19th Century Victorian Style Table Tray in Ceramic, England, 19th Century

Details

Description

Item description:
Fabulous asparagus holder, made of heavy ceramic, modeled and decorated entirely by hand, then glazed and fired a … Read more Item description:
Fabulous asparagus holder, made of heavy ceramic, modeled and decorated entirely by hand, then glazed and fired a third time. Made in England by Minton in the late 19th century, around 1880, this item is unsigned because the Minton mark was undoubtedly located under the tray that completed the item and is now missing. This is a piece of majolica tableware of the highest quality and elegance, as was customary in the homes of wealthy families in the late 1800s. The glazing is excellent for a particularly hard and heavy majolica, and the object weighs almost 1.5 kg.

Useful information for evaluating the object:
From an internet search, we find that similar asparagus holders, complete with the tray underneath, have been sold at auction for between €300-400 and over €1,000, plus auction fees of 25-30%. This is to give an idea of the value of similar items.

Information about the artist and/or manufacturer:
Minton was an important ceramics company in Staffordshire, "the leading European ceramics factory during the Victorian era," an independent company founded in 1793, a leader in ceramic design, working with a range of different ceramic bodies, using a wide variety of decorative techniques, and combining multiple styles: Rococo forms with oriental motifs, classical forms with medieval designs with Art Nouveau borders, to give just a few examples of the many wonderful blends of styles. In addition to ceramic vases and sculptures, the company was a leading manufacturer of tiles and other architectural ceramics, and produced works for both the British Parliament and the United States Capitol. The Minton family continued to run the business until the mid-20th century, closing permanently in 1968. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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