Featured Very strange ornate vase

Thanks Cluttered. The "alien" shape and "jewels" are right for Amphora, but it is very bright and I don't think the quality comes up to scratch. How tall is your vase, Nutcracker?

 

When I first saw the vase, like Don, I thought Czech. But couldn't find any iridescent Czech vases. Then when I'm looking at Amphora vases, I kept coming across Czech Amphora which didn't make sense to me.

This is what I think of as Alienware, and it is usually marked Czechoslovakia, putting it in the 1930s.



Then when I looked up Turn Teplitz I realized is encompassed the region that became Czechoslovakia.

I think Nutcraker's vase is earlier and part of the Art Nouveau period.
Every time I look at it I think of a dragon. Scales, wings, tail, eyes.

Not sure if you are planning on selling, but I would make sure you know what it is first.

 

From what I could see, there were the top notch designers like what you posted and some not so over the top.

And I am far from an expert in this area. I'm only going on what I can find googling.

 

Amphora is marvellous stuff. I have a few 'umble pieces. In my very limited experience the base is always plain and signed. Maybe Nutcracker could tell the size and show a few more pics -- the rim, the inside. It's not "feeling" hugely old to me, but WDIK?

 

This is a wonderful example of late 19th/early 20th century Secessionist Art. It is known as. From this Austrian/German movement arose Art Deco in Europe. Among the outstanding ceramics companies that set the pace were Zsolnay, Powolny and Wahliss. In England Minton was the unchallenged leader. The attributes of this vase, particularly the glaze and the form make this a very desirable example.

 

From what I saw online while trying to investigate this, I don't think that is a true statement. Particularly with the iridescent glazes.

Attributed to Zsolnay


Not attributed

 

There's definitely lots of similarity there from what I just googled. The colours on mine are what is really setting it apart though. They're so vivid.

Does anyone know what sort of financial value this piece might have?

 

The base rim on that second one is very similar. The one on mine is really smooth. Feels finer than most porcelain bowl bottoms.

 

Thanks Walter. You're getting my hopes up!

 

It's about 22cm/9" tall. I'll take some more pics tomorrow when daylight returns.

The only thing that looks dodgy to me are the jewels. They don't seem to fit particularly neatly. You can see the cement around the edge.

 

In my experience the bases of pottery produced by Amphora (I was speaking only of Amphora) are white and show the maker's marks. Zsolnay ... I can't see how the two makers are connected. If Nutcracker says the jewels don't fit particularly neatly and you can see cement around the edge I'd take that as an indication that this is not Amphora but might be newer and a copy.

 

Wowza

 

And there in shows my ignorance.
Not being the pottery person, I don't think of Amphora as a company, but a place. Amphora Turn Tepliz.

So my apologies for causing confusion.
It's the way I process thoughts and sometimes I slot them wrong.
I was in the Austrian Art Nouveau region with various makers.

 

Sorry! Life got in the way. More pics as promised (and the pencil marks don't get any more readable however I look at it)...

 

Hi Nutcracker,
Just wanted to say it is a beautiful vase!!!! I just wanted to say it looks like a Cobra to me.
greg

 

You're right! It does. The sort of cobra that would talk in a movie.

 

IMHO this is an early 20th century example and not a copy. Could be Amphora but my bet would be from one of the other companies of the Turn-Teplitz region. I also think a bit later than the prime era of Amphora due to the Alienware attributes. Here is a nice article about the Turn-Teplitz makers.

http://www.antiquetrader.com/antiqu...covering-allure-bohemian-art-nouveau-pottery/

 

Thanks verybrad. That article was really helpful. Particularly the bit about snakes.
I think my next step is to send pics to a ceramics specialist auction house and see what they think. I'm far too clumsy to keep anything valuable and breakable for long.

 

Please, come back and tell us what they say.
We'd all be curious.

 

Their first reaction was Austrian early C20th but they're sending my pics on to their pottery specialists. So fingers crossed they come back and tell me it's worth thousands.

Edited to add: the specialist s agreed Austrian c.1900. Sadly with a value in the few hundreds rather than few thousands but still, more than I paid for it so, Yay!