Images(8)

Vase & Cover, Garniture

Dateca. 1770

Maker Worcester Porcelain Manufactory

Decorator James Giles (1718-1780)

OriginEngland, Worcester

MediumSoft-paste porcelain

DimensionsOverall: 39.1cm (15 3/8 x 6 7/8in.)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, Mrs. Owen L. Coon (Louise)

Object number1990-149,1A&B

DescriptionHexagonal shape with slight tapering sides to the bottom and a tall neck. Subtly diagonal gilt lines create ground for the body and are painted behind floral sprays and sprigs of large and medium sizes in varying green shades. Decoration also overlaps borders above and below. Foot border contains circular gilt wreaths with 5 dots inside each. The upper border has a gilt floral design with slight double "S"-scrolls, one thicker than the other, interspersed between each flower. The neck has gilt dentil top and bottom edges and a border design of gilt vertical lines.

The domed cover is also hexagonal with a gilded acorn finial and projecting flange. It is decorated in the same style as the vase, except with the top and bottom borders flipped to mirror the vase.
Label TextWhile many 18th century objects were useful and decorative, a garniture or set of vases was purely ornamental and served as a status symbol for its owners. These baluster vases were most likely painted and gilded in the shop of English decorator James Giles. The flowers are similar to ones seen on Italian silk and the swirled gilding mimics decoration on Italian glass. The forms of the vases are