Brown Bisque Ewer with Birds Aesthetic Dolphin Handle

Hi,
Trying to ID this piece. It is gorgeous, but unmarked except for some numbers impressed in the bottom.
It is bisque the darker areas soaked up water when I cleaned it.

Thanks
Julie

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appears to be in the manner of Torquay aesthetic terracotta ware. But may be an foreign version i guess.

Looks like an unfinished ewer made in the late 19th Century that someone outside the factory has decorated themselves (it did happen). One would expect a fine glaze, handpainted scene and gilt decoration to cover the bisque areas.

Are there letters above the numbers? The marks are difficult to make out from that angle.

It's possible it was a test firing for the turquoise glaze.

I agree with bisto on this one

I think it's finished, as I've seen quite a few items that are over-painted but unglazed, like this.

Reminds me of Watcombe Pottery, but I believe there were many little pottery's that it could be by.

I suspect it is English, but could be a foreign version.

Hopefully we have a Devon pottery collector on here, but it may take some time before you get an ID.

Were it intended it be glaze fired, I doubt they would have applied the gilding first? I may be wrong.

I would expect the clay to be a darker red (or Yellowish white) for Watcombe or other Devon pottery of that date, and I wouldn't expect a turquoise glaze either. Maybe it's American.

Conversely, the flower looks like an Edelweiss, so maybe it's from that part of Europe.

that turquoise colour on the dolphin always makes me think Minton or George Jones. But don't think this is the case with this piece. Perhaps a clearer shot of the impressed marks would help.

I can see how it reminds of Minton , also a bit in style to Worcester so it's probably Italian

or spode

Hi,
Thanks for all the info, I will start searching.
The impressed letters in the bottom are G / 78 and H / 72
I believe it is a finished piece also otherwise the gold would have burned out.
Any thing else please post.
Julie

I still believe this is a nice piece of pottery that was unfinished at the factory and bought be an amateur painter.
I have several examples - one is a very nice inkwell made by Sevres but decorated by a provincial French painter (Quimper or Rouen).
I also have a plate made at Minton and bought as one of several blanks by a French ceramic artist who decorated them and placed them in exhibitions at various London galleries to advertise for commissions. He was taken on by Burmantofts.

NaomiM wrote: and I wouldn't expect a turquoise glaze either.

If you search for the book "The Old Torquay Potteries", the vase on the cover has a turquoise glaze.

I don't own the book, but I suspect if anyone does it may hold some clues as to who made this ewer.

again, it may just be my eyesight, but to be honest i thought the flowers/birds/butterflies on this jug were a transfer hand coloured with enamels. I've seen plenty of buff / unglazed pieces which also have enamel decoration to think that this is a finished piece and not a home decorated one. I too, have a terracotta charger which was, indeed decorated by an amateur at home. But the finish and competence of the piece is very different to this kind of thing.

The reason i mentioned Spode is that they produced a blue stoneware with coloured enamels, very much like this jug, where this is a distinct contrast in the buff, unglazed background and then the shiny enamel floral decoration. What i think is most charming about this jug, is the eyes of the kingfisher! I looks like they've decided to show both eyes on the top of his head.

Oh, just found one on Mark Hill's blog in fact.

http://www.markhillpublishing.com/im-never-drinking-coca-cola-again/

http://spodehistory.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/dating-your-spode-pieces.html

and Oh, a piece on this site about dating Spode . a letter over a number . Perhaps this piece has two sets of numbers and letters indicating the date the design was first made, and the date this piece was actually made? I have pieces in my collection which have design registration diamonds indicating one date, then other marks which show the piece was actually made several years later than it's first registration.

Just a suggestion.