Yellow is a bold choice for a ground colour, and Mason’s committed to it. These two globular posy vases in Patent Ironstone are painted with an exotic bird among flowers in the Oriental palette, layered with enamels and finished with a generous amount of gilding. They date from around 1915, when the Mason family had been out of the picture for decades. G.L. Ashworth & Bros of Hanley had bought the name, moulds and pattern books in the mid nineteenth century and sensibly kept “Mason’s” on the base for well over a century.
The pattern is registered design no. 652974, used on everything from exhibition vases and chargers down to small pieces like these. The posy vase was one of the shapes made in smaller numbers. Posy vases were meant for a few short stems from the garden, and with a bird this pleased with itself on the side, a few is plenty.
Condition notes
Vase 1 has a minor black paint mark to the inner rim edge and is otherwise in excellent condition, with no cracks, chips or restoration, and enamel and gilding fully preserved. Vase 2 is in excellent condition throughout, with decoration and gilding fully preserved.
