Globular vase with slender waisted neck, decorated with stencilled floral decoration of chrysanthemums or paeonies in ruby lustre, on a contemporary Chinese carved wood stand.
This is an exceptional piece and is the only known example (as at March 2020) of ruby lustre decoration. The contemporary stand, if it has been with the vase since it was made and is not a more recent addition, hints at the high status of the vase.
Benthall Pottery's 1882 advertisement refers to “flambé” decoration being used: was that a reference to lustre?
Ruby lustre was a feature of art pottery made by Maw & Co, a short distance from Benthall Pottery, in the 1880s–1890s. It is tempting to speculate on a connection between the Benthall Pottery and Maw & Co.: was this Salopian vase decorated by a Maw decorator? Was it fired at Maw & Co’s works?
Mark: Impressed SALOPIAN mark
Height: 280mm / 11in (vase)
Height: 110mm / 4.25in (stand)
Provenance: Private collection, UK