1890s - 1910s European 2-Handle Porcelain Vase Hand Painted Roses Green Yellow 16"

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Offered here is a stunningly beautiful antique double-handled (scrolled) vase. There are hand painted images of roses on both sides, … Read more Offered here is a stunningly beautiful antique double-handled (scrolled) vase. There are hand painted images of roses on both sides, and neither image is signed. There is a gilt blob on the bottom, but it looks like a stray mark made during decorating. At most, it could be a jobber's mark; I certainly don't think it is a manufacturer's mark.

As for age, when I was cleaning it out, a rolled up piece of newspaper came out that was burned at one end. It seems that someone used this piece of newspaper to light a stove or fire, then dropped it into this vase to burn out and cool. The paper shows an ad for Virol Ltd. located at 148-166 Old Street in London. Obviously, this vase was already in existence before the paper was dropped into it. I did some research, and Virol moved from that facility on Old Street in 1920. So, all I know for sure is that this is a pre-1920 piece. The style leads me to believe the earliest this piece could have been manufactured is the 1890s.

As for country of manufacture and/or the specific manufacturer, despite extensive research, I've been unable to pin that down. The most likely country of origin is either Germany (perhaps a Royal Bonn piece) or Austria. I tend to lean more towards Austria, but I am not an expert.

This piece stands about 16" tall. Top opening measures about 4" in diameter. Bottom footprint measures 4 1/4". The diameter of the fattest part of the belly is difficult to measure with accuracy because I don't have large calipers, but the best I can measure it is about 8".

Exceptional condition - no chips, cracks, repairs or unusual wear. There is a slight separation in one spot where one of the scrollwork handles attaches to the body. At first I thought it was a crack, but upon further inspection it seems to be only glaze deep. It does not extend to the opposite side of the attachment. I have included a close up photo. Also, there is a white spot on the body just below the handle on one side (see photo). I thought it was a scrape, but it is entirely smooth, and a fingernail does not detect it at all. Looking at it with a magnifying glass, the feathering of the margins seems to indicate it is a paint skip under the glaze that occurred during manufacturing. This piece is absolutely lovely. See less