Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art: Ceramics (81)

A handsome Chinese export porcelain shallow bowl decorated in blue and orange enamels with gilt highlights. This pattern, distinguished by gilt stars against a dark blue background, was made for the American market was not very common. The blue border is pierced by reserves, some of which are decorated with gilt floral sprigs that echo the floral decoration in the bowl’s center. The wide border is flanked with orange and gilt lines and the rim is finished with a Greek key border. The outer rim is decorated with a narrow blue band covered with gilt stars. The overall shape is typically 18th century.

Origin: China, ca. 1780. Condition: good, a very tight hairline visible from the back, a couple of rubs to the enamel from being in a plate stand. Size: 9-1/2” diameter; 1-9/16” high.

Gorgeous Qing Dynasty Chinese export porcelain vase with Rose Medallion enameled decoration. The body has a beautiful white color and intricate painted decoration of peonies, quince fruit, waterlilies, butterflies and birds. The foot, rim and shoulder are decorated with enameled flowers against a gilt background. The shoulder border is punctuated with reserves framing peony blossoms.

Origin: China, circa 1850.

Condition: excellent, no chips or cracks, normal wear to gilding, a tiny bit of wear to some of the enamels.

Size: 10" tall; 4" wide at shoulder; 3-1/8" wide at mouth.

Early Chinese export Rose Medallion porcelain condiment dish. The details are very finely painted and vibrantly colored. China, ca. 1860's. Excellent condition; the gilding along the top edges is mostly worn away; no chips or cracks. 3-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 11/16".

Early Chinese export Rose Medallion porcelain condiment dish. The details are very finely painted and vibrantly colored. China, ca. 1860's. Excellent condition; the gilding along the top edges is worn away; no chips or cracks. 3-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 11/16".

Early Chinese export Rose Medallion porcelain condiment dish. The details are very finely painted and vibrantly colored. China, ca. 1860's. Excellent condition; the gilding along the top edges is worn away; no chips or cracks. 3-1/8" x 2-3/8" x 11/16".

A very fine Chinese export porcelain basin with decoration in the Rose Medallion style. The interior bottom of the basin is divided into four quadrants, with alternating floral and courtyard scenes. The interior walls are likewise decorated. The everted rim is dcorated with floral reserves punctuating an allover floral pattern against a gilt background. The outer walls are decorated with simple sprays of peonies that echo the interior decoration. The quality of painting is quite nice and the colors are well-chosen. The rim is finished with a gilt band.

Origin: China, ca. 1865. Condition: excellent, only the slightest of wear to the gilding along the rim, no chips or cracks. Size: 16" diameter; 5" high.

A lovely Chinese export porcelain plate, the center decorated with a court scene depicting nobles welcoming a visitor bearing a staff and basket of fruit. The scene is very nicely enameled in the famille rose palette. The border is decorated in a trellis pattern in green enamels—a most unusual treatment for a Mandarin plate. The inner and outer borders are highlighted with gilding.

Origin: China, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, two exceedingly tight hairlines (perhaps limited to only the glaze) visible only on the back. Size: 10” diameter; 1-3/16” deep.

Extraordinary majolica tile raised on bun feet. The tile features a sinuous painted Art Nouveau design of elegant swans swimming in a river with a cityscape beyond, surrounded by a border of bamboo. The design has a distinctly impressionist look that brings to mind some of the Rookwood vellum patterns. The bottom is impressed "66" and has an illegibly impressed maker's mark.

Origin: European, circa 1880. Condition: superficial glaze scratching from normal wear; glaze crazing only on the underneath side. Size: 9.25" square; 1.5" high.

Outstanding majolica pitcher in the form of an owl. Modeled by the George Morley Co., this pattern is an icon of American majolica production. The colors are very nice, including the medium-pink interior. Unsigned.

Origin: American, 1884-91. Condition: sharp details, no chips, a hairline running along the back of the pitcher from near the top of the handle to the base, note that the dark areas that look like chips on the base are actually the remnants of adhesive used to hold on old felt pads. Size: 9" tall.

A delightful Bennington-type yellowware cow creamer with mottled brown glaze. The cow stands on a concave oval base. This example is more nicely potted than some, with good detailing in the ribcage area and a quirky facial expression. These creamers were made in both America and England, but the style of modelling suggests this is an American example. The tail has been reglued nicely, and a professional restorer could make the repair completely invisible.

Origin: America or England, ca. 1840. Condition: mint aside from the tail. Size: 6-7/8" x 3" x 5-3/8".

A nice Griffin, Smith & Hill majolica pitcher in the "Wild Rose" pattern. The bulbous sides are decorated with yellow wild rose blossoms and green foliage against a stippled ivory background. The base has a medium-blue basketweave pattern and the lip is finished in a reeded pattern in the same shade. The pitcher has an applied twig handle and a butterfly forms the pouring spout. The interior is pink.

Origin: America, ca. 1875. Condition: very good, no cracks, a few very small nicks on the upper rim (1/32" to 3/16"). Size: 4-1/2" tall.

Terrific American majolica dish in the form of a fish. The painting on this example is especially nice, with very lifelike colors. The modeling is very crisp and clean. The back has a decorator's mark, but no maker's mark. It is possibly a product of Griffin, Smith & Hill. Perfect condition. Circa 1880. 7-1/2" x 10".

Charming Stafforshire child's cup decorated with a transfer design of two children dressed up as a soldier and his lady taking an amorous walk through the countryside. Plain strap handle. Ca. 1860. Origin: England. Size: 2.5" tall. Condition: There is a thinning of the glaze at the rim, which may be a manufacturing defect; otherwise mint.

Porcelain vase in a squared baluster form by Coalport. The medium pink color is offset by a beautifully modeled and gilt snail and gilt details along the rim and the base. Ca. 1890. Origin: England. Size: 5-5/8" tall. Condition: some discoloration to the interior; light glaze crazing; no chips, cracks, etc.

Very rare Staffordshire figural inkwell in the form of two birds nesting amongst flowers. A beautifully modeled and painted tulip stands upright between the birds. It is possible that the tulip was intended as a candlestick, because the quill holders are in the base near the birds' tails. Origin: England, ca. 1870. Size: 2-3/4" diameter; 3" tall. Condition: excellent, no damage or repairs.

A very nice pair of Staffordshire spaniels highlighted with gilt decoration. Each dog wears a collar with a padlock and a chain. The muzzles are decorated with pink and black overglaze enamel, and the eyes are set with glass eyes. Both have the whimsical "Joan Crawford" eyebrows. Spaniels with glass eyes, although a bit later than some of the other Staffordshire figures, are difficult to find.

Origin: England, ca. 1890. Condition: excellent, no damage, one dog has a slightly open seam on top of the ear that is original to the making. Size: 8-1/2" x 3-1/4" x 9" tall.

Rare large ironstone platter in the Imari taste with a cobalt blue border by G.L. Ashworth, the successor to Mason’s. The platter’s rim is unusually decorated with reserves showing Japanese ladies with parasols and floral elements surrounded by gilding. The central design shows an Asian-themed still life including peonies, lotus blossoms, pagodas, etc. The back is printed with Ashworth’s mark, is impressed “Real Ironstone China”, and has a decorator’s mark.

Origin: England, ca. 1870. Condition: excellent; no chips, cracks or discoloration; light wear to gilding along edges. Size: 15-7/8” x 12-5/8”.

A nice Staffordshire inkwell or quill holder in the form of a recumbent deer. The naive painted decoration almost makes it look as if she's wearing a little black hat. The doe is posed on a white base molded as a rocky outcropping. The base is highlighted with a burnished gilt line.

Origin: England, ca. 1850. Condition: excellent, no damage. Size: 4-3/4" x 2" x 4".