Name/Title
UrnEntry/Object ID
00.308.1Description
English soft paste ceramic urn. Set against a light blue background, the hand-painted scene includes a windmill, birds, trees, and a small mountain range. The urn has gold scrolling handles and gold edges along the base.Use
Originating from ancient civilizations such as Greece and Rome, urns—or amphorae—were previously used to store water, oil, and grain but evolved into predominantly ornamental objects over time. By the twentieth century, decorative ceramic urns such as this one served as accents on mantels, shelves, and tables.Context
This urn, produced by the Royal Vienna Art Pottery (later Wilton Pottery), is characteristic of the Edwardian period with its classical shape, pastel blue base, and tranquil Dutch seascape. Founded by Arthur George Harley-Jones (ca. 1874–1952) in 1905, the Royal Vienna Art Pottery operated out of Stoke-on-Trent, England until 1934 and was named after the second oldest porcelain manufacturer in Europe. While informed by the prestigious stylings of its Viennese predecessor, Harley-Jones' pottery studio produced far more economical ceramics that adorned the mantels of many middle class citizens throughout Europe and the United States in the early to mid-1900s.Made/Created
Manufacturer
A. G. Harley JonesDate made
circa 1905 - 1913Place
City
Stoke-on-Trent, EnglandCountry
EnglandInscription/Signature/Marks
Type
Makers MarkLocation
Underside of urn.Transcription
"H J
England"Material/Technique
StampedNotes
The style of the mark indicates object's manufacture is circa 1905-1913.Type
SignatureLocation
Lower left of front side of urn.
