Early 20th Century Urns

This is a stunning porcelain potpourri vase with a double cover made by Royal Worcester in 1901. It is painted with beautiful orchids against a soft blue background by the famous porcelain artist Frank Roberts. This vase is a beautiful decorative object. Potpourri vases were meant to hold a mix of scented dried flowers and leaves (the potpourri) to freshen the air in the often stuffy Georgian or Victorian homes in a time before vacuum cleaners. The covers are perforated to let the scent out. The original Worcester factory was founded in the mid 18th Century and belongs to the group of famous pioneering potteries in Britain. It went through various changes and take overs, and in the mid 19th Century it merged with Chamberlains and Grainger, both earlier split-offs, taking the new name "Royal Worcester". The factory distinguished itself with its extremely high quality of artwork, hiring the best artists and always coming up with very vivid designs for decorative objects full of flowers, birds and fruits. It was in operation until the early 21st Century but eventually succumbed to the changing times. Today the best 19th Century Royal Worcester pieces are desired collectors' items. This potpourri has a charming pumpkin shape and a cover with a Persian-style spire finial. The rims are set in carmine-red and gilt bands with white "pearls". Interestingly, the pot has a double cover: one to keep the potpourri inside airtight when not in use, and one to let out the scent. The body of the pot is superbly painted with softly hued ferns and orchids by Frank Roberts. Roberts was mostly known for his exceptional warmly coloured fruit paintings, but he also did some superb flower paintings, particularly orchids like the ones on these vases. Roberts was a quiet and religious person who kept to himself, but he had an iconic status among the Worcester painters. He was not only a painter, but was one of the few people who could trace and raise gold, a difficult technique. Ever since Roberts' time at Royal Worcester, apprentices were given his work to copy as part of their training. Roberts was born in 1857 and started working at Royal Worcester in 1872 when he was only 25 years old, until shortly before his death in 1920. The pot carries the green Royal Worcester...

Large antique trophy shaped silver ice / champagne bucket, vase or trophy presentation cup by Harry Atkin. Beautifully chased with gadrooning design along base and lower side of cup. Features thick contoured handles leading to a heart pendant. “Atkin Brothers business traces his origin to Thomas Law, a silversmith active in Sheffield from c. 1750 to 1775. He was one of the only two firms combining the trades of cutlers and general silversmiths. The business was continued by his sons John and William, and later by Joseph Law (probably the son of John, as in an 1830 directory he is quoted as ""Joseph Law, late John Law...

This is an Italian hand painted porcelain urn with a wine color background adorned with a continuous scene of a repousse group of nudes cherubs in the jungle. Some of them are playin...

These are a stunning pair of red Bohemian covered vases with wheel cut decorations of flowers and leaves. They are 11.5 inches tall and are from circa 1900-1920. They would make a beautiful decoration on any dining room table, on a sideboard, in a cabinet or on top of a table or cabinet. The pedestals of the vases have cut overlay...

Coalport bone china covered gilt decorated covered urn, with apple green background, all-over sprays of gilt florals, signed with green backstamp a...