Antique Parian Pot Pourri Vase with Enamelled Birds attributed to Minton

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Twin looped shoulder handles frame this bulbous parian pot pourri vase, modelled in unglazed matte white porcelain. Designed to diffuse … Read more Twin looped shoulder handles frame this bulbous parian pot pourri vase, modelled in unglazed matte white porcelain. Designed to diffuse scent throughout an interior, the vessel retains both its inner flanged disc cover and its pierced domed outer lid, which is surmounted by a moulded lobed finial. The soft, marble-like texture of the parian body provides an even, non-reflective ground for delicate surface ornament, while the pierced vents allow fragrance to escape gently into the surrounding room. Polychrome enamel painting across the exterior depicts different exotic birds perched amidst trailing branches of foliage, small berries, and pendulous bell-shaped blossoms. Each avian figure is executed with layered brushwork in jewel-toned shades of rose pink, turquoise, green, yellow, and chestnut brown. Distinctive coral-orange enamel outlines the spreading foot, the circular neck, and the perforations of the lid, while stylised orange tendrils, dots, and feathering highlight the contours of both loop handles. The underside bears the painted pattern number 4683 in enamel, a catalogue format consistent with Victorian production from Minton around 1870. Although this example lacks an impressed factory backstamp, the refined modeling, crisp piercing of the outer lid, characteristic orange accenting, and naturalistic bird subjects correspond closely to aesthetic parian wares created in Staffordshire during the latter half of the nineteenth century. The unglazed interior cavity is typical of functional Victorian scent jars intended to store aromatic dried flowers, botanical herbs, and fragrant spices. Complete survival of both the ventilated outer cover and the separate solid inner cover is uncommon for ceramics of this age. In overall proportions, the assembled vase stands approximately 16 cm high, measures 14 cm in width across the handles, and spans 16 cm from front to back. See less