Louisiana - Vases and Vessels

A handmade terracotta vessel from 19th century Morocco, with traditional Berber decorative motifs drawn in black over the natural clay. The body of the piece is minimally decorated w...

Impressive Greek olive jar from the 18th century, the terracotta darkened by natural oils and three centuries of use. This antique vessel, once used to hold olives and their oil, fea...

Hand rolled, emerald-colored glass hyacinth forcing vase from the 1890’s with ribbed texture. View the detailed images.

Pre-refrigeration, confit jars extended the life of perishable items either buried in the ground or as storage containers. This terracotta example, made in France in the 19th century...

A beautiful olive green glass storage jar from France, 18th century. Originally used to store vegetables, fruits, truffles and other food sundries, today this makes a wonderful vase and can be placed throughout the home for an added pop of color and texture. Rare and highly sought-after, what may be mistaken as imperfections: tilted mouths, bubbles and ripples in the glass, are actually the very attributes that make these colored glass jars...

Luscious cranberry glass vase on clear pedestal foot, English, circa 1900. The opening of the tulip-shaped bowl is smooth, and could be used as a serving piece when entertaining or t...

Antique French Majolica Barbotine Jardinière Hunt Stag Onnaing Cache Pot Planter. Direct from France, a gorgeous 19th century antique French majolica jardinière or cache pot! The ca...

Acid Etched and Cameo Glass Vase Émile Gallé Circa 1910 This exquisite Art Nouveau vase was crafted by the renowned Gallé in Nancy, France. Emblematic of Gallé's mastery, the vase’s...

Hand rolled, emerald green-colored glass hyacinth forcing vase from the 1890’s. View the detailed images.

A sizable vessel, made in France circa 1880 of solid brass. The pot has a large iron handle for carrying or hanging it. It will lay flat when not being used. Over the years, the bras...

19th century Pair set 2 French confit pot yellow glazed pottery provincial. Direct from France, this is for two antique French confit pots, a...

19th century pair set 2 French Confit pot yellow glazed pottery provincial. Direct from France, this is for two antique French confit pots, a...

Pair of Antique 19th Century Porcelain Ginger Jars with Lids, Circa 1890.

Cameo Glass Elephant Vase Émile Gallé Circa 1925 This monumental Art Nouveau vase is one of the finest achievements of Émile Gallé’s iconic glassmaking firm. Showcasing Gallé’s mast...

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 the firm of Thomas Webb & Sons standing out as the most accomplished. Webb’s cameo...

Stunning Italian gold gilt crystal vase, dating to circa 1850 if not earlier. A true artisan and visionary sculpted this work from thick, heavy glass to create the trumpet form with ...

Pair of Black Basalt Sacred to Bacchus and Neptune Ewers Wedgwood Dated 1870 These extraordinary ewers are masterfully crafted in the renowned Sacred to Neptune and Sacred to Bacchu...

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...

19th century PAIR Set 2 French Confit Pot Yellow Glazed Pottery Provincial Direct from France, this is for two antique French confit pots, al...

Hand rolled, amethyst-colored glass hyacinth forcing vase from the 1890’s. View the detailed images.

Winter Landscape Vase Daum Nancy Circa 1920 This exquisite cameo vase by Daum Nancy, known as “Paysage d’Hiver” or "Winter Landscape," masterfully captures the serene beauty of wint...

A French terracotta olive oil jar from the 19th century, with wonderful glazes of vibrant orange and detailed cream and black decorations of fluid lines and surrounding foliate desig...

A beautiful bottle-green glass storage jar from France, 18th century. Originally used to store vegetables, fruits, truffles and other food sundries, today this makes a wonderful vase and can be placed throughout the home for an added pop of color and texture. Rare and highly sought-after, what may be mistaken as imperfections: tilted mouths, bubbles and ripples in the glass, are actually the very attributes that make these colored glass jars...

19th century Antique French Majolica Barbotine ceramic wall pocket flower vase "Confetti" . Direct from FRANCE, gorgeous hand painted design on ...

Cameo Glass Polar Bear Vase Émile Gallé Circa 1927 This towering Art Nouveau vase stands as one of the finest achievements of Émile Gallé’s iconic gla...

Fairyland Lustre Pillar Vase Wedgwood Circa 1920 One of the earliest Fairyland Lustre motifs, this Pillar pattern vase by Wedgwood features the fantastical Isle of the Genii, popula...

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

Abstracted foliage swirls to form this Lalique vase in the Acanthes design, first designed by René Lalique on February 28, 1927. Inspired by the timeless natural motif, this vase emb...

An impressive pair of walnut urns made in 19th century England. These urns have been expertly turned on a lathe to create the basin and pedestal, ending on mahogany square bases. Cle...

Washed in stunning cobalt blue glaze, this vintage pair of French Gres d’Alsace ceramic vases comes from the Alsatian town of Betschdorf which has maintained a unique tradition of ce...

A rare Italian hand blown blue glass damigiana or demijohn hand-crafted in Italy circa 1800. Composed of a gorgeous free-blown aqua blue glass that exhibits trapped air bubbles withi...

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...

Crafted by the celebrated French glassmaker René Lalique, this enchanting Ceylan vase is molded from opalescent glass with a blue stained wheel. The design...

Antique Japanese Satsuma Porcelain Vase on Stand, Circa 1910-1920's.

This French 19th century clear glass and hand blown wine keg, or demijohn, has a collection of corks inside. A hand made oak crate is stamped with the word “France”. View all images ...

This exquisite vase belongs to Loetz's prestigious Papillon collection and is identified as the 7724 form. Renowned for its captivating color palette, this piece showcases a striking...

Pair antique English mahogany knife and fork cutlery urns / boxes, Circa 1910-1920. Exceptional size.

This remarkable acid-etched vase is the work of the famed Art Nouveau master Émile Gallé, one of the most highly regarded names in French glassmaking. The artist's love of nature is ...

Bearing a cipher mark from 1856, this mid-19th-century centerpiece stands as a crowning achievement of the esteemed firm Minton & Co. This accomplishment of such grand scale in ceram...

Antique French Majolica Jardinière Onnaing Tiger Monkey Jungle Cache Pot Planter. Direct from France, a gorgeous 19th century antique French majolica jardinière or cache pot! The ca...

A cascade of pink blooms sit against an ombre ground in this enameled vase by Camille Fauré. Executed using his signature technique, the vase's copper form...

Abstracted foliate motifs swirl atop each other to form this Lalique vase in the Charmilles motif, first designed by René Lalique on October 8, 1926. Inspired by bowers under greener...

A pair of French Empire period Old Paris Porcelain vases, circa 1810, with painted landscapes and figural scenes on each side. The Classical amphora profile features a gold-banded mo...

Antique French Faience Enameled Urn, circa 1900-1910.

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...

Pair of Porcelain and Dorè Bronze Vases Sèvres Circa 1845 With porcelain vessels in the iconic Sèvres cobalt blue, encased in lavish doré bronze armatures, this pair of Louis XVI-style urns epitomizes the masterful craftsmanship and refined beauty of the famed porcelain manufactory. Each urn is adorned with three finely chased caryatid figures joined by floral garlands, resting upon a reticulated circular gilt bronze base. Since its founding in the 18th century, the Sèvres porcelain manufactory has been synonymous with the finest porcelain wares. Established under the patronage of Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour, the firm quickly became the official royal porcelain producer. Throughout the 19th century, Sèvres expanded its repertoire, designing distinct vase forms that ranged from neoclassical grandeur to Gothic delicacy. These exceptional urns pay homage to Pierre Gouthière, one of the most renowned bronze artists of the preceding century. Appointed gilder to King Louis XV in 1767, Gouthière revolutionized metalwork, pioneering a gilding technique that achieved an exquisite matte finish. Similar caryatid figures appear on vases once owned by the Duke of Talleyrand, while similar mermaid motifs—prevalent in Gouthière’s work—can be found on a serpentine marble vase in the Louvre. These vases embody the grandeur of Louis XVI-style ornamentation, blending rich materials with impeccable detail. Each: 19 3/4 high x 13" diameter Marked under bronze Sèvres Louis Philippe...

Pair Antique American Cut Crystal Perfume Bottles, Circa 1860.

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...

Exceptional in both size and artistry, this sand-polished cameo art glass vase from the famed Art Nouveau master Émile Gallé features an exceedingly rare alpine scene. The artist's l...

Stunning 19th century French crystal bottle (or decanter) with faceted and fluted details at the neck and base to accentuate the elongated form. Juxtaposing the refined glass blowin...

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...

Crafted by the celebrated French glassmaker René Lalique, this exquisite Danaides vase is one of the master artisan's most unique and beautiful designs. Molded from polished opalesce...

Gilt and Enamel Red Pillow Vase Moser Late 19th Century A masterpiece of artistry and craftsmanship, this exquisite Moser pillow vase dazzles with its rich ruby glass and intricate ...

Crafted from a deep and vibrant red glass, this luminescent Favrile vase was made by the legendary Tiffany Studios. Of all the Favrile glass hues, red is ...

Designed by René Lalique in 1921, this Ronces pattern vase features a bold array of winding blackberry vines. The vessel highlights the master's love of the striking forms and natura...

Vintage French polished brass bell brazier heater fire pit incense ~Direct from France~ ~Gorgeously appointed French brass brazier, from the solider a...

A unique, rare early 20th century Italian Majolica boat shaped bowl created in the Deruta studio, Deruta, Italy. A rare and coveted example of the golden...

Acid Etched Vase Daum Nancy Circa 1925 This rare and striking Art Deco vase by Daum Nancy represents the pinnacle of French craftsmanship. The spheri...