Mason's Ironstone Blue and White Hexagonal Covered Potpourri Jars

Details

Description

Eclectic Grandeur: Hexagonal Ironstone Potpourri Vases

Object: Pair of Potpourri Vases and Covers (Potpourri Jars)
Maker: Attributed to Mason's Ironstone … Read more Eclectic Grandeur: Hexagonal Ironstone Potpourri Vases

Object: Pair of Potpourri Vases and Covers (Potpourri Jars)
Maker: Attributed to Mason's Ironstone or Ashworth (Staffordshire, England)
Date: Circa 1845
Medium: Ironstone Earthenware, Underglaze Blue Transfer, Overglaze Gilt

Dimensions: 22 inches high x 12 inches wide x 12 inches deep (55.88 cm high x 30.48 cm wide).

Mid-Victorian Fusion and Function

This elegant pair of hexagonal ironstone vases showcases the spectacular visual drama and eclectic taste of the mid-Victorian era. Decorated primarily in underglaze blue with scrolling peony and floral motifs, the pattern directly imitates high-quality 18th-century Chinese porcelain. This traditional blue-and-white print is dramatically highlighted with lavish gilded accents, transforming the quiet Eastern pattern into a bold, statement-making European centerpiece.

The form of the vase itself is a study in cultural and functional fusion. Its structure includes:

Chinese Iconography: The high, pierced covers are surmounted by intricate Foo Dog finials, traditional symbols of protection and good fortune in China.

European Classicism: The handles are fashioned in the form of stylized dolphins, a classical motif commonly used in Regency and Victorian decorative metalwork.

The combination of the durable, British-invented Ironstone body with these ornate global motifs made the vases highly desirable status symbols intended for the drawing rooms and sideboards of wealthy homes.

Historical Context: Ironstone and the Decorative Revival

These pieces are made from Ironstone China, a hard, opaque earthenware developed in the early 19th century by Charles James Mason. Ironstone's strength made it ideal for manufacturing large, heavily decorated objects that could withstand shipping and domestic use, positioning British potters to dominate the market for high-quality, imposing display pieces.

The vases' pierced covers confirm their original purpose as potpourri vases (or potpourri jars), which were functional items used in the Victorian home to hold scented dried flowers and spices, allowing the fragrance to permeate the room through the vented bell-form tops. This combination of size, mixed Eastern/Western motifs, and functional opulence perfectly represents the mid-Victorian revival of Chinoiserie and the luxurious scale of the period's domestic display.

Reference

Samlesbury Hall Anniversary Exhibition and Sale of Mason's Patent Ironstone China, 17th January–February 8, 1987, Lot 55 (For similar shape).

(Ref: NY10610-cirr) See less