Stunning Example of a pair of English Minton Porcelain Centerpieces or Flower Vases, each modelled as a kneeling cherub carrying a flower vase on its back in the form of a cornucopia kneeling on a naturalistic circular base on a plain platform stand. Circa third quarter of the Nineteenth Century.
Exquisitely decorated in colours of turquoise on white glazed ground with lavish gold highlights.
Condition: Good condition for such an early piece with no losses, no discoloring anywhere. Typically unmarked as pieces of this early period.
Height: (entire as image one) 6.75" (16.5cm). Diameter: (at base) 2.75” (7cm).
Location: Dublin City, Ireland.
Affordable fixed price Worldwide Store to door shipping.
Provenance: From the Collection of Kenneth Neame, Mount Street, Mayfair, offered by Sothebys London.
Mintons was a major English company in Staffordshire Pottery, "Europe's leading ceramic factory during the Victorian era" an independent business from 1793 to 1968. It was a leader in ceramic design, working in a number of different ceramic bodies, decorative techniques, and "a glorious pot-pourri of styles - Rococo shapes with Oriental motifs, Classical shapes with Medieval designs and Art Nouveau borders were among the many wonderful concoctions". As well as pottery vessels and sculptures, the firm was a leading manufacturer of tiles and other architectural ceramics, producing work for both the Houses of Parliment and United States Capitol.
The family continued to control the business until the mid-20th century. Mintons had the usual Staffordshire variety of company and trading names over the years, and the products of all periods are generally referred to as either "Minton", as in "Minton China", or "Mintons", the mark used on many. Mintons Ltd was the company name from 1879 onwards