Large ovoid vase by Minton

Large ovoid vase

Minton & Co., manufacturer

c. 1870

Bone china ovoid vase decorated with applied elephant handles painted bronze, decorated in the pseudo-cloisonné style with enamelled and gilded Japanese-influenced patterns and fan-shaped vignettes, depicting a kingfisher and canary between oriental flowers on a turquoise ground. The separate ceramic base is fashioned to imitate a traditional ebonised Japanese stand; printed globe mark just visible on the base.

23¾ x 14 inches (60.5 x 36 cm)

Collection: John Scott

Source: Masterpieces from the John Scott Collection.

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‘I am slightly inclined to consider this a design by Dr Christopher Dresser. I believe he has the prudence and panache to design ceramic stands (beneath decorative vases). The failure of British manufacturers to make wooden stands so excellently demonstrated by most Chinese and Japanese art wares is an amazing omission.’ — John Scott'

Minton & Co. was one of a number of manufacturers who exploited the fashion for oriental-inspired goods and this is a wonderful example of their much-coveted pseudo-cloisonné decoration on what was almost certainly a showpiece. The range of patterns and influences on the vase gives a clear indication of the manufacturer’s and painter’s capabilities and a near pair to this vase was held in the Minton & Co archive until it was dispersed in 2004.

Minton’s so-called cloisonné pieces were exhibited at a number of international exhibitions from Paris 1867 onwards, and were designed to imitate metal cloisonné ware from Japan first seen in Sir Rutherford Alcock’s influential collection exhibited at the London International Exhibition in 1862. Christopher Dresser recalled sketching at least eighty pieces from the collection in his lecture ‘The Art Manufactures of Japan’ in 1878. He also acted as art advisor to the firm suggesting motifs and shapes as well as patterns combinations.

Bibliography

Jones, Joan. Minton: The First Two Hundred Years of Design and Production. London, 1993. p.102

Masterpieces from the John Scott Collection. London: The Fine Art Society, No. 11.

Last modified 24 May 2014