What are mantelpiece decorative urns?

These decorative objects are ornamental vessels designed primarily for display on mantelpieces during the nineteenth century. They draw inspiration from classical antiquity, often replicating ancient Greek and Roman forms. Makers constructed them from materials ranging from porcelain and stoneware to cast bronze, marble, and brass. They frequently appear as matched pairs or as part of larger garniture sets flanking a mantel clock.

How were cassolettes used?

Cassolettes functioned as versatile decorative objects with reversible lids. One side presented a solid decorative urn profile, while the inverted lid revealed a socket for holding a candle. This dual purpose made them popular accessories in nineteenth-century drawing rooms where lighting and ornament intersected. They allowed homeowners to adapt their mantelpiece display for evening entertaining.

How do I date a nineteenth-century urn?

Dating relies on stylistic markers, manufacturing techniques, and material combinations characteristic of specific periods like the Regency, French Empire, or Victorian eras. Examining the base, manufacturing marks, and mounting techniques provides further chronological clues. Neoclassical and Empire pieces tend to show restrained classical geometry, whereas later Victorian examples often incorporate heavier ornamentation or eclectic Revival styles. Comparing the piece to documented factory output from makers like Spode or Sevres helps narrow the date.

Where were Grand Tour urns made?

Grand Tour souvenirs were typically manufactured in workshops located in Italy, France, and England for travellers exploring classical sites. Italian artisans produced many bronze tazzas and marble pieces directly for foreign visitors. French and English foundries also created domestic interpretations of these antiquities. These objects served as tangible proof of a traveler's education and journey through European cultural capitals.

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Mantelpiece Decorative Urns

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These mantelpiece decorative urns bring classical elegance and sculptural weight to a room, drawing the eye instantly.

Pair French Marble Urns Cassolettes Decorative Empire Amphora Vase

19th century

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Pair French Marble Urns Cassolettes Decorative Empire Amphora Vase

From Canonbury Antiques

£2,250

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

19th century

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19th Century French Decorative Toleware Garniture Set

From Debenham Antiques Ltd

£2,650

3+ MONTHS AGO

clocks

Grand Tour. Pair of Cassolettes. Marble Vases

19th century

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Grand Tour. Pair of Cassolettes. Marble Vases

From Frank Craig Antiques

£1,200

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

Pair of Early C19th Italian ‘Grand Tour’ Souvenir Classical Bronze Tazzas or ‘Tazze’, After the Antique.

19th century

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Pair of Early C19th Italian ‘Grand Tour’ Souvenir Classical Bronze Tazzas or ‘Tazze’, After the Antique.

From M Lees and Sons

£1,600

3+ MONTHS AGO

metal

Pair of Early C19th French Empire Restauration Period Gilt-bronze Vases .

19th century

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Pair of Early C19th French Empire Restauration Period Gilt-bronze Vases .

From M Lees and Sons

£850

3+ MONTHS AGO

metal

Pair of Quality Antique Victorian Doulton Vases

19th century

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Pair of Quality Antique Victorian Doulton Vases

From Unique Antiques by Emma Jade

£395

3+ MONTHS AGO

vases

Antique Pair French Bleu Celeste Sevres Urns 19th C

19th century

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Antique Pair French Bleu Celeste Sevres Urns 19th C

From Regent Antiques

£1,325

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

19th century

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19th-century French Mantle Clock Circa 1880

From Frank Craig Antiques

£900

3+ MONTHS AGO

clocks

Antique Pair French Grand Tour Silvered Bronze Pedestal Urns C1860 19th C

19th century

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Antique Pair French Grand Tour Silvered Bronze Pedestal Urns C1860 19th C

From Regent Antiques

£1,550

3+ MONTHS AGO

metal

19th century

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Elegant Pair of Victorian Urns

From Loveday Antiques

£1,175

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

Turn a French cassolette upside down on your mantelpiece and suddenly your formal nineteenth-century drawing room accessory moonlights as a candlestick.

Large Gilted Bronze 'Warwick' Vase by Barbedienne, Paris .

19th century

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Large Gilted Bronze 'Warwick' Vase by Barbedienne, Paris .

From David Wolfenden Antiques

£2,200

3+ MONTHS AGO

metal

19th century

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Royal Crown Derby Urn

From Beech and Springs Antiques

£265

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

Pair of Antique French Faience "Art Nouveau" Vases

1900 - 1920

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Pair of Antique French Faience "Art Nouveau" Vases

From Applecross Antiques

£495

3+ MONTHS AGO

vases

19th century

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Rare 19th Century Vienna Style Porcelain Garniture of Three Large Lidded Vases

From Patrick Moorhead Antiques

£30,000

3+ MONTHS AGO

vases

White Lidded Porcelain Urn, Signed Herend, 20th Century, Hungary

1920 - 1940

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White Lidded Porcelain Urn, Signed Herend, 20th Century, Hungary

From H & H Gallery

£1,200

3+ MONTHS AGO

ceramics

19th century

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C19th Pair Porphrey Flat Back Urns

From Gary Wright Antiques Ltd

£2,200

3+ MONTHS AGO

miscellaneous

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Mantelpiece Decorative Urns

Pair French Marble Urns Cassolettes Decorative Empire Amphora Vase

19th Century French Decorative Toleware Garniture Set

Grand Tour. Pair of Cassolettes. Marble Vases

Pair of Early C19th Italian ‘Grand Tour’ Souvenir Classical Bronze Tazzas or ‘Tazze’, After the Antique.

Pair of Early C19th French Empire Restauration Period Gilt-bronze Vases .

Pair of Quality Antique Victorian Doulton Vases

Antique Pair French Bleu Celeste Sevres Urns 19th C

19th-century French Mantle Clock Circa 1880

Antique Pair French Grand Tour Silvered Bronze Pedestal Urns C1860 19th C

Elegant Pair of Victorian Urns

Large Gilted Bronze 'Warwick' Vase by Barbedienne, Paris .

Royal Crown Derby Urn

Pair of Antique French Faience "Art Nouveau" Vases

Rare 19th Century Vienna Style Porcelain Garniture of Three Large Lidded Vases

White Lidded Porcelain Urn, Signed Herend, 20th Century, Hungary

C19th Pair Porphrey Flat Back Urns

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