British Vases

Of all the glassworks produced in the late 19th century, cameo glass was the most challenging to perfect. Only a handful of artisans succeeded in mastering this intricate craft, with...

A rare and exceptional Doulton Lambeth aesthetic movement stoneware vase decorated with stylized motifs by renowned designer and decorator Emily J Edwards and dated 1875. Emily Edwards...

The Following Item is A Spectacular and Very Beautiful Set of Four Frank M. Whiting Centerpieces of Clear Glass with Exquisite Sterling Silver Overlay. Taken out of a Several Millio...

Pair of Doulton Lambeth vases, circa 1890.

Lovely English late victorian three tier garden plant stand or jardiniere. The stand features an iron frame decorated with wire basket borders. Excellent joinery and craftsmanship wi...

Crockery White, 1882 Ltd. with Max Lamb. A collection of fine bone china tableware slip-cast from plaster models carved by hand, with glazed interior for functionality and raw exteri...

This is a pair of vintage trumpet vases. An English, cloud glass flower sleeve in Art Deco taste, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930. ...

This extraordinary First Edition Wedgwood rendering of the legendary Portland Vase is one of the rarest masterpieces of Josiah Wedgwood, the most important ceramics manufacturer of the 18th century. A tour de force of ceramic art, the Portland Vase First Editions are regarded as one of the greatest ceramic accomplishments of the 18th century, and they are a testament to the superior skill of Josiah Wedgwood, his extraordinary ambition and his tireless dedication to perfection. One of the very few First Editions still in private hands, this exceptional Wedgwood Portland Vase is one of the most important works of ceramics on the market. The story of Wedgwood and the Portland Vase is legendary. The original Portland Vase is the ancient world's most famous decorative arts masterpiece—a cameo glass vase dating to circa 25 CE with a frieze representing the myth of Peleus and Thetis, initially thought to be carved from stone. When it was first rediscovered around 1582, it captivated the world with its opaque white cameo figures over its rich blue background. After the vase was excavated it was owned by Cardinal Barberini, whose family later sold it to the Duke of Hamilton who eventually sold it to the Duchess of Portland, from whom the famed vase now takes its name. The famed British sculptor John Flaxman was likely the first to have brought the vase to Wedgwood’s attention. In a letter dated February 5, 1784, he wrote: “I wish you may soon come to town to see William Hamilton’s vase, it is the finest production of Art that has been brought to England and seems to be the very apex of perfection to which you are endeavouring to bring your bisque and jasper…” Indeed, the Portland Vase is a masterpiece of cameo-cutting, with a stunning frieze of opaque white cameo glass over its translucent deep blue form. Its beauty and translucence would inspire Wedgwood to undertake his years-long endeavor to precisely replicate the original in porcelain. Upon closer examination, Wedgwood realized the vase was not made of stone or earthenware, but of cameo glass—a technique so advanced it remains the masterpiece of cameo-cutting. Today, the vase is housed in the British Museum, where it is the second most viewed antiquity, only after the Rosetta Stone. It then took Wedgwood several painstaking years to craft his unparalleled copy of the vase, during which he perfected the jasperware technique that would become his crowning achievement. To this day, the renowned porcelain firm regards the vase as its most momentous triumph, so much so that the vessel’s silhouette is incorporated into the Wedgwood logo. The four years it took Wedgwood to complete his vase were not without tribulations. From the start, Wedgwood encountered numerous problems with his copies, from cracking and blistering to the difficulty of replicating the translucent effects of the original. The first acceptable copy was produced in October 1789 and sent to Wedgwood’s physician and friend Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin. Wedgwood presented another copy to Queen Charlotte in May 1790 and afterward organized a private exhibition of the vase at the Portland House in London. The viewing proved so popular that Wedgwood was forced to restrict the show to 1,900 visitors. Much of London wished to see Wedgwood’s greatest major achievement. Perhaps the highest praise of Wedgwood’s copy came from the famed artist Sir Joshua Reynolds, the founder of the British Royal Academy: “I can venture to declare it a correct and faithful imitation, both in regard to the general effect, and the most minute detail of the part.” Over the next few years, Wedgwood's oven records listed 43 First Edition copies of the Portland Vase produced between 1791 and 1796, 11 of which were broken during the firing process. In all, it is believed around 30 First Edition vases were completed, though an unknown number of these were somewhat damaged—one of these imperfect examples is currently held by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The perfect examples such as ours have found their way into the most important museum collections in the world. The British Museum (London), Art Institute of Chicago, Birmingham Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) and the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge, UK), among others, all hold one of these highly coveted vases in their collections. In terms of technical achievement, the First Edition Portland Vases...

NOTE: We do not keep this in the showroom. Please let us know if you're visiting and would like to see it. Rarely does a first edition Portland vase...

A large Moorcroft Pottery big poppy vase. Walter Moorcroft era. The base bears impressed marks and a blue glaze script Walter Moorcroft signature. ...

This is a large vintage decorative temple urn. An English, ceramic vase with cover, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1950. Striking finish across a ...

An absolutely stunning Arts & Crafts bud shaped art glass vase attributed to renowned glass maker Harry James Powell (British, 1853 - 1922) and dating from around 1900. The vase hand...

MOORCROFT - 'Clematis' - Vintage Arts & Crafts ceramic vase - hand painted with a blue background - impressed stamps to the base - U.K. - circa 1950-86. Excellent condition - no lo...

A fine, large vase in black basalt, decorated with an encaustic painted figure of a youth and an older man, taken from The Hamilton vase in the British Museum. It is unusual to find ...

Beautiful, graceful, Art Nouveau Period, sterling silver vase, having a trefoil-shaped base, Sheffield, England, year- hallmarked for 1903, William Mammatt and Son - makers. Measures...

A Wedgwood Portland Jasperware Vase, 19th Century. A beautiful pale Yellow color with matching stand. This vase is "Full Size" and in excellent condition for it's 19th century age....

Stunning example of a pair of English Minton porcelain centerpieces or flower vases, each modelled as a standing cherub one harvesting wheat, both ending with stunning pierced oval centerpieces on footed supports. 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, few old tiny firing hairlines at leg areas. Typically unmarked as pieces of this early period. Height: (entire as image one) 8.5" (21.5cm). Width: (at base) 7.75” (19.5cm). Depth: (at base) 5.25” (13.5cm). 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...

A very fine pair English twin handled porcelain vases painted with flowers by renowned makers Grainger Worcester and dating from the 19th century. T...

A stunning English aesthetic movement porcelain vase hand-painted with a grazing cattle scene by renowned makers Grainger Worcester and dated 1893. The elegantly shaped and attractiv...

A stunning Charles Brannam art pottery three handled vase with low relief sgraffito designs of swimming fish by James Dewdney and dated 1905. The stylish earthenware vase stands on a...

A Rare and Highly Important Antique English 19th Century Thomas Webb & Sons Blue Cut-to-Clear Double Handle Cameo Wine Cooler, Signed G. Woodall. Etched and Ccid Washed. This 19th ...

Three-piece English porcelain assembled garniture, Staffordshire, circa 1820

Beautiful and elegant 19th century English porcelain three piece decorative covered urn / vase with exterior hand painted floral and gilt design details. The covered urn / vase featu...

This rare and significant cameo glass vase exemplifies the exceptional craftsmanship of George Woodall, a master artist celebrated for his outstanding skill in cameo carving. The amp...

Rare and probably unique Art Nouveau lustre glazed art pottery vase by Cranston Pottery and made around 1900. Probably an exhibition piece this lightl...

A Wedgwood Lustre Butterfly vase designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones circa 1915 as part of her revolutionary Ordinary Lustres line at the manufactory. This Wedgwood lustreware vase is a ...

A rare and very unusual pair Doulton Burslem Coaching art pottery vases dating from around 1909. The earthenware vases are of tall square column form standing raised on a wide square platform base and is decorated with a two coachman figures to the body with banners, one reading The Coachman and the other An Old Jarvey. A further decoration of horse drawn coaches...

A fine Aesthetic Movement Royal Worcester bud shaped porcelain pedestal vase dated 1894. The vase stands raised on a domed square shaped base mounted on four molded leaf feet with a ...

A delightful Art Nouveau Royal Worcester urn shaped twin handled porcelain vase hand painted with floral designs dated 1905. The lightly potted vase stands on a narrow round foot rim...

Lovely pair of Victorian Period, sterling silver bud vases, London, year-hallmarked for 1896, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co., Ltd. - makers. Each vase measures 6 3/4 inches high x 2...

A stunning pair of vases in black basalt. Known as Apotheosis Vases, or sometimes Pegasus Vases, it's rare to find a pair of these; still rare to find the...

This antique creamware mustard pot was made in England around 1810. The pot features an elegant, barrel-shaped, rounded body with an integrated stand, a gracefully shaped handle, and...

Of all the glassworks created in the second half of the 19th century, the most difficult to perfect were those done in cameo. Very few artisans ever achieved success in hand-crafting...

This is a tall, vintage decorative carnival vase. An English, glass flower vase with colourful midcentury appeal, circa 1950. Radiant color accentuate...

Of all the glassworks created in the second half of the 19th century, the most difficult to perfect were those done in cameo. Very few artisans ever achieved success in hand-crafting...

Fine vintage Jack in the pulpit iridescent art glass vase, possibly by Heron Glass or Czech and dating from the 20th century. The vase has an amethyst tint and is hand blown with a t...

A lovely Smoking Set of Wedgwood Jasperware Pale Blue two pieces, comprising a round lidded box, and an ashtray. Made by Wedgwood in England in 1980s, marked/stamped on base. Dimensi...

A simple Modernist polished silver-plated vase with a simple yet elegant design. The vase is in a used vintage condition with a small dent on the outer edge of the rim and the base s...

A Majolica glazed spill vase from the Staffordshire pottery region of England, attributed to Wardle & Co. circa 1860. The vase is molded as a woman’s hand holding an upright ear of...

This elegant Art Nouveau vase was realized in the England by the storied maker Wedgwood circa 1890. It features Art Nouveau stylized foliate patterns in caramel and crimson with an i...

Hand rolled glass hyacinth forcing vase from the 1890’s in a stunning indigo blue. View the detailed images.

Pair of large English Regency style red and black lacquered 6 sided Chinoiserie decorated floor vases on small bases (19th Cent.) (Priced as Pair)'  

Stunning example of a collection of three miniature English Minton porcelain decorative items, a lidded twin handle Urn, a twin handle vase and a tall slender Ewer all of outstanding quality. Each decorated with old Summer Roses on a white and turquoise ground. Circa third quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Condition: Good condition for such early pieces with no losses, no discoloring anywhere. Puce base mark MINTONS below a crown. Back views are similar. Ewer height: (entire) 6.25" (15.5cm). Location: Dublin City, Ireland. Affordable fixed price Worldwide Store to door shipping. Provenance: From the Collection of Kenneth Neame...

Stunning Pair of English Regency Period Hand Painted Two Handled Mantle Vases of Museum quality of ovoid outline, ending on square bases. Firmly attributed to Coalport or Rockingham ...

Wonderful Rare Identical Pair of Early English Porcelain China Sauce or Food Tureens complete with their original covers and undertrays, possib...

Unusual pair of antique Victorian quality Bretby vases having a quality crane bird standing on a green grass base next to a green bamboo tree in wonderful hand painted colours A ch...

A fine, large vase in black basalt, decorated with an encaustic painted figure of a youth, taken from The Hamilton vase in the British Museum. The shape is taken from the Greek Hydria...

An exceptionally fine quality rare example of an early Bloor period Royal Crown Derby hand painted porcelain Garniture of generous proportions by Thomas Steel. First quarter of the N...

A very finely potted Ruskin Arts & Crafts art pottery miniature vase decorated with ochre and blue lustre glazes by renowned potter William Howson Taylor (British, 1876 – 1935) dated...

A rare pair of English porcelain double-handled polychromed porcelain urns with classical figures; marked "S.A. & Co." (Smith Ambrose and Co. Burslem, England); each finely decorated...

A rare and unusual castle Hedingham pottery twin handled puzzle vase or jug designed by Edward Bingham (British, 1829-1914) and dating between 1864 an...

This is a tall vintage crystal flower vase. An English, cut crystal glass decorative trumpet vase, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1...

This is a very rare, ironstone Two Handled, Ice Pail or Wine Cooler Pot, made by Mason's Patent Ironstone China Company, of Lane Delph, Staffordshire, England, circa 1818. This piece is substantial and heavily potted, weighing about 2.2 Kg un-packed. The pot is circular with 12 vertical sections, sitting on a low foot with an everted rim. The two side handles are strongly potted and this piece is quite suitable for use or display, as an ice bucket, wine bottle cooler or perhaps as a vase or centre piece. The piece is decorated in the Mason's recorded pattern called "Basket of Flowers" which is a vibrant floral pattern, hand polychrome enamelled over a sepia print on a white glaze. This pattern is illustrated on Page 30...

Decorated with mauve, plum and blue blossoms against a cobalt ground.

A stunning Neoclassical Wedgwood Portland blue bowl with a white overlay. This piece is believed to have been a small sugar bowl, however we think it...

A particularly successful vase in black basalt, with simple, classical deocration or swags and berries & leaves. This vase comes from the Wedgwood & Bentley period, during which the ...

Wedgwood black Ravenstone set Wedgwood Ravenstone small urn, vase and cache pot Matte black glaze wegwood, designed by Norman Wilson, 1960s England The measurements are for th...

A rare Bretby Art Nouveau high fired ‘flambe’ glazed art pottery vase by Henry Tooth & Co and dating from 1900-1910. This exquisite simple shaped bulbous vase stands on a narrow roun...