This is a stately and beautiful antique porcelain vase from the esteemed German manufacturer, Royal Bayreuth. Crafted in Bavaria, this piece features a complex, ornamental design that immediately commands attention.
The vase showcases a stunning hand-painted rose motif set against a unique yellow-to-pink color-wash ground. Its sculptural quality, highlighted by ornate handles and a pierced neck, marks it as a desirable artifact of European decorative history. This piece is a strong acquisition for a collector prioritizing curated, high-style antiques.
2. About the Artwork/Object 📖✍️✨
This vase is more than a simple vessel; it is a highly sculptural object designed to be a centerpiece of a decorative display. The body features a classic urn-like form that rests upon a four-footed pedestal base.
The design is visually dynamic, utilizing a pierced, ornate neck and scrolled, sculptural handles that rise from the shoulder. The decoration employs a soft, blended background glaze that transitions from yellow to pink, providing a lush canvas for the realistic, hand-painted rose transfer. The overall aesthetic combines romantic floral naturalism with the elaborate structural elements of the late Victorian and early Art Nouveau periods.
3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️
The maker is Royal Bayreuth, a prestigious porcelain factory founded in Tettau, Bavaria, in 1794. This long-lived company has a heritage spanning over two centuries of fine porcelain production.
Royal Bayreuth became celebrated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for its inventive novelty wares and its mastery of high-quality decorative art. The factory was known for its technical skill in creating intricate molds and its extensive use of hand-painting on wares intended for the international export market. The distinctive mark on the base confirms its origin from this established German lineage.
4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜
This vase was created in the early 20th century (c. 1900–1920), an era defined by the transition from the opulence of the Victorian period to the flowing lines of Art Nouveau. This was a time of significant economic and artistic growth in Germany.
The design reflects the period's love for ornamental art and the natural world. The hand-painted roses were a popular motif during the late Victorian era, while the highly elaborate handles and pierced rim align with the decorative maximalism of the early 1900s. This piece is a tangible link to a time of artistic refinement and the peak of German porcelain's international dominance.
5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️
This ornamental vase will appeal to a sophisticated collector with a specific interest in European Rococo Revival or Art Nouveau porcelain. The ideal buyer is a serious German porcelain enthusiast, an interior decorator curating a period-specific room, or an individual who cherishes romantic, floral motifs in decorative art.
This piece is an attractive asset for a collection that benefits from a strong vertical accent. Its documented maker and age place it in a category of high-end antiques that are valued by knowledgeable collectors for their documented aesthetic pedigree.
6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️
This Royal Bayreuth vase is valuable for its recognized maker's mark, its complex sculptural form, and its excellent condition. The factory's blue mark places the production between 90 and 125 years ago.
Its market scarcity is driven by its high aesthetic appeal—the ornate handles and pedestal base are more desirable than common forms. The combination of sculptural complexity, multi-color glazing, and detailed floral decoration elevates its retail value above mass-produced items. This vase is a well-preserved antique that has survived decades of display and use, maintaining its appeal for the discerning collector.
7. Condition 🔎📚✨
This antique porcelain vase is in excellent, well-preserved condition, showing minimal wear consistent with its age.
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Structural Integrity: The vase is structurally sound, with no visible chips, cracks, hairlines, or repairs to the rim, base, or handles.
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Vibrant Artistry: The hand-painted rose transfers and the color-wash glazes (yellow, pink, and green) remain vibrant and fully intact.
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Base Mark: The underglaze blue Royal Bayreuth mark is clearly visible on the unglazed base.
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Surface: The piece shows only minor, age-appropriate surface wear, common for a decorative antique of this vintage.
8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩
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Founding History: The Royal Bayreuth factory's roots trace back to 1792, when the king commanded the German geologist Alexander von Humboldt to find the ideal location for a porcelain factory.
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Dating the Mark: The blue underglaze mark on the base is a key indicator, as Royal Bayreuth primarily used this color from approximately 1902 until the late 1920s.
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Decorative Complexity: The pierced or openwork neck is a hallmark of late Victorian and Edwardian decorative arts, requiring highly skilled ceramic modeling and firing to prevent warping.
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Bavarian Origin: The mark specifically cites Bavaria, a region of Germany historically famous for its production of high-quality porcelain, rivaling Meissen and Berlin.
9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰
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Item Name: Pedestal Vase with Pierced Rim
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Maker/Factory: Royal Bayreuth
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Period: Antique, Early 20th Century (c. 1910)
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Medium/Material: Glazed Porcelain (Hand-Painted Transferware with Color-Wash Glaze)
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Decoration: Rose Floral Motifs, Ornate Handles, Pedestal Base, Pierced Rim
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Origin: Bavaria, Germany
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Approximate Height: 9.0 inches (Based on visual scale)
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Marking Transcription (Verbatim from Base): Stylized crest mark with Royal Bayreuth / T / BAVARIA / Priv. 1794 (Blue Underglaze Stamp)
