What's it worth? Appraisal of porcelain urns
Share Article Greg asks:
Hi , could you please let me know details in regards to these 2 covered vases. l’ve attached photos. They were either from my great grandmother or her mother so l’m guessing 19th century but that is all l know about them.
They are around 45-50cm high and 25cm round. They have the markings ENGLISH MAKE CIVIC in the bottom of them. All my endevours to find out more about them have failed.
Thanks
Greg
AW says: Technically, these are urns and not vases. We know this because they have lids and handles. These are hand painted, and the spray work is common of the late 1800s to early 1900s era.
The are decorative pieces rather than functional and much of the beauty lies in the delicate work on the handles. As the colors on the flowers are opposite of each other, there’s a good chance that these were given as a wedding gift.
The reason you’re having a hard time finding out more, is because the way they are stamped on the bottom, leaves very little evidence as to which company made them. The word civic in this case could mean anything, it could be a code for the model line etc. But it is not the name of the maker.
Although they’re made in England, there’s a heavy Germanic influence.
How these types of things get appraised when there is no positive attribution, is by their own merit, condition, age and rarity.
The fact that the both of them survived so long w/out either one of them obtaining significant damage makes them a bit scarce as well.
Retail value for the pair: $275
Wholesale value: $75-$125
Quick sale: $50
Keywords: Porcelain, urns, hand painted, roses, English china,
