Mason's Ironstone Chinoiserie Ewer with Grotesque Handle, Cobalt Blue Ground, Early to Mid-19th Century

A Mason's Patent Ironstone China ewer of octagonal baluster form, England, Staffordshire, second quarter of the 19th century, c. 1830–1850.

A dense, opaque ironstone body — the hard, semi-vitreous earthenware patented by Charles James Mason in 1813 — potted as a faceted bottle with bulbous octagonal lower body, tall slender neck and trefoil-spouted rim, surmounting a stepped rectangular foot. The entire surface is covered in a deep cobalt blue ground, the panels divided by broad gilt vertical borders and bounded top and bottom by gilt foliate strapwork friezes in the Gothic taste.

The decoration is in the Chinoiserie manner, drawing directly on late Kangxi and Qianlong Chinese export famille rose prototypes, with each facet scattered with flowering sprays of peony, chrysanthemum, aster and prunus. The painting is executed in polychrome enamels over the cobalt ground in pink, yellow, iron red, pale blue, green and white, the larger peony blossoms raised in thickly applied pâte-sur-pâte slip and picked out in shaded rose enamel, some sprays drawn entirely in raised gilding — the characteristic richly layered Mason's chinoiserie palette of the period.

The handle is modeled in the form of a grotesque winged chimera or dragon, seated upright against the neck with its tail forming the scrolled spined grip, finished overall in burnished matt and bright gilding. The trefoil spout and neck rim are similarly gilt. The underside is unglazed, revealing the characteristic dense white ironstone body.

Similar example: https://www.bonhams.com/fr/auction/11075/lot/33/a-masons-ironstone-ewer-and-cover/

Hallmark: unmarked, as is commonly the case for Mason's decorative wares of this quality and period; the body, palette, form and raised-enamel chinoiserie decoration are wholly consistent with Mason's Patent Ironstone China production.

573 g and 18 cm

Condition: good antique condition, honest age-related wear consistent with period use. Notable wear to the gilding throughout, particularly to the handle, spout and raised gilt framing; minor losses and chipping to the raised pink enamel flowerheads; some surface scratching to the cobalt ground. No cracks or restorations. Please carefully regard all photos as they make an integral part of the listing, and reach out if there are any questions.