rim

Gilt

Chrysanthemum Form, Floral Brocade Design, 1800s

Floral Design, Porcelain, 19th Century

Gold Rim, Demitasse

Gilt, 1800-1825

Chrysanthemum Form, Floral Brocade Design, 1800s, 3 In.

England, Early 19th Century, 3 1/4 X 5 1/4 In.

Hand Painted, Gold, 1892-1899, England

Imari Cup Set
Sake, Poets, Pine Tree Landscape, Blue Ground, 19th Century, 12 Piece

Boat, 19th Century, 13 1/4 In.

Dragon, Blue & White, 18th Century

Fish Shape, 10 In.

Fluted, Scalloped, 12 1/2 In.

Fluted Edge, Four Character Mark, C.1795

Fluted, Floral Design, Scalloped Rim, C.1850, 12 In.

Panel Design, Scalloped Rim, C.1860, 8 3/4 In.

Panel Design, Scalloped Rim, C.1850, 12 In.

Panels & Country Scene, C.1860

Red & Green Design, Blue, Gilt, Ring Feet, 6 In., Pair

3 Friends Center Surrounded By Crane, Flowers, Rectangular, 8 1/2 In.

Bamboo Surrounded By Seated Foo Lion, Iron Red, Gilt Scrolling, 8 7/8 In.

Fish & Turtle, 8 In.

Fish Form, Bamboo, Prunus Design, 9 In.

Lozenge Form, Flower Garden Design, 6 3/4 In.

Blue, Red, Green Floral Design, Tree, Floral Exterior, 19th Century, 3 1/2 In., Pair

Chrysanthemum, Scalloped, 8 In., Pair

Crane, Floral Design, 18th Century, 4 1/2 In., Pair

Passion Flower, Rectangular, 8 1/2 In.

Serving, Flower Basket Center Surrounded By Phoenix & Flowers, 18 1/2 In.

4-masted Ship, Trellis Border, Porcelain, 8 1/2 In.

Bird, Flower & Book Design, Ginko Leaf Shape, 8 1/2 In.

Stag, Bamboo Design, Oval, 6 3/4 In., Pair

Scallop Shell, Painted Clumps Of Flowering Plants, 7 2/3 In., 6 Pair

Awabi Shell Form, Chidori & Waves, 6 1/2 In.

Cover, Crane & Carp Design, 8 1/2 In.

Diamond Shape, Geometric Panels, Flowers, Birds & Plants, 1910, 11 1/4 In.

Diamond Shape, Iron Red, Cobalt, Green, Gilt, Flowers, Birds, 1 1/2 x 11 x 12 In.

Horse & Landscape, 19th Century, 7 In., Pair

Oval, Asymmetrical Panels, Flowers, Pale Blue Scroll Ground, 2 x 13 x 11 1/2 In.

Oval, Palette Colors, Fluted Rim, England, 8 1/2 In.

Shaving, Lotus Sprays & Flowers, Blue, Iron Red, Gold Enamel Glaze, 11 In.

Awabi Shell Shape, Butterfly, Paulownia Flower, Silver Lacquered, Early 1800s

Blue & Iron Red Enamels, Floral Rim, Unglazed Foot, 1880s, 8 1/4 In., 4 Piece

Scalloped, Reeded Body, Alternate Panels, Late 19th Century, 8 1/2 x 10 In., Pair

Birds, Feathers, Flowers, 1 1/2 x 8 1/2 In.

Flower Sprays, 18th Century, 11 In.

Lozenge Form, Peacock, Swallow, Floral, 19th Century, 11 1/2 In.

Seashell Design, Flower Shape Rim, Mid 19th Century, 8 3/4 In., Pair

Abalone Shell Shape, Aquatic Scene, Japan, Early 1900s, 9 In.

Deep, Oval, Scalloped Rim, Japan, 12 x 9 3/8 In.

Fan Form, Flowers, 1800s, 10 In.

Rabbit, Chrysanthemum, Fuku Mark, Square, 1800s, 5 1/2 In., 6 Piece

Butterfly, Flower, Lozenge Shape, 7 1/4 In., 5 Piece

Figures, Bird, Flower, C.1850, 9 1/2 In., 9 Piece

Figures, Birds, Flowers, Rectangular, C.1850, 7 1/2 In., 5 Piece

Ginko Leaf, Bird, Flower, Book, 7 1/4 In.

Landscape, Rectangular, 8 3/4 In.

Mount Fuji, Blue, Gold, Early 1800s, 6 1/4 In.

Scallop Shell Shape, Lake, Landscape, C.1880, 6 1/2 In., 10 Piece

3 Friends, Cranes, Karako, Rectangular, Japan, Late 19th Century, 7 1/4 In., Pair

Fish, Nesting, Japan, 18 1/2 & 16 1/2 In.

Kirin, Cherry Tree, Rectangular, Japan, 1800s, 10 X 8 In.

Shrimp, Boat Shape, 13 In.

Set
Chrysanthemum, Central Medallion, Leaves, Flowers, C.1926, 9 1/2 In.

Set
Boat Shape, Polychrome, 20th Century, 12 1/4 In., 5 Piece

Set
Bird, Flowers, Clamshell Shape, Blue, White, 1690-1730, 3 1/4 In., 6 Piece

Set
3 Friends, Flower Border, Karakusa Exterior, Blue, White, C.1850, 7 In., 8 Piece

Imari Figure
Gama Sennin, Seated, Holding Frog, White Glaze, 7 1/2 In.

Imari Figure
Kwannon, Woman Holding Scroll, Phoenix & Cloud Robe, 19 3/4 In.

Imari Figurine
Shishi, Crouched On Gilt Rockery Base, 7 In.

Imari Figurine
Beautiful Woman, Court Costume, 13 1/2 In.

Imari Figurine
Beautiful Woman, Kimono, Dragons, Late 19th Century, 19 1/4 In.

Imari Figurine
Beautiful Woman, Kimono, Morning Glories, 19th Century, 17 In.

Imari Figurine
Geisha Wearing Kimono, Cat, 11 1/2 In.

Imari Fish Set
Late 19th Century, 17-in. Platter, 10-in. Plate, 7 Piece

Imari Fishbowl
Floral Reserve, Everted Rim, Gilt, Meiji, 18 x 19 1/2 In., Pair

Imari Fruit Bowl
Shell Shape, 10 In.

Imari Garden Seat
Multicolored, Pierced, Riveted Barrel Shape, 20th Century, 19 3/4 In., Pair

Imari Ginger Jar
Floral Panels, Ribbed Ground, Early 19th Century, 14 1/2 In.

Imari Ginger Jar
Arita Style, Blue & White, Floral, Dragons, Foo Dog Finial, 12 1/2 In.

Imari Ginger Jar
Polychrome, Warrior On Horse, Panel Of Birds & Flowers, Ball Finial, 13 In.

Imari Ginger Jar
Domed Cover, Mushroom Finial, Landscapes, Vertical Ribs, 1900s, 12 In.

Imari Ginger Jar
Finial Cover, 6 In.

Imari Hibachi
Scholars In Bamboo Grove, 10 In.

Temple, 32 1/2 In.

Temple, Birds In Flowers Panels, Vertical Rib, Foo Dog Finial, 19 In.

Flower, Butterfly Design, 7 1/4 In., Pair

Inverted Pear Shape, Melon Ribbing, Flowering Tree Design, 1800, 6 1/2 In.

Temple, Foo Lion Finial, 20 In., Pair

Cover, Floral Design, 7 5/8 In.

Rose Petal, 6 In.

Barrel Form, Flower Garden, Brocade Design, 1900, 7 In.

Cover, Bird, Floral & Foliate, Foo Dog Finial, 21 In.

Asymmetrical Panels, Florals, Gilt Tassels, 19th Century, 13 x 11 1/2 In.

Cover, Blue, Red & Gilt Floral, Celadon Foo Dog Finial, Egg Shape, 9 1/2 In.

Cover, Bridge & Bird In Tree, Red, Blue, Gilt Trim, 13 In.

Cover, Landscapes & Flowers, White Reserves, Gilt, Ribbed, 6 1/8 In.

Domed Cover, Floral Design, 19th Century, 12 In.

Domed Cover, Foo Dog Finial, Bluebirds, Roses, Butterflies, Gilt Trim, Signed, 14 In.

Domed Cover, Inverted Pear Shape, Kirin In Clouds, 24 1/2 In.

Domed Cover, Shishi Border, Floral Design, Hexagonal, 12 1/2 In.

Dragon Chasing The Flaming Pearl Of Wisdom, Octagonal, 8 In.

Flowering Tree Design, 19th Century, 6 In.

Rose, Cover, Polychrome, Panels, Late 19th Century, 10 3/4 In.

Domed Cover, Dragon, Peonies, Bamboo, Cylindrical, Polychrome, C.1912, 12 3/4 In.

Tomato Red Panels, Polychrome, Dog Finials, 7 1/2 In., Pair

Cover, Ribbed, Shishi Finials, Japan, 19th Century, 26 In., Pair

Dome Cover, Inverted Pear Shape, Melon Ribbing, Bird, Flower, 1800s, 16 In.

Brocade Ground, Inverted Pear Shape, 8 In.

Cover, 19th Century, 10 In.

Lid, Birds, Flowers, Urn Shape, Fluted, Finial, Blue & Gold Ground, C.1870, 17 In.

Mounted As Lamp, Late 19th Century, 12 1/4 X 26 In.

8-sided, Peony, Fruit Tree, Figural & Iris Band, Japan, Early 1700s, 22 In.

Cover, Animals, Birds, Flowers, Blue Ground, Gilt Accents, Japan, 18th Century, 17 1/2 In.

Cover, Dragon, Brocade Bands, 19th Century, 18 1/2 In.

Cover, Phoenix, Late 19th Century, 8 1/2 X 6 1/2 In., Pair, Illustrated

diniere
Blue, Orange & Yellow, 19th Century, 9 1/2 In.

diniere
Oriental Design, 8 In.

diniere
Cobalt Blue, Orange, Gold, Silver Plate Rim, 9 X 4 1/2 In.

diniere
Floral Design, Hexagonal Form, 6 In.

diniere
Bird & Floral Design, 19th Century, 16 1/4 In.

diniere
Flowers, Bird, & Landscape, 14 x 19 In.

diniere
Ormolu Mounted, Landscape, Dragon Form Handles, 14 In.

diniere
Deer, Floral, Egg Shape, Cobalt Cartouches, Leaves, C.1910, 8 1/2 x 10 In.

diniere
Garden Scenes, Bulbous, Medallions, Late 19th Century, 11 1/2 In.

diniere
Underglaze Blue, Lacquer Paint, Reserves Of Flowers, 1860s, 9 3/4 In.

diniere
Polychrome, Lobed, C.1926, 15 1/4 In., Pair

diniere
Ribbed Form, Flower Molded Edge, 1800s, 8 x 12 In.

diniere
Dragon, Samurai, 19th Century, 16 In.

diniere
Flowers, Geometrics, Winged Horses, Clouds, 3 Scalloped Feet, 15 X 21 In.

diniere Base
Cobalt Blue & Orange Floral, 24 1/2 In.

Imari Jug
Cream, Cover, Prunus Design, Pear Shape, 5 In.

Imari Jug
Inverted Pear Shape, Melon Ribbed Body, Dome Cover, Lion Finial, 1800s, 27 In., Pair

Imari Lamp
Vase, Flowers, Blue, Gold, Rust, Green, 32 In.

Imari Mug
Floral, Bulbous, 19th Century, 3 1/2 In.

Imari Mug
Floral, Blue & Red Cartouches, Ear Handle, C.1800, 6 1/2 In.

Imari Pitcher
Floral Spray, Iron Red & Cobalt Blue, White Ground

Imari Planter
Tapered, Potted Flowers, Birds, 11 1/2 X 15 In.

11 In.

8 1/2 In.

Pierced Edge, 9 In.

Polychrome, 11 5/8 In.

Scenic, Blue, White, Red, Octagonal, 10 1/4 In.

4 Character Mark, 9 In.

Octagonal, 11 1/2 In.

Scalloped, 8 1/2 In.

Floral Panel Design, Cobalt Blue, Scalloped Rim, C.1850

Fluted Edge, Scalloped Rim, C.1840, 10 1/2 In.

Scalloped Edge, C.1870, 14 In.

Birds & Flowers, Hand Painted, Gold, 9 In.

Chidori, Wave Design, 9 In., Pair

Chrysanthemum, Brocade Ball Design Surrounded By Karakusa, 9 1/2 In.

Fish, Flower Design, 9 1/2 In.

Floral, With Pheasant, Black Background, 8 In.

Gourd, Leaf Center Surrounded By Figural Landscape, 10 In.

Leaf Shape, Grapevine, Squirrel, Leaf Design, 9 In.

Passion Flower Center Surrounded By Butterflies, 8 1/2 In.

Passion Flower Design, 8 1/4 In.

Scalloped Edge, Octagonal, 13 In.

Symbolic Design, Blue, White, 7 In.

Flower Shape, Brocade Design, Raised Chrysanthemum Center, 19th Century, 9 In.

Flower Shape, Floral Center Surrounded By Brocade Design, 8 1/4 In.

Flower Shape, Floral Transfer Center, Flower Border, 19th Century, 8 1/2 In.

Flower Shape, Garden Design, 11 In., 9 Piece

Foo Dog & Bird Reserves, Fluted, 8 1/2 In.

Gadroon Border, Ironstone, Geo. Ashworth, 1920s, 8 Piece

Kirin Center, Surrounded By Fans, 7 1/2 In., 5 Piece

La Dame Au Parasol, China, 1770-1775, 9 1/8 & 9 3/8 In., Pair

Prunus, Bamboo, Chrysanthemums, Polychrome, Late 19th Century, 8 1/4 In.

Fan Designs & Phoenix Birds, 2 Piece

Floral Design, Porcelain, 8 1/2 In.

Oranges, Cobalt Blue, 8 1/2 In.

Alternating Floral, Brocade, Garden Trellis, Blue, Gilt Floral Center, 13 In.

Floral Center, Floral Border, Scalloped Edge, 19th Century, 8 1/2 In.

Floral Spray, Butterfly, Floral Border With Swimming Carp, 1 1/2 x 11 3/8 In.

Flower Form, Brush & Floral Center, 8 1/2 In.

Flower Form, Peach Center, Porcelain, 19th Century, 9 1/2 In.

Flowers, Bird Border Reserves, 1850-1875, 9 5/8 In.

Hundred Butterflies, Allover Butterflies & Insects, Multicolored Enamels, 8 1/4 In.

Nobleman Crossing Bridge, Flowering Foliage, 8 1/2 In., 6 Piece

Scalloped & Fluted, 13 1/2 In.

Birds In Tree, Blue & White, 12 In.

Border Of Prunus Flowers Surrounding Medallion, Brick Red Ground, 12 In.

Fish & Birds, Blue & White, Scalloped, 12 In.

Floral Design, Blue Underglaze Ground, Pie Crust Edge, 11 1/4 In.

Floral Spray, Crabs, 9 1/4 In., Pair

Flower, Tendrils, Blue Underglaze, Enamel, Leaf Edges, Square, 8 1/2 In, Pair

Flowers, Bamboo, Reticulated, 8 7/8 In.

Flowers, Blue, Iron Red, Gilt Highlights, 18th Century, 12 In.

God & Goddesses, Border, Scalloped, 12 In.

Octagonal, Fan & Landscapes, Scalloped, Octagonal, 11 1/2 In.

3 Scenic Panels, Blue & White, 1870, 15 1/4 In.

Basket With Bonsai Tree, Birds & Plants, Cut Corners, Square, 10 1/4 x 10 1/4 In.

Blue Dragon Center, 3 Medallions, Gold Horse Borders, 1800, 9 3/4 In.

Chop, Orange Flowers, 4 Reserves, Bird, Branch, 2 Foo Dogs, 21 5/8 In.

Crossed Bamboo Sticks, Morning Glory Vine, Blue & White, 1830, 7 3/4 In.

Fish Form, Enamel, 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 In.

Floral Panels, Scalloped Rim, 20th Century, 10 3/4 In., Pair

Flowering Tree, Blue Medallions Around Border, Square, 1860, 11 In.

Flowers, Leaves, Iron Red, Cobalt Blue, Cartouches, Gilt Vine Band, 11 In., Pair

Flowers, Tree, Bird, Rocks, Blue & White, 1870, 16 In.

Garden Scene Center, Diapering Rim, Square, 1860, 9 3/4 In.

Mums, Red & Gold, Blue Divides Mum Panels, 1820, 8 3/4 In.

Octagonal, Blue & Polychrome Enamel, 1870s, 12 1/2 In.

Pine, Bamboo, Plum Trees, Red & Gold Trim, 1860, 15 3/4 In.

Raised Floral, Blue, White, Gilt, Square, 10 3/4 In.

Sweetmeat, Alternating Tree, Plant Reserves, C.1900, 8 5/8 x 8 1/2 In., Pair

Blue, Red Flowers Triangular Cartouches, 19th Century, 8 1/2 In., 9 Piece

Central Stylized Tree, Landscape Panels, 8 Sides, 10 1/4 In.

Flower, Butterfly, Rising Sun, Flower Form, 11 In.

Flowers, Cobalt Blue, Gilt Petal Borders, C.1900, 8 1/2 In., Pair

Landscape, Flowers, 18th Century, 9 In., Pair

Phoenix Center, Flower Transfer Border, 7 1/2 In., 6 Piece

Scalloped Rim, Flower Design, Japan, 8 1/2 In., 12 Piece

Serving, Scalloped Rim, Morning Glories, 11 In.

Square, Cobalt Decoration, Scalloped Corners, Central Medallion, 12 x 12 In.

Basket Of Flowers Center, Flowerhead Shape, Japan, 19th Century, 12 In.

Bird, Flower Garden, Dragons, Phoenix, 1868-1912, 12 In.

Center Blue Dragon, 4 Alternating Designs, Fukagawa, Late 19th Century, 8 1/2 In.

Flower Basket Center, 9 1/2 In.

Flower Centers, Fish, Sea Grasses, C.1850, 4 1/2 In., Pair

Flower Shape, 3 Friends, Urns, Dragons, 1800s, 8 1/2 In., Pair

Flower Shape, 6 Poets, Bamboo Grove, 19th Century, 8 1/2 In., 12 Piece

Flower Shape, Pinwheel Design, 19th Century, 8 1/2 In.

Flower Shape, Shou Center, Books, Scrolls, 1800s, 8 1/2 In., Pair

Flower Vase Center, Flower Brocade Border, Chinese, 1700s, 9 1/4 In.

Flowers, Red & Orange Enamels, Gilt, Japan, 1700s, 9 In., 10 Piece

Fukagawa, Scalloped Edges, Ribbed, Signed, C.1820

Pomegranate Center, Stylized Flowers, 1800s, 10 In., Pair

Bird, Flower, Fan Shape, C.1750, 6 1/2 In., Pair

Bird, Flower, Fan Shape, C.1750, 7 3/4 In., Pair

Bird, Flower, Fan Shape, C.1750, 8 1/2 In., Pair

Chrysanthemum, Phoenix, Brocade Work, Early 1900s, 9 3/4 In.

Figures, Birds, Flowers, C.1850, 8 1/2 In., 8 Piece

Flower Basket Center Design, Scalloped Edge, Square, 19th Century, 17 In.

Flowers, Scalloped Border, Cobalt Blue, Red, Vase, Square 13 In.

Octagonal, Cartouche Border, Center Figures In Garden Scene, C.1875, 12 1/2 In.

Prunus Tree, Cloud, 9 1/2 In.

Fish, Cobalt Blue, Iron Red, Green Highlights, Late 19th Century, 9 1/4 X 7 1/2 In., Illustrated

Hunting Scene, Chinese, 17th Century, 8 3/4 In.

Painted, Blue Flowers, Chinese, 18th Century, 9 1/4 In., Pair

Set
Birds, Flowers, 9 In., 6 Piece

Set
Flowers, Scalloped Edge, 9 5/8 In., 6 Piece

Set
Shishi, Birds, Flowers, Japan, Late 19th Century, 9 In., 6 Piece

Imari Platter
Polychrome, Japan, 7 1/4 In.

Imari Platter
Fish Form, 23 In.

Imari Platter
Fish, Underwater Scene, Water Lilies, Oval, Large

Imari Platter
Alternating Panels Of Figures & Foliage, Trellis Work Ground, 18 In.

Imari Platter
Cobalt Blue & Iron Red, Staffordshire, 13 1/4 In.

Imari Platter
Fish Shape, Crane, Wave Design, 14 1/2 In.

Imari Platter
Ironstone, 19th Century, 20 1/4 In.

Imari Platter
Garden Scene, Butterflies, Reverse Designs, 14 x 11 In.

Imari Platter
Graduated Nest Of Four, 1820-1825, 10 1/4 x 13 x 15 1/4 In.

Imari Platter
2 Panels, Bird, Branch & Deer, Flowers, Cobalt, Red & Gold, 16 x 12 5/8 In.

Imari Platter
Birds, Bridge & Flowers, Scalloped, Square, 11 1/4 x 11 1/2 In.

Imari Platter
Gilt Birds Borders, Octagonal, 9 1/2 x 11 1/4 In.

Imari Platter
Flowers, Oval, White Ground, C.1840, 18 1/2 In.

Imari Platter
Oval, Multicolored, Pierced, C.1900, 15 3/8 In.

Imari Platter
8-sided, Gilt Chrysanthemum, Flowers, 15 1/4 X 11 1/4 In.

Imari Platter
Meat, Footed, Blue, Orange, Gold, Green, 20 1/2 X 17 In.

Imari Platter
Multicolored, Ring Decorated Border, Oval, Japan, 11 1/2 X 13 3/4 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Ho-o Birds & Blossoms, Brocade Border, Scalloped, 14 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Polychrome, 13 3/4 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Bird & Floral Design, Scalloped Rim, 19th Century, 10 1/4 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Blue & White, 19th Century, 15 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Medallions Of Flowers, Riverscapes, 13 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Japanese Figures, Cobalt Blue & White

Imari Punch Bowl
3 Birds, Cherry Blossom Interior, 20th Century, 11 3/8 x 6 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Flower Basket Center, Brocade, Shishi Ground, 12 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Carnations & Mums, Pheasants, Gold Overglaze, Teak Base, 15 3/4 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Flower Center, Scalloped, 6 Cartouches, Cobalt Blue, 6 x 13 1/2 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Chrysanthemum, Polychrome, C.1926, 6 3/4 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Crane & Tortoise Inside, Peonies & Brocadework Out, 1800s, 14 1/2 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Flower Scrolling, Brocade Patterns, Japan, 1800s, 12 1/2 In.

Imari Punch Bowl
Peacock & Flowers Interior, Phoenix & Flower Exterior, Japan, 1800s

Imari Punch Bowl
Samurai Panels, Scalloped Rim, C.1890, 15 x 6 1/2 In.

Imari Sake Bottle
Figural Landscape, Pine Branch Finial, Rectangular, 18th Century, 9 1/4 In.

Imari Sake Bottle
3 Chinese Characters, 1800s, 11 In.

Imari Sake Bottle
Birds, Flowers, Square Shape, 1700s, 9 1/2 In.

Imari Sake Bottle
Enameled Leafy Vines, Kiyomizu Ware, 1800s, 9 1/4 In.

Imari Sake Bottle
Flowers, Floating In Stream, Kakiemon Decoration, Japan, 1800s, 6 1/2 In.

Imari Sake Bottle
Gourd Shape, Leaves, Kakiemon Style Design, 1700s, 8 3/4 In.

Imari Sake Bottle
Hotei & Bag Of Wealth Shape, 1700s, 8 In.

Imari Sake Cup
Figures, Landscape, Flowers, C.1800, 2 In.

Imari Sake Cup Set
Butterfly, Flowers, Kirwood Box, 19th Century

Imari Sauce
Tree Design, Rectangular, 7 In.

Imari Sauce
Floral Rondels, 5 1/2 In., 4 Piece

Imari Sauce
Passion Flower, Figures, Birds, Flowers, C.1850, 4 3/4 In., 9 Piece

Imari Serving Bowl
Oval, 11 X 7 1/2 In.

Imari Serving Dish
Carp Design, Oval, 14 1/2 In.

Imari Serving Dish
Leaves, Open Handles, Square, England, 1815, 7 In., Pair

Imari Serving Dish
Crane & Flower Design, Phoenix, Paulowinia Centers, 12 In., Pair

Imari Serving Dish
Floral & Bird Design, Paneled Border, 11 x 13 1/2 In., Pair

Imari Serving Dish
Shell Shape, Flowers, Meiji, C.1900, 10 In.

Imari Serving Dish
Boat Shape, Fan Form Cartouches, Flowers, Fish, 19th Century, 11 In., Pair

Imari Serving Dish
Grape Vines, Oblong, Scalloped Rim, Blue, Iron Red, 10 & 12 In., 2 Piece

Imari Serving Dish
Bird, Garden, Flower Border, Rectangular, Late 1800s, 11 1/2 X 13 1/4 In.

Imari Serving Dish
Cover, 8 In.

Imari Serving Dish
Lobed, 10 In.

Imari Soup
Dish, Poets, Pine Tree Landscape, 19th Century, 4 1/2 In., 12 Piece

Imari Stand
Umbrella, Bird & Floral Design, Iron Red & Blue, 1880s, 24 In.

Imari Sugar
Polychrome, Gilt, Japan, 4 3/4 In.

Imari Sugar
Blue, Gold, Red On White, Silver Bail Handle & Cover, England

Imari Tazza
Butterflies, Figures, Chrysanthemum Border, Flared Pedestal, 7 3/4 x 9 1/2 In.

Imari Tazza
Footed, 8-point Star Shape, Circular Foot, Brocade Design, 1800s, 8 1/2 In.

Imari Tea Caddy
Insert

Imari Tea Caddy
Blue & Red Flowers, Gilded Rims, Cover, Round, C.1720, 3 3/4 x 5 In.

Imari Tea Service
Painted, Flowering Branches, C.1815, 26 Piece

Imari Teapot
Ribbed Melon, 18th Century

Imari Teapot
19th Century, 4 1/2 In.

Imari Teapot
Cover, Russet Bird, Perched On Rock, Flowering Peonies, C.1760, 5 In.

Imari Teapot
Floral Design, Globular, 19th Century, 5 In.

Imari Temple Jar
Figural Panels, Karakusa Ground, 27 1/2 In.

Imari Temple Jar
Cover, Flower Basket, Inverted Pear Shape, Sunputei, Mark, C.1800, 27 In.

Imari Temple Jar
Orange, Cobalt, Foo Dog Finial, 11 1/2 In.

Imari Temple Jar
Cover, 6-sided, Polychrome, Japan, 15 In.

Imari Tray
Polychrome, Montplaisir, Brussels, 1786-1790, 14 1/2 In.

Imari Tray
Peony, Shishi, Dragon Design, Square, 10 1/4 In.

Imari Tray
Polychrome, Scalloped Open Handles, Foo Dogs, Flowers, Vines, Gold Trim, 14 In.

Imari Tray
2 Birds On Rocks, Flowers, Round, 13 In.

Imari Tray
Upturned Rim, Double Handles, C.1920, 13 1/4 In. ~illus

Imari Tray
Multicolored, Flowers, Bow Handles, Japan, 16 In.

Imari Tureen
Peach Sprig Finial Cover, Blue Loop Handles, 1750, 9 3/16 In.

Imari Tureen
Domed Lid, Handles, Mason, 1840

Imari Tureen
Oval, Scenic Medallion, Handles, 12 3/4 In.

Imari Tureen
Sauce, Exhibition Piece, Signed, C.1870

Imari Tureen
Flowers, Rocks, Green, Blue, Yellow, Red, Gold, Japan, 1700s, 12 1/2 In.

Imari Umbrella Holder
Blue & White, Deer, Woods, Cylindrical, 24 x 8 1/2 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
Blue & White, 24 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
19th Century, 24 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
Cobalt Blue Design, Phoenix, Dragons, Medallions, Flowers, 24 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
Allover Cobalt Blue & Iron Red Floral, Banding At Top, 24 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
Cobalt Blue, Orange, 4 Floral Reserves, 24 1/2 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
Hexagonal Panels, Gold Pheasants, Dragons, Flowers, Plants, 25 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
Ribbed, Blue, Red, Gilt, Japan, 19th Century, 23 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
Multicolored, Ribbed, Cylindrical, 20th Century, 22 1/4 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
Birds In Garden, Enameled, Multicolored, 19th Century, 23 1/2 In.

Imari Umbrella Stand
Vase, Flowers, Pheasant, 19th Century, 24 X 9 1/2 In.

Imari Urn
Allover Floral Design, 12 In., Pair

Imari Urn
Cover, Alternating Panels, Traditional Colors, C.1880, 12 In.

Imari Urn
Domed Cover, Foo Dog Finial, Oval Body, C.1900, 20 1/2 In.

Imari Urn
Cover, Domed Cover, Foo Dog Finial, Oval Body, C.1900, 20 1/2 In. ~illus

Imari Urn
Red, Green, Mauve, Cobalt Blue, Gold, Flower Panels, Birds, 36 1/2 In.

Blue, White, Red, Frilly Rim, 15 In., Pair

Cover, Hexagonal, 19th Century, 13 1/2 In.

Floor, Peacock Design

Gilt Bronze Lion Figural Mounts, 22 1/4 In.

High Shoulder, Japan, 19th Century, 23 In.

Ovoid, Fan Design, 22 In.

Temple, Ruffle Top, Pair

Bottle, 3 1/2 In.

Faceted, 4 In.

Multiform Panels Over Floral Ground, 19th Century, 30 In.

Foo Dog Mask Handles, C.1815, 5 In.

Geometric & Foliate Pattern, Cylindrical Form, 18 In..

Panel Design, Handles, C.1835, 9 In.

Scalloped Rim, Flared Rim, C.1860, 12 1/2 In.

Trumpet Mouth, Signed, C.1900, 30 1/2 In., Pair

Trumpet Shape, Flared Rim, 1805, 10 In.

Floral Cartouche, Serrated Rim, Foliate Handles, 19th Century, 27 1/2 In., Pair

Floral Design, Fluted, 13 In.

Fluted Tops, 6 In., Pair

Lobed Form With Branches, 19 In.

4 Diapered Panels, Alternating Groups, Floral & Dragon Reserves, 7 1/2 In.

Baluster Form, 6 1/2 In., Pair

Bird, Floral Designs, Dragon In Relief, Late 19th Century, 26 3/4 In.

Bud, Flared Rim, Vasiform Top, Base Fitted With 4 Holes, 5 3/4 In., 2 Part

Dragon, Bird, Signed, 19 In.

Fowl, Lacquered Panels, 13 1/2 In., Pair

4 Floral Reserved, Baluster, C.1900, 10 1/2 In.

Baluster, Porcelain, 1840-1860, 6 3/4 In., Pair

Flower Filled Basket, Leaf Design, Porcelain, 12 1/4 In.

Flowerhead Design, Baluster, Porcelain, 1880-1885, 9 1/2 In.

Palace, Ruffled Rim, Figures On Floral Ground, 37 1/2 In.

Raised Floral Design, Double Gourd Shape, 6 1/2 In.

Stick Neck, Bulbous, Blue Floral, Off-white Ground, 18th Century, 8 1/2 In.

2 Men Play Music In Garden, 3 Children, Pink & Green Flowers, Black, 15 In.

Allover Floral, Tree, Peonies, Cobalt Border, Ruffled Rim, 18 1/2 x 8 In.

Arita Style, Blue & White, Raised Dragon On Both Sides, 12 x 6 1/2 In.

Bird, Insect & Floral, Spherical Base, 18 In.

Blue Floral Panels, Art Deco Brass Base, Late 19th Century, 9 1/4 x 6 In.

Blue, Red & Gilt Floral Panels, Exotic Birds, Creatures, Mounted As Lamp, 14 In.

Cover, Baluster, Birds & Floral Sprays, Gilt, 19th Century, 24 In.

Floral & Medallion, Bulbous, Narrow Tapering Neck, 6 1/2 In., Pair

Flower Panels, Ormolu Mounted, Dragon Form Handles, 6 Sides, 10 In., Pair

Foliate Design, Reserves Of Birds, Female Mask Handles, Late 19th Century, 9 In.

Ormolu Mounted, 6 Sides, Japan, 10 3/4 In., Pair

Overall Floral Brocading, Diapering Within Landscape Scene, 26 In.

Allover Floral, Red, Cobalt Blue, Gilt Trim, Baluster, 18 1/2 In.

Alternating Flowers, Rustic Buildings, Ribbed, Urn Shape, 18 1/2 In.

Baluster Shape, Ribbed, Splayed Rim, Enamel, Blue, Polychrome, Footed, 10 In.

Baluster, Stylized Flowers, Low Neck, Iron Red, Cobalt Blue, Gilt, 10 x 6 In., Pair

Cover, Chrysanthemum, Lotus Floral Design, Lappet Design At Base, 10 1/2 In.

Cover, Prunus, Chrysanthemum Design, Blue, Iron Red, Gold Enamel, 10 In.

Floral Rondels, Late 19th Century, 9 3/4 In.

Mirror, Blue Design, White Ground, Baluster, 4-character Mark, 12 In., Pair

Pavilion, Floral & Brocade, 10 In.

Peacocks & Brocade Design, Swirled Ribbed Shape, 19th Century, 12 In.

Trumpet Form, Carp & Prunus Panels, 19th Century, 37 In.

Various Bold Brocades, 19th Century, 8 1/4 In.

Birds, Flower Reserves, Bulbous Base, Flared Trumpet Top, Scalloped, 26 In.

Chrysanthemums, Scalloped Body, Underglaze, Blue & Iron Red, 25 1/4 In., Pair

Cranes, Other Birds, Cartouches, Oval, Pedestal Base, 1880, 15 3/4 In., Pair

Domed Cover, Painted Flowering Benches, Oval, 1840, 26 1/2 In.

Dragon At Top, Red & Blue Panels, Bottle Form, 12 In.

Floral, Red, Orange & Dark Blue, Ribbed Base, 8 1/8 In., Pair

Flowers, Trees, Baluster Shape, Alternating Panels, C.1690, 19 In.

Splayed & Leaf Rim, Ribbed Body, Unglazed Foot, Enamel, 1870s, 9 1/2 In.

Swimming Carps, Green Net, Waisted Neck, Oval, 37 1/2 In.

Bottle, Lobed, Red, Green, Aubergine Enamels, 19th Century, 11 In., Pair

Cobalt Blue & Rust, On White Ground, C.1860, 14 7/8 In., Pair ~illus

Cover, Shaped Cartouches, Bird & Flower Design, Oval, Japan, 8 1/2 In.

Double Gourd, Floral, Brocade, Insect, Meiji, 8 3/4 In.

Dragons, Birds, Baluster, 18 1/2 x 9 In.

Flower Panel, Cylindrical Neck, Faceted Body 19th Century, 14 1/2 In.

Flying Storks, 15 In.

Foo Dog, Finial Lids, 18 In., Pair

Landscape, Lion’s Head Handles, Cylindrical, 11 3/4 In.

Mei Phing Shape, Chrysanthemums, Reserve Panels, Japan, 6 In., Pair

Ribbed Body, Traditional Enamels, Flower Panels, Buddhist Books, 9 1/2 In., Pair

Tear Shaped, Flowers, 19th Century, 12 1/2 In., Pair

Cylindrical, 2 Figural Reserves, Flower Ground, 1868-1912, C.1885, 12 In., Pair

Palace, Trumpet Form, Carp Design, 1800s, 36 1/2 In.

Pencil Neck, Orange Flowers, Blue Leaves, 19th Century, 5 1/2 In.

Phoenixes, Dragons, Japan, 1800s, 18 In.

Ribbed, Pavilions In Gardens, Peony Trees, Japan, 1800s, 18 1/2 In.

Women, Children, Phoenixes, Dragons, Flowers, Japan, 1800s, 15 In.

Birds, Trees, Floral Neck, Swirling Base Bands, 4 Round Reserves, 25 In.

Chrysanthemum, Teardrop Shape, 11 In.

Egg Shape, Flared Rim, Red Over Blue Design, C.1860, 12 In.

Exotic Birds, Leaves, Painted Panels, 20th Century, 17 X 4 In.

Flowers, Trees, Gilded Accents, C.1870, 14 1/2 In.

Flowers, Trees, Oval, Ribbed, Scalloped, Flared Rim, 1800s, 12 5/8 In., Pair

Landscapes, Birds, Flared Neck, Egg Shape Body, C.1850, 30 1/2 In., Pair

Mounted As Fluid Lamp, Electrified, 15 In., Pair

Ribbed Body, Floral Panels, Gilt Detail, 14 1/2 In., Pair

Baluster Shape, Geisha Under Cherry Trees, Birds, 18 5/8 In., Pair

Brocade Pattern, Globular, Slender Neck, 19th Century, 10 In.

Cover, Baluster, Japan, C.1700, 24 3/4 In., Pair

Egg Shape, Cylindrical Neck, Maple Leaf, Flowers, Ho Birds, C.1850, 17 1/2 In., Pair

Flowers, Leaves, Japan, 1800s, 9 3/4 In., Pair

Hand Painted Designs, 7 1/2 In., Pair

Hand Painted, Mounted As Lamp, Japan, 20th Century, 15 In.

Ho Bird, Urn, Maple, Chrysanthemum, C.1860, 24 1/2 In., Pair

Molded Flower Sprig, Multicolored, Hexagonal, Japan, 1800s, 7 In., Pair

Square, Embossed Geisha, 9 In.

Trumpet Mouth, Dragon, Flower Ground, Late 1800s, 18 1/2 In.

Trumpet Shape, Melon Ribbing, Lions, Peonies, Japan, Early 1800s, 14 In, Pair

Double Gourd
Floral Design, Early 18th Century, Japan, 12 1/2 In.

Art Deco Statues

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Statues
Figures, more than any other category of decorative accessory, seem to say “Deco” best. The statues exhibit not only features commonly associated with Art Deco, but also they express the spirit of freedom and optimism in the future that prevailed at the time. It is not surprising that these personifications beguile collectors. As noted earlier, figures were so popular that they were fashioned into dual purpose articles as well as art objects. This section, however, contains only the latter. Statues, statuettes or figurines and a few head forms or busts are included. (For additional examples of figures, see Ashtrays, Bookends, Candle Holders, Incense Burners and Lamps.)
Most of the Deco figural subjects were women. Pieces were made with couples forming dance partners or duets. Men were also modeled as sportsmen or represented as mythical gods or even circus clowns. Animals made along Deco lines are not so rare as male examples but they are less prevalent than female themes. All kinds of animals, however, were made as decorative sculpture. Members of the cat family (jaguar, panther, tiger) and deer, elk and gazelles as well as dogs (like the greyhound) projected the essential components of the Deco image—speed, grace and sleekness. Certain animals, especially dogs, were often part of female dominated scenes. Even birds such as cockatoos, ducks, parrots and penquins were shaped in stylized forms to fit in with “modern” decor.
The nude or semi-nude female apparently was the most favorite figural topic of the period. It is held in no less esteem by collectors. Poses varied from lanquid, reclining positions to ones expressing movement. Grace and speed were implied by various dance positions or hair shaped as wings or fashioned in a “wind blown” style. Kneeling or standing figures with arms stretched forward symbolized movement into the future. Arms stretched overhead, perhaps holding a globe or sphere, seem to indicate awareness and interest in the world at large.
While the nude and semi-nude figures may suggest the spirit of the period, fully clothed models portray the dress and hair styles in vogue. Interest in other cultures was also exhibited by the figure’s costume. The Egyptian influence was dominant in the mid 1920’s, after the opening of King Tut’s tomb in 1923. Several of the figures shown in this section and some in other categories (see Lamps and Incense Burners) flaunt the trappings of Egyptian attire such as metal breastplates, harem pants and elaborate headdresses. Female figures with black finishes show the influence of African art and black American entertainers. Jazz musicians and torch singers became very popular during the 1920’s, especially in
France.
Decorative figures not only were made in a number of sizes and poses, but also they were made from many different materials, including bronze, copper, metal alloys, plaster, pottery and porcelain. The French bronzes are the most coveted and most expensive. Bronze combined with ivory and precious jewels, silver or gold is called “chryselephantine” work. D.H. Chiparus, who worked in France, is noted to have excelled in this type of sculpture. Prices for his original pieces are in the tens of thousands of dollars today. Collectors should be aware, however, that current bronze manufacturers reproduce or imitate some of his figures as well as several other famous sculptors of the period. Although advertised as manufactured with the “lost wax” method and sporting the same or similarly spelled names of well known artists such as Chiparus, Zach or Preiss, these bronzes are still only replicas and not from the period. Unfortunately, they are sometimes sold by dealers as authentic sculptures. Wholesale prices are not cheap, but do not be surprised to find that sum multiplied several times over when such an item is sold in a retail outlet.
Because bronzes were expensive to manufacture, it did not take entrepreneuers long to recognize the value of mass producing similar statues from metal alloys. Pot metal, white metal or spelter are names frequently used to identify such alloys. Psuedo bronze figures were made in both Europe and America. Even if a piece can be identified as being of French origin, do not assume the metal is bronze. Many of the pot metal pieces were executed quite well. Different patinations and finishes were used to give either a “bronze” look or colored surface. Some were even made with ivory faces and hands, imitating chryselephatine types. Fabricated ivory, often called “ivorene,” was sometimes used, however.
Patination and cold painted are two terms used to describe bronze finishes. Patination refers to a colored finish which is fired onto the metal and thus becomes pern-ranent. Cold painted means the finish was not fired onto the metal. Lacquer was applied to preserve the color, but this type of finish is not totally permanent. Some of the metal alloy figures were simply painted without any sealing coat. Consequently, over time, the paint has chipped or become noticeably worn. Those with apparent surface damage can sometimes be purchased for bargain prices. Dealers have them repainted, but prices should-not be the same as for those in good or original condition. Inspect figures carefully for detail to note signs of age and wear on finished as well as whether there are chips on the face, hair or limbs.
Because of the demand for Deco figures, pot metal statues are far from cheap. Those in good condition, depending on size, will cost several hundred dollars. It is not uncommon for examples to cost $1,000 or more, especially if it can be determined the piece was made in France. It is rare to find any authentic Deco metal figure for less than $100.
Porcelain figurines were made by several European factories prior to World War II. Goldscheider, an Austrian company, is well known for its Deco pieces. Some of the firms who are more famous for their table wares also produced figural items during that time. The Lenox china company in Trenton, New Jersey, made porcelain figures which portrayed Deco themes. Porcelain pieces are generally much more moderately priced than metal statues, but they still are not cheap. Few cost less than $200.
Earthenware or simple pottery figures were also made in this country and abroad. Usually earthenware
items are less expensive than those made of hard paste porcelain or bone china. Not only was the manufacturing process cheaper, but also earthenware is not as strong. It chips and breaks easily and also can become discolored or crazed over time. Pottery figures, however, are often comparable or higher in price than porcelain ones. Those made by American art potteries are very collectible. Some made by American companies, which produced inexpensive pottery dishes and accessories, also made a few figures. Such items were not the company’s main product, and thus the figures are scarce, as well as popular, and bring high prices compared with other items they manufactured.
The statues and figurines are grouped here according to their composition: Ceramic (pottery and porcelain), Plaster and Metals (bronze, copper & metal alloys).

Art Deco Table Wares

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Art Deco Table Wares
Companies engaged in manufacturing products for preparing and serving food found it necessary to accommodate the new trends in modern design. Streamlined and angular shapes can be found not only in sets of china but in kitchen equipment as well. In this section, table wares are not confined to dishes but include other utilitarian and decorative pieces. Because of the great diversity of this category, it is possible to show only a sample of items, but the pieces illustrated should alert collectors to the many possibilities table wares offer. Photographs are arranged approximately in alphabetical order according to the function of the item, ranging from candle holders, centerpieces and crumbers, to pitchers and a toaster!
Table wares basically are made of pottery, glass or metal. Ceramics include earthenware or semi-china, stoneware and porcelain. Simplified decoration distinguishes Deco china from that produced during the Victorian years. Floral transfer patterns covering the entire surface of china gave way to colored line borders or abstract geometric patterns. Sometimes china was left undecorated with the shape or mold drawing attention to a modern image. Geometric shapes other than the usual circular form are seen here in the rectangular bowl and the triangular shaped cup and saucer.
Ceramic table wares can be found at all price levels. Pieces designed and handpainted by Clarice Cliff for the Royal Staffordshire Pottery during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s are highly regarded by advanced collectors. Price can reach several hundred to several thousand dollars for some examples, especially those with floral and landscape decor. “Bizarre,” “Geometric,” — and “Fantasque” were some of the pattern names. The English artist’s signature was included on most of her work. Pieces which do not have her name or signature as part of the mark are usually considerably lower in price. “The Biarritz” soup bowl shown here is one such example. Although the pattern is quite simple, it also merits consideration as a form of Deco table ware. Deco patterns by other English potters are also quite collectible. Many good examples in the moderate price ranges are surfacing. These may be found mixed in with other miscellaneous dishes by dealers who do not specialize in Art Deco.
“American Modern, ” designed by Russel Wright for the Ohio based Steubenville Pottery is also quite collec
tible and much lower in price. This line was made from about 1939 through the late 1950’s. Solid colored surfaces without other added decoration implied a modern concept. Many other European and American pottery and porcelain factories produced their own renditions of “modern” style. Japanese table ware companies used similar interpretations to reach the large American market. Deco patterned china made by the Noritake firm has been attracting many collectors during the last few years. Prices are still affordable but not inconsequential. Table china, however, is probably the largest source of Art Deco “sleepers” and possible bargains today.
Angular shapes or stylized designs cut or molded into glass table wares were made to grace the dining tables of the period. Art glass by French manufacturers is usually too expensive for moderate collectors. The large blue centerpiece bowl made by Daum and the smoke glass bowl by Verlys are two such examples. These would fall into the “investment” rather than the “fun” class of Deco collectibles. But, like ceramics, many types of inexpensive table glass were made during the 1930’s and 1940’s by American factories. Depression era glass collectors began to salvage pieces during the 1960’s. A number of the patterns have unmistakable Deco characteristics. “Manhattan,” a clear glass pattern made by Anchor Hocking is just one type finding its way into Deco collections. The ruby red, cobalt blue and deep green colored glass made by other American glass companies also qualifies as Deco. Quite a few pieces are very attractive, some are even elegant and others are just amusing.
Flatware, serving pieces and decorative table articles can be found in silver, brass, copper, chrome and plated metals. Chrome and plated metals are the least expensive. Nude or semi-nude figures were made into metal centerpieces or candle holders. Prices are competitive with other figural items and examples are just as much in demand. A number of metal Deco items were originally silverplated. Because the plating wears off, items become ugly and lose much of their value. Dealers have found it lucrative to have such objects stripped to the base metal which was usually copper or brass. The copper centerpiece with a pot metal nude is an example which was once silver plated. Do not automatically disregard badly worn plated pieces which have obvious Deco signs. It may be wise to have them stripped and polished by a commercial firm which specializes in that kind of work.

Antique American Pottery

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

The manufacture of earthenware by early colonists in North America began as a cottage industry and never grew on a scale consistent with the rapid growth in population and technology in the USA over the last 200 years. The relatively minor impact of domestically produced American pottery may be considered a testament to the extraordinarily high standards of European earthenwares, particularly the products of Staffordshire, which have been exported in enormous quantities since the declaration of American independence (1776). Although a few distinctly American forms and types of decoration emerged during the 19th century, the only pottery that can be considered uniquely American is that made by the Native Americans, the earliest examples of which pre-date European settlement by thousands of years.
EARLY POTTERY
Any domestically produced American pottery made before the mid-18th century is extremely rare. American pottery of this period is limited to simple, thickly potted red or buff earthenware. As the population grew in north-eastern America during the second half of the 18th century, distinctive pottery types were manufactured, all of which were useful. An industry developed for the manufacture of salt-glazed stoneware, which was superior to the porous and brittle common earthenwares. Early American stoneware (pre-1800) was mainly produced by German immigrants in the south-eastern states of Virginia and Georgia.
“Yellow-ware” describes any type of earthenware with an opaque, yellow glaze. This glaze was used in North America throughout the 19th century to make utilitarian wares including mixing bowls or “pans” (deep dishes for cooling milk). Of greater interest is slipware, sometimes erroneously termed “Pennsylvania slipware”, which refers to red-bodied (or occasionally buff) earthenware,
made largely in Connecticut, decorated with trailed Slip, usually of ochre or chocolate brown. Common forms are deep plates, “pans”, and pie dishes, which arc often worn through extended use, and so of little value. Common decoration is abstract, but additional inscriptions, dates, figural images, or highly accomplished patterns are particularly sought after.
“Spongeware” and “spatterware” were made throughout the 19th century and describe household mixing bowls, teaware, and platters with random, mottled patterns, typically in pale blues and
yellows. Small plates and mugs (often made in Staffordshire) with spattered borders and naively painted farm animals or figures are extremely
popular. “Mochaware” is of comparable collectability and interest, especially early 19th-century examples. The term describes glazed earthenware with “tree” forms in the pale glaze, which are caused by the capillary action of the brown slip. Mugs and jugs, most of which were originally made in Staffordshire for the North American market, are typical.
STONEWARE
Most North American stoneware of the 19th century was made in the north-eastern state of Vermont, principally by the Norton family of Bennington. The high standards and successful forms of Norton’s stoneware were imitated throughout New England until the beginning of the 20th century when stoneware became virtually obsolete. Two standard forms of “Bennington crock” were made (one of simple cylinder form with “ear” handles, and one of jug type) for the storage and transport of liquids, including apple cider, ale, and maple syrup. Other forms include covered pots, chamber-pots, spittoons, water coolers, and jugs, some of which were coated in brown glaze.
Decoration on American stoneware was rare before c.1830 and varied only subtly for the rest of the 19th century. It is typically in underglaze cobalt blue painted in a naive manner, sometimes over a scratched design. Usual images include flowers (least collectable), insects, ornamental numerals, birds, animals, landscapes, and commemorative designs, the latter being among the most desirable. Some types of decoration arc characteristic of a particular potter or date; for example, butterflies arc associated with the Norton family in the 1830x.
LATER POTTERY
In the late 19th century American commercial potters were established well beyond New England. New centres included Pittsburgh and other towns in Pennsylvania and neighbouring Ohio; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City; and Trenton in New Jersey, which by the 1880s was known as the “Staffordshire of America”. The output consisted entirely of utilitarian pieces. Much was in the form of “granite ware”, a highly practical, heavy, white earthenware of ironstone type, which was often left undecorated. Typical examples, which arc common owing to the robust nature of the ware, include tureens and tableware of all types, comparable to contemporary Staffordshire but larger in scale. Most tableware in daily use took the form of inexpensive transfer-printed wares imported from Staffordshire, the most collectable of which are those decorated with American scenes.
Rockingham-glaze ware – earthenware with a rich, sometimes lustrous, brown glaze – was produced extensively in the USA at this time, notably by the United States Pottery of Bennington, Vermont, founded by Christopher Fenton c.1840 and active throughout the century. Most examples are slip-cast, relief-moulded hollow-wares, including jugs, figural flasks, spittoons, furniture rests, and statuary. Pairs of “chimney dogs” (based on Staffordshire models but larger in scale) and recumbent lions are characteristic of the Bennington pottery and most desirable.
A uniquely American and fairly rare naive pottery, consisting of unusual `pinched” forms with applications under green glaze, was made by settlers in the Shenandoah Valley of the Virginias in the mid-19th century. The wares are well-potted, and innovative examples may bear scratched signatures or monograms. Much more common and widely collected is American majolica, which was produced at several factories from the 1860s until the beginning of the 20th century. The best majolica was made by the firm of Griffen, Smith Hill ( 1867-1902) in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
NATIVE AMERICAN POTTERY
The majority of 19th-century Native American pottery that appears on the market today was made in the states Of the south-western USA by nations including the Hopi, the Navajo, and the Acoma. Most wares arc unglazed terracotta, and all items are of traditional design and manufacture – either coil-formed or thrown. Decoration is typically painted, with geometric patterns in faded earth tones. Collecting Native American pottery is a rapidly growing area of interest, and examples that can be dated to before the centennial of 1876 are especially sought after. However, dating can be very difficult owing to the continuous production of the traditional forms.
Early pottery
• YELLOW-WARE very collectable, particularly among admirers of folk art, but few pieces have significant value, and many arc of European origin
• SLIPWARE well decorated pieces arc most desirable
• SPONGEWARE AND SPATTERWARE reproduction and
restoration are quite common
• SIZE American wares are generally larger and more
heavily potted than contemporary English wares
• COLLECTING early wares are very rare and are usually so worn that they have relatively little value; examples that bear dates, arc well decorated, and arc unusual in form or decoration will raise collector interest
Stoneware
• COLLECTING made in large quantities; the most
desirable arc pieces with unusual decoration
Later pottery
• COLLECTING Rockingham-glazed wares are valuable if the form is unusual and figural; English majolica is more popular than American majolica in the USA
Native American pottery
• COLLECTING wares are difficult to date and arc often in fairly poor conditionMARKS
• signed examples arc usually 20th century

Antique English Wedgewood Stoneware

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Wedgwood stoneware
NEO-CLASSICAL STONEWARE
By the 1760s Britain was in the early stages of Neoclassical fever, exemplified in the work of the Adam brothers in architecture, and greatly stimulated by the excavations of the Classical ruins at Herculaneum and Pompeii that had begun in 1738 and 1748 respectively. Seeking to capitalize on the popularity of the Neo- classical style, Wedgwood worked on the refinement of his stonewares throughout the 1760s and 1770s. His first success (c.1768) was black basalte, a fine-grained, unglazed stoneware stained with cobalt and manganese oxides. This type of ware was sometimes decorated with red figures, a style inspired by ancient Greek pottery.
Josiah Wedgwood (1730-95) almost single-handedly transformed British pottery-making into a highly
mechanized industry, which supplied
fine ceramic wares to a worldwide market. Throughout his life Wedgwood researched and experimented tirelessly with materials and methods of manufacture. The
enormous success of his factory was owed not only to his artistic abilities but also to the realization that a wide-based market catering for all levels of society was the key to advancement in such an erratic profession.
From 1754 to 1759 Wedgwood worked in partnership with the potter Thomas Whieldon (1719-95), making experimental and tortoiseshell wares. Because of a leg injury Wedgwood was unable to practise as a potter, and therefore spent much of his time developing pottery bodies and glazes, making very detailed recordings of his discoveries. By 1759 he had set up his own business at the Ivy House Works in Burslem, Staffordshire, where he made redware, Whieldon-type ware with translucent lead glazes, blackware, salt-glazed stoneware, and creamware (cream-coloured earthenware). In 1769 he formed a partnership with the Liverpool merchant Thomas Bentley, and opened a bigger factory called “Etruria” (after Etruscan pottery, which inspired some of the factory’s production). During the ensuing decade, until Bentley’s death in 1780, the company expanded and consolidated its position at the forefront of the market.
Jasper tricolour ware is relatively scarce, and even small Uncomplicated examples such as this cachepot are much sought after by collectors Tricolour wares were first made during the 1780x. The decoration was often arranged in a grid-like or trellis design (called a “dice pattern “), with the bars and niches applied with delicate jasper quatrefoils and floral scrolls Here the decorator has Lived sage green and yellow on a white ground; the range of available stains Included a deeper green, dark blue, and lilac A cachepot is similar to a jardiniere and serves the same purpose, it is an ornamental container used to conceal a more utilitarian plant pot the name is derived from the French cacher, to hide).
Other types of stoneware made include “rosso antico”, a red-bodied ware largely based on Classical forms, and the yellow-bodied “caneware”. However, the most famous type of Wedgwood stoneware is the hard, fine-grained, unglazed “jasper” ware introduced in 1774-5, typically with applied white decoration of Classical figures and motifs. John Flaxman (1755-1826), 1755-1826), George Stubbs (1724-1806), and other artists produced designs for ornamental wares, including vases, plaques, cameos, and medallions, based on the illustrations of the excavated Greek and Roman material.
• silky,mostly fine grained, and unglaze
FORMS mostly Neo-classical in style; ornamental vases and urns; portrait plaques; busts; some teawares
• COLOURs jasper: first coloured all the way through the body and later as a surface wash only, in pale blue, sage green, olive green, lilac, lavender, and black; rosso antico: a refinement of the existing Staffordshire redware made by the Hers brothers; caneware: yello
smade by Wedgwood and other Staffordshire
potters from the 1770S
• DFCORATION the stoneware body is capable of taking extremely fine detail; early wares are more detailed than later wares; black basalte is often ornamented with engine-turned ornament, sprigged Neo-classical motifs and mythological figures are typical
Marks
Pre-Etruria wares are rarely marked, but thereafter most wares are impressed with the name; “WEDGWOOD” used after c.1820

Antique English Creamware and Pearlware

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Creamware and pearlware
In the 18th century Staffordshire became the most important area for the manufacture of everyday pottery. Tin-glazed earthenware, for centuries the European staple, was never made there, and very little porcelain was produced before the late 18th century. From the late 17th century north Staffordshire potters gradually refined their wares, until by the middle of the century they were making some of the finest pottery in Europe.
CREAMWARE
Thomas Astbury (1686-1743), Enoch Booth, and Josiah Wedgwood (1730-95) are all associated with the invention and development of creamware (cream-coloured earthenware). By the 1760s Wedgwood’s creamware was sufficiently developed to excite the interest of Queen Charlotte, who ordered a tea service (1765), and it was subsequently renamed “Queen’s ware”. For the next 100 years, creamware remained the standard pottery body in Britain and throughout much of continental Europe and North America. The close-grained body was composed of clay from
Devon mixed with flint and covered in
a very thin but smooth lead glaze. It could be finely moulded or cut with great detail. Furthermore, it was very receptive to underglaze blue, overglaze enamelling, or printing. English creamware includes ornamental wares and sophisticated pierced wares, which were made in Staffordshire and Leeds, and also figures. However, most of the output was of more mundane items such as dinner services, tablewares, and teawares. The versatility of creamware and its acceptance among the higher classes of European society (the 926-piece “Frog” service was made by Wedgwood for Catherine the Great of Russia in 1773-4) ensured its financial success,
as well as undermining virtually the entire European tin-glazed pottery tradition.
PEARLWARE AND PRATTWARE
Introduced by Wedgwood c.1779 as an improvement on his creamware, pearlware includes more white clay and flint in the body than creamware does. Suggesting an iridescent appearance, “pearlware” is a misleading term; the addition of cobalt oxide to the glaze imparted a bluish-white cast, which is particularly visible where there is pooling. Much pearlware is decorated in underglaze blue by painting or, later, by transfer-printing. Among the most famous printed themes are versions of the “Willow” pattern. In the early 19th century, manufacturers broadened the range of patterns to include Classical designs and English landscapes.
Prattware is associated with the Pratt family from Lane Delph in Staffordshire, although it was also made by a number of other factories. The body is similar to pearlware in weight and colour, but the ware is distinguished by a strong, high-temperature palette comprising ochre, brown, green, and blue. Wares include moulded teapots, jugs, and figures. From the 1840s the firm of E & R. Pratt & Co. was famous for multicoloured printing, used extensively on pot lids.
• BODY cream, thin, and lightweight
• GLAZE ivory-tinted lead glaze
• FORMS ornamental Neo-classical wares, tablewares, and more rarely figures
• DECORATION underglaze blue, overglaze enamels, or transfer printing
Pearlware
• BODY white flinty earthenware
• GLAZE bluish glaze to counteract the cream body
• FORMS mainly useful wares: dishes, plates, teapots, coffee-pots, and jugs
• DECORATION usually painted or printed underglaze
blue of English landscapes, Grand Tour ruins, etc.
Prattware
• BODY similar to pearlware
• PALETTE high-fired colours: ochre, yellow, brown, green, and blue
• FORMS jugs, teapots, and figures
Marks
The practice of marking pottery became more widespread from c.1800; some factories impressed their marks, but the majority are transfer-printed in underglaze blue; in addition the factory might also supply the title of the pattern on the back
Wedgwood: mark used on creamware
Leeds: impressed mark for the firm of Hartley, Greens & Co. (1800-30)

Antique English Delftware Pottery

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Delftware
The manufacture of British tin-glazed earthenware began in the 16th century, when it was known as “galley ware possibly named after wares transported by galleys from Spain and Italy. The most important centres of production in Britain were Southwark, Aldgate, and Lambeth in London, Norwich, Brislington, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Wincanton.
EARLY DELFTWARE
A record of 1567 tells of the arrival in Norwich of such Dutch potters as Jaspar Andries and Jacob Jansen, who had fled Antwerp to escape religious persecution. These potters established potteries locally and later at Aldgate in the east of London. Very few examples of 16th-
century British tin-glazed earthenware have survived, apart from some tiles and a number of bulbous-bodied jugs (some with silver mounts). Pottery made during the 17th century is far more common. From the late 1620s virtually until the cessation of tin-glazed production in the late 18th century, there is a considerable body of dated and documentary British delftware, which enables collectors to study the changing shapes and styles of this type of ware over a period of nearly 200 years. From c.1600 small quantities of Chinese porcelain began to be imported by the East India Company into Britain, and some British delftware made from c.1620 shows the influence of these Chinese blue-and-white imported wares. After c.1660 until the end of the 17th century those in the so-called “Transitional” style were copied.
The most notable late 17th-century wares include “blue-dash” chargers, named after the blue dashes around the rim, which were boldly decorated in polychrome with stylized tulips, carnations, oak leaves, biblical subjects, and portraits, particularly Of such monarchs as Charles II, William and Mary, and Queen Anne. The majority of this type are covered with a yellowish
lead glaze on the back, through which the body is clearly visible – it was considered unnecessary to waste the expensive tin glaze on a side that was rarely seen. These dishes have a thick foot-rim around which a cord could be wound for hanging the object on the wall. Other wares included wine-jugs, drug jars, salts, and wide-brimmed dishes. While a few examples show traces of the old Italian-Dutch style, most embrace the continuing fashion for Chinese bloc-and-white wares.
18TH-CENTURY DELFTWARE
From c.1720 British delftware became increasingly distinctive, and the decoration less complex and looser in style. Delftware made in the 18th century tends to be more delicate and intimate (with some robust exceptions from Bristol), and a far greater range of wares was made, including punchbowls, plates, flower-bricks, wall pockets, wine-bottles, guglets, fuddling-cups, pear-shaped jugs, puzzle jugs, posset-pots, and, extremely rarely, tea and coffeewares. While many of these wares were painted with contemporary British subjects –figures, buildings, and landscapes – others are decorated in blue with chinoiserie themes – pagodas, pavilions, Chinese figures, birds, and flowers. Production of British delftware virtually ceased at the end of the 18th century because of the competition from creamware (cream- coloured earthenware).
• BODY British delftware is harder and coarser than the softer, thinner Dutch Delftware
• STYLE before 1620 wares are Italian-Dutch in style; after 1620 the influence of Chinese blue and white is clear; 18th-century wares are less formal, and contemporary British figures and landscapes with chinoiserie subjects remained popular
• GLAZE generally smoother than Dutch Delftware and chips easily; mainly pinkish or bluish; 18th-century glaze is smooth, as opposed to the whiter and “peppered” surface of Dutch Delftware
• PALETTE blue and white dominates; polychrome (iron red, yellow, green, brown, and manganese purple) also used, hit rarer and extremely collectable
• DECORATION this is cruder than Dutch Delftware:
monarchs, bold flowers, oak leaves, chinoiseries
• FLATWARES these have knife-like weals under the outer flange or rim since they were fired in the kiln on stilts
• COLLECTING flatvares are most available; dates and inscriptions and more unusual forms of decoration can increase the value of a piece substantially

Antique Dutch Pottery

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Tin-glazed earthenware has been produced in The Netherlands since the end of the 15th century. Introduced by immigrant Italian craftsmen who settled in Antwerp (c.1500), the techniques and the decorative style gradually spread north during the troubled years of the 1560s and 1570s. While many potteries were established at Haarlem, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam, it was the town of Delft that rose to prominence in the mid-17th century and from which the term “Delftware” is derived.
THE INFLUENCE OF ITALY
During the early to mid-16th century, potters produced what is known as the “Italian-Antwerp” style of wares, which were decorated with pine-cone motifs, scrolling stylized foliage, geometric patterns, and, later in the century, strapwork and half-shaded petal borders (sometimes termed “false gadroons”). Designs are often painted in high-fired colours copper green, yellow, and ochre) and usually boldly Outlined in blackish cobalt blue. Early wares include dishes, plates, albarelli (drug jars), and syrup-jugs. Although small household objects such as jugs or double-eared pots were probably made in large numbers, few are extant. Albarelli have survived in some quantity and can be recognized by their pronounced flanged bases and crisp mouth-rims. From around the middle of the 16th century the tortuous strapwork and adapted grotesque ornament of the Fontainebleau School in France are seen on more accomplished wares. Northern designers such as Vredeman de Vries of Leeuwarden and Cornelis Bos of Antwerp were also used as sources for this type of decoration.
Time and distance, however, gradually diluted both these influences (although they did not entirely disappear for another century). By the end of the 16th century new, more humble patterns had appeared, employing simple repeated motifs such as dashes, chevrons, or zigzags, and concentric circles enclosing stylized leaves, fruit, or flowers. Tiles were also made in large quantities, first for floors and later for walls.
Decoration was usually in blue but also in polychrome, and comprised mainly stylized leaves, flowers, and such fruit as pomegranates, and, later, figures with small corner motifs. The most important centres of production for tiles were Rotterdam, Haarlem, Delft, Gouda, Utrecht, and, later, Harlingen and Makkum.
During the period from 1600 to 1650, the influence of Italian maiolica was still felt. Decorative subjects were extensive and included shadowed foliage, whole and sliced fruit in the manner of Venice or Faenza, scrolling bryony-type flowers, zigzag patterns, and concentric bands of simplified foliage encircling formal flower-heads that resembled “targets”. Faenza-style putti and fern-type borders, leaping hounds, equestrian subjects, isolated standing figures, and blue-dash borders were also popular. However, a more local type of decoration that included religious subjects, shipping scenes, and milkmaids was gradually introduced.
THE BLUE-AND-WHITE PERIOD
From the beginning of the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company (V.O.C.) imported blue-and-white Chinese porcelain, known as kraak porcelain, into The Netherlands. The name derives from the Portuguese carracks, or merchant ships, that carried large cargoes
of Chinese export porcelain, two of which were captured by the Dutch in 1602 and 1604. During the early years of the 17th century, the type of Chinese ornament featured on this porcelain was introduced on Delftware. Within a few decades the high-fired Italian maiolica colours were largely displaced by a palette of blue and white, a switch that demonstrates the growing passion for blue-and-white Chinese porcelain.
As the Dutch brewing industry declined, many of the disused breweries in Delft were turned over to the potters, and from c.1650 Delft became the most important centre of production for tin-glazed earthenware. Factories at
this time included the Porceleynen Schotel and the Porceleynen Lampetkan.
Probably the single most important impetus for the vast increase in production of tin-glazed earthenwares was the cessation of imports of Chinese porcelain between 1645 and 1650, when the kilns in Jingdezhen were devastated by the invading Manchus. Between c.1650 and c.1680 the number of potteries in Delft rose from eight to nearly thirty. Production of blue-and-white “porcelain”, as the Dutch termed their tin-glazed earthenware, focused on reproducing Chinese wares made during the reign of Emperor Wanli ( 1,573-1619) and Transitional porcelain (1620-44), or kraak porcelain. Decoration also included Dutch landscapes and biblical subjects. Frederik van Frytom (1632-1702) was the best-known painter of plaques, plates, and dishes decorated with detailed landscapes, with dark-toned foregrounds, lighter-hued middle grounds, and hazy backgrounds. Tiles, drug jars, ewers and other hollow-wares, dishes, and flower-holders, some of great complexity (such as tall tulip vases), were produced. The most important factories included The Metal Pot, whose owner Adriacnus Kocks (d. 1701) supplied wares to the court of William and Mary, and The Rose, The Axe, The Three Bells, The White Star, The Greek A, and The Peacock. The still-life paintings of luscious flower displays by Dutch artists such as Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer and Jan van Huysum were very influential on the design of Delftware at this time.
POLYCHROME WARES
From c.1683 imports of Chinese porcelain were resumed, affecting the production of Delftware, which was aimed at the same market. From the end of the century, potters in Delft began to experiment with a polychrome palette. Wares follow the colourful famille-verte (green, red, yellow, purple, and red) and famille-rose (an opaque pink, white, and yellow) export porcelains made in China, which sometimes employed gilding. Another important influence were the Japanese Imari and Kakiemon porcelains, which were imported into The Netherlands in the middle of the 17th century while the Chinese imports were suspended. Dutch polychome wares tended to be restricted to a palette of yellow, blue, purple, green, red, and black. An important producer of polychrome wares in Delft was The Greek A factory (est. 1658), run by the Van Eenhoorn family.
Most of the wares produced during the 18th century are somewhat mundane, decorated with small repeating
patterns. Biblical subjects, plates painted with images of the months, and whaling and seal-hunting scenes were all popular forms of decoration. Production during the 18th century was extremely diverse and included wall plaques, flower-holders, coffee and tea services, butter-tubs, drug jars, candlesticks, garnitures or vases, punch-bowls, dishes, and small models of shoes. There were more than 30 potteries in Delft in the late-17th and 18th centuries, some specializing in tile production, although it seems that only two of these continued production in the 19th century. The increased popularity of English creamware (cream-coloured earthenware) caused the demise of the tin-glazed industry in The Netherlands from the early 19th century.
• BODY extremely fine, soft, and generally thinly potted
• GLAZE thick, white, and with a “peppered” effect due to air bubbles exploding during firing, seen most clearly on the backs of dishes
• STYLE until c.1600: Italianate/Fontainebleau; c.1610-20: Chinese kraak designs; c.1620-50: local styles; from c.1650: Chinese-style blue and white; from the early 18th century: an increase in polychrome in the style of Chinese and Japanese wares
• CENTRES OF PRODUCTION Delft, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Middelburg, and Rotterdam
• COLLECTING the choice for the collector is wide since so much was made; the condition wit] vary, but expect to find chipping on the rims of wares

Antique French Pottery

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Ti-glazed earthenware was produced in France from at least the beginning of the 16th century when itinerant potters from Italy first introduced the technique. The ware is called “faience”, since much of the early ware resembled maiolica made in Faenza, Italy.
THE 16TH CENTURY
The dominant style for most of the 16th century was Italian; craftsmen from Italy appear to have settled in Lyons (1512), Nevers, Montpellier, and Nimes, and the output of these centres closely reflects the contemporary Italian polychrome maiolica of Urbino, Faenza, and Savona. The Italian istoriato (narrative) style is found on wares made in Lyons and Nevers, while the panelled a quartiery style associated with Faenza is seen on the faience of Nimes and Montpellier. However, in the north of France at Rouen around the middle of the century the work of Masseot Abaquesne (active 1526-59) is more sombre, and the designs show a strong affiliation with the Mannerist work of the Fontainebleau School. Early Rouen was noted for the manufacture of tiles some still extant in chateaux), albarelli (drug jars), saucer dishes, and flat-rimmed dishes.
THE 17TH CENTURY
The first half of the century continued to be dominated by the Italian tradition, but from the mid-17th century a more native French Baroque style developed. Mythological figures after contemporary prints were Popular subjects; drawn in a bold, muscular style in which ochre and blue are often dominant, they are somewhat livelier than their Italian istoriato predecessors. Dishes, which greatly outnumber hollow-wares (except apothecaries’ wares), were typically embellished with heavy foliated borders, usually interrupted with cartouches enclosing diverse subjects. During the second quarter of the century the influence of imported Chinese porcelain is evident, both in decoration and in form, and consequently the “hot” Italian colours declined in favour of blue and white. Nevers was probably the most important centre until the last 20 years of the century and was one of the first French pottery centres to decorate its wares with Chinese motifs. Here the earliest manifestations are garbled versions of the many imported late Ming blueand-white wares. A large proportion of production was painted in cobalt blue, sometimes outlined in manganese brown with figures in the manner of Chinese Transitional porcelain. Alongside the Italianate and Chinese styles, faience with solid-coloured grounds was made, including, most commonly, bleu persan (Persian blue), cobalt, and, more rarely, ochre.
Rouen, close to Paris and the French court, developed as a prominent centre for faience at the end of the 17th century. The Rouen style of the late 17th and early 18th centuries is formal, utilizing intricate motifs resembling ironwork (forronerie) or lacework (lambrequin) but probably owing as much to contemporary Chinese ceramic ornament. The lambrequin rayonnant style, so-called because of its radiating “snowflake” complexity, was copied by many other manufacturers in France, including those in Strasbourg and Moustiers. At its height (c.1695-1725) Rouen combined this style with vessels based on the shapes of silverwares because the French nobility had been ordered to melt down its silver in order to finance the wars of Louis XIV. Faience therefore became a fashionable substitute for silver.
THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES
Between c.1710 and 1720 polychrome wares became fashionable once again. For the next 20 or 30 years bold chinoiseries in high-fired (grand-feu) colours eclipsed the blue-and-white wares. From c.1750 low-fired (petit-feu) enamelled decoration became the focus of the leading faience factories of the day, located in Strasbourg, Niderviller, Luneville, Sceaux, and Marseilles. In an ultimately futile competition with porcelain, these manufacturers decorated their wares with botanical flowers, chinoiseries, and fantastical landscapes in the most delicate brushwork. Forms from the mid-18th century, in keeping with the innate intimacy of the Rococo, were diverse and lively, almost matching porcelain in some instances.
However, in the late 18th century, competition from porcelain and English creamware (cream-coloured earthenware) proved too much for faience manufacturers, and many failed around the turn of the century. Some potteries survived the onslaught from English creamware by manufacturing the same material, known
as faience fine, which although clean and crisp was never as creamy or warm as the English ware. In France, factories such as those in Creil, Pontaux-Choux, and Montereau, some active before the
mid-18th century, made great quantities of faience fine, thus helping to accelerate the decline of faience. Many of these factories decorated their wares with transfer-printing in the style of creamware from the Wedgwood factory (est. 1759) in Burslem, England.
By the mid-19th century Quimper was one of the few surviving faience factories in France, producing wares with simple figural subjects loosely imitative
of I 8th-century Rouen. Gien, active toward the end of the 19th century, appears to have concentrated on the manufacture of wares in revival styles, using printed designs based on classic Italian maiolica. The output of historicized faience was fairly limited as many factories preferred to produce the fashionable styles current in the dying years of the 19th century. The firm of Samson (est. 1845) in Paris made a wide range of good reproductions of faience. Although this factory applied the original marks, it usually put its own monogram alongside.
• BODY Rouen: red; Nevers and Marseilles: buff;
Strasbourg: creamy white; Moustiers: greyish
• GLAZE Strasbourg: thick and creamy white; Moustiers: creamy grey
• PALETTE “hot” colours inspired by Italian maiolica; from c.1625 blue and white inspired by imported Chinese porcelain; high-fired colours: cobalt blue, manganese purple, ochre, yellow, green, and iron red; enamels: from the late 1740s a wide range of colours
• DECORATION Rouen: lainbrequins and arabesques; Nevers: narrative style; Strasbourg: botanical studies; Marseilles: naturalistic flowers, bouillabaisse; Moustiers: potato flowers, fantastic creatures, Classical figures, and festoons
Marks
These were very randomly applied; marks arc usually the initials of the proprietor of the factory; most are in puce, blue, or black; care should be taken since marks of such collectable factories as Strasbourg, Sceaux, Marseilles,
Rouen, Lille, and Nevers have been widely copied on 19th- and 20th-century fakes
Strasbourg: Paul Hannong factory (c.1740-60) Marseilles: Veuve Perrin factory (c.1740-95) Moustiers: Olerys factory (1 738–c.1790) Quimper: Antoine de la Hal (est. 1782)
Quimper: Fougeray factory (est. 1872): copies of 18th-century originals