Georgian Blue John and Silver Urn

This beautiful ornamental urn is carved of rare Blue John Derbyshire spar, taken from the now-extinct Blue John Cavern in Derbyshire, England. Crafted in a classically-inspired shape, this closed urn evokes the elegance of the Georgian period. Since the Roman era, Blue John was used to create fine decorative wares. This intriguing stone demands a great deal of skill in its handling and was the material most favored by silversmith Matthew Boulton, especially for the creation of his stoneware vases. A soft and brittle stone, it responds very quickly to heat, and must be carefully dried in order to retain its original color. This urn is wonderful example of Blue John artistry, circa 1810 Measures: 11 5/8" high Discovered by the Romans over 2,000 years ago, Blue John stone...

Blending natural wonder and artistic prowess, this magnificent pair of cassolettes is a symphony of craftsmanship. The intricate gilt bronze decor, only made possible by the finest c...

This important George III tazza is attributed to famed Scottish-Swedish architect Sir William Chambers. The magnificent piece features a base carved from statuary marble in the shape of a stylized dolphin, which relates to Chambers' extraordinary 18th-century architectural designs. A marvel of beauty and craftsmanship, the tazza is also inset with specimens of Derbyshire Blue John in both the plinth and bowl. Blue John is one of the most in-demand decorative stones in the world, and its inclusion in this piece elevates the tazza to a true Georgian masterpiece. Due to its popularity, the largest veins of Blue John had disappeared by the early 19th century, and only a small amount of the stone remains today. Because of its scarcity, most examples of Blue John furniture feature only small inset veneers. By contrast, this rare tazza features not one, but two substantial specimens of the stone. It represents some of the last ornamental wares created of such grand size and proportion, though other smaller examples still grace the stately British estates of Chatsworth, Hardwick, Kedleston and Haddon, among others. Not only does this tazza boast a highly rare material, but it was also designed by one of the most important architects and designers of the Georgian era. Sir William Chambers was a Scottish-Swedish architect based in London who was active during the reigns of Kings George II and George III. Celebrated for his combination of English Palladianism...

These bronze-mounted Sèvres porcelain urns are monumental in both size and quality and feature the renowned manufactory’s signature deep cobalt blue glaz...

This beautiful damascene urn is a wonderful example of Toledo metalwork. The incredibly fine oxidized steel with gold inlay is congruent with the organic motifs used by craftsmen in ...

A remarkable example of Josiah Wedgwood's legendary ceramic art, the importance and rarity of this urn vase simply cannot be overstated. Black basalt refers to the fine-grained stoneware developed by Josiah Wedgwood in the 1760s that was inspired by the hard, natural stone known as Egyptian basalt...

Pair of attractive blue John decorative urns, English 19th century, w. bulbous bodies in exquisite purple-blue and golden tones, with white marble finials and bases, standing on a bl...

Shaped like a goblet. Tapered form carved and hollowed from a single piece of wood, the exterior decorated with a bacchanalian parade of figures of Pan playing instruments on and pul...

Italian Silver Neoclassical Lidded Urn. Italian neoclassical sterling silver urn form zucchiera. Handles with foliate terminals and lid with a...

An alabaster urn and cover inlaid with blue John on square slate base. English, circa early 19th century.

Pair of beautifully made, hand painted, gray-ground, craqueleur-glazed urns featuring incised clay bands and sculpted, willow-branch armatures.

Antique Chinese (Late 19th Century) ceramic urn with blue floral designs surrounding bold, centered characters on 4 sides.