Roman Bronze Works, a Pair of Bronze Vases with Nymph and Satyr Relief, 1900s

French Art Nouveau Ocean Life Theme Vase Cachepot Iridescent Stoneware & Patinated Bronze Crab Appliqué ca. 1900s ABOUT We present here a most unusual and utterly decorative Fren...

Frederic Rhead, a pair of English Arts & Crafts Glazed terracotta vases with Peacocks, circa 1900. This outstanding pair of English Arts & Crafts gla...

Japanese Art Nouveau Flower Vase Awaji Ware Art Studio Pottery ca. 1900s ABOUT AWAJI WARE ART STUDIO POTTERY Awaji pottery was made on the Japanese island of the same name between...

ABOUT IRIS The iris is a special and mysterious flower. Not only because of its striking appearance, but also from an artistic and historical point of view. It is also like a work of art, as though created by Mother Nature. The unique leaves of this plant not only create wonderful shadow casts, but also look as if they were painted by hand. It's no wonder that iris acts as the muse for countless artists, and can be seen in many famous works of art. The iris was first spotted in the time of Pharaoh Thutmose, in 1504 BC. He had the iris inscribed into the wall reliefs of a temple as a sign of his power, as well as decorating his sceptre with motifs of the flower. Since then, the iris has been a symbol of victory in Egypt. But the symbolism of the iris goes further than that. In Japan, the flower represents courage and is the symbol of the boys' festival. In Islamic cultures, the iris is a symbol of prosperity. In Europe, the flower was a popular weapon symbol in the Middle Ages and stood for chivalry. And in Christianity, the iris was seen as a symbol of the trinity because of its three-part flowers. With more than 300 varieties, the iris is now the most popular flower among growers and gardeners following the rose. Countless artists use the iris in their works and the flower is present in all eras. You can see the flower on furniture, vases, jewelry, fabrics, sculptures, coats of arms and much more. Did you know that the iris is also called the sword lily? It's not a coincidence that it used to symbolize physical and emotional pain and suffering caused by a weapon. We also see the flower in religious art, where it's often associated with Mary and Jesus. The iris is also associated with the Greek goddess Iris, where the flower symbolizes reconciliation and divine messages. This is also reflected in many paintings. Finally, the iris is also visible in Dutch and Flemish still-life paintings. This can be in a religious form, incorporated into an object or as a decorative flower. In the Art Nouveau art movement, the iris (along with other plants, such as the birch) was often used as an expression of feminine beauty. With its almost otherworldly appearance, the iris is perfectly suited to the Art Nouveau aesthetic and is featured in many well-known works of art. The poet of that era, Hermann Hesse...

Pair of 1900s vases in glazed stoneware, decorated with hunting birds, insects, leaves and fruit, ribbons and masks of lion. The inside is lined with a container of tinplate.

Pair of beautiful ceramic vases in shades of emerald blue to dark green, production from the early 1900s, in Art Nouveau or Jugendstil style in the shape of water lilies with bronze ...

Pottery was an important part of daily living in ancient Rome. As Romans used earthenware for most purposes, a huge quantity of utensils - cooking pots, amphorae and fine wares were ...

Striking pair of early 1900s Art Nouveau vases by Goldscheider & Liezen, hand-painted in terracotta with lush natural motifs and foliage. This exquisite pair reflects the elegance o...