Amazing Pair of Mintons Porcelain Cobalt Blue Ground Covered Vases w/ Still Life

Description

A Pair of 19th Century Mintons Porcelain Cobalt Blue Ground Covered Vases with Still Life Scene Cartouches. Each vase is of compressed oval form with domed, detachable lids and circular pedestal bases. The central panels on each side are framed in gilt beaded borders and depict dense still life arrangements rendered in enamel colors on a white ground. The painted decoration includes a variety of identifiable flowers and fruit, such as yellow and white roses, purple lilacs, pink peonies, orange marigolds, blue morning glories, and red and white carnations. The fruit includes clusters of red and white grapes, ripe peaches, cherries, apricots, plums, pomegranates, and red currants, arranged in overlapping layers with green foliage and vine tendrils extending into the composition. The vases are set with white scrolled handles overlaid with applied matte gilt foliate mounts and terminating in curled volutes at the shoulder. Between the handles are suspended wreaths and floral garlands modeled in relief and gilded in a matte finish. A band of raised white enamel cabochons encircles the neck below the rim, bordered by flat gilt bands. The upper shoulders are further decorated with continuous bands of gilt oak-leaf scrollwork, while the lower body features fluted white panels intertwined with diagonal blue and gilt ribbon-like decoration. A frieze of scrolling foliage in gilt on cobalt is applied around the lower register, directly above the spreading base. The lids are similarly decorated with a cobalt ground and a band of gilt foliage along the sloped rim. Each is surmounted by a pomegranate-form finial modeled in high relief, surrounded by molded clusters of acorns, oak leaves, and flower heads in white and gilt. The interior of each vase is glazed in white, and the lid fits snugly into a recessed lip at the opening. The enamel, gilding, and applied work are consistently executed across the pair, with each floral and fruit composition varying slightly in placement and grouping. England, Circa: 1880

Details

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