Summary
A James Macintyre & Co. Aurelian Agate Ware pot pourri jar, original design dating to 1897, combining rare agate ware body with richly decorated Aurelian panels. Registered Design No. 308932, this is an unusual example from the closing years of Macintyre's independent production before William Moorcroft arrived at the firm.
Description
A late Victorian James Macintyre & Co. covered pot pourri jar produced at the firm's Burslem factory. The body combines Macintyre's grey marbled agate ware with richly gilded Aurelian decoration, creating an unusual contrast between the two effects.
The pierced cover is designed for use as a pot pourri jar, allowing fragrance to escape while protecting the contents. Twin side handles, extensive gilding and carefully painted ornament complete the design. The underside bears the James Macintyre Burslem factory mark together with Registered Design No. 308932.
James Macintyre & Co. were among the leading Staffordshire pottery manufacturers during the late nineteenth century, producing a wide range of decorative wares before William Moorcroft joined the company in 1897. Their Aurelian Ware remains one of the firm's most recognised and collected ranges. Examples combining the distinctive agate ware body with Aurelian decoration appear to be vanishingly scarce.
This piece represents an interesting period in the history of the Burslem factory, immediately preceding the emergence of Moorcroft's internationally recognised art pottery.
Marks
Condition
Very good antique condition overall.
There is expected light wear to the gilding, most noticeable around the rim. A small area of glaze is absent from the foot rim, consistent with manufacture rather than later damage. One handle has a short kiln firing crack to the underside caused during production. This has remained stable and is typical of the firing stresses occasionally encountered on Victorian pottery.
Approximate Measurements
3347 AP26-1