~ Circa 1855 Minton Majolica Tureen & Lid Modeled As A Coconut Shell With Parakeets ~
The coconut is decorated with embossed Prunus flowers with a Parakeet on top.
Another Parakeet’s head is poking through a hole and when the cover is opened it reveals the rest of the second bird inside.
The tureen is decorated with yellow, green, puce and turquoise glazes.
On the reverse it is the impressed with the pattern number 1145.
The ‘Minton’ backstamp was in use from 1851 to 1872 and the four dots implies 1855, though this should have a central cross, absent probably due to the light impression.
I only know of one similar piece dated to 1860 that was auctioned in 2006, this achieved a sale price (including commission) at £4,940 – that one had a small crack to the rim.
Apparently this particular piece appeared on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and was viewed by Henry Sandon. If you know the episode please let me know.
~ Dimensions ~
The length is 6 inches (15 cm), its depth is 4.4 inches (11.5 cm) and it is 5 inches (14 cm) tall. It weighs 852 grams.
~ Condition ~
It is in excellent condition with glaze crazing to both of the parakeet’s wings. It is free from cracks. There is a small chip to the underside of the base which is on the inside of the rim so it is not visible when standing.
