For sale is a wonderful and early form made by The Hampshire Pottery of Keene, New Hampshire. The form is call an "Artichoke" Vase and it is in the very desirable and hard to fine matte Blue. The Vase stands 2 3/4" tall and is 4 3/4" in diameter.

The Embossed Exterior of Vase displays a very realistic appearance of an "Artichoke". It has an outstanding matte Blue glaze with the high points being a light blue. The Leaves look Hand Carved with some Veining in this nice vase. The Form is crisp and very well detailed. Some refer to this as a Cabbage Shape but it is really an Artichoke.

The Vase is considered to be in excellent condition free of nicks, chips, dings and hairlines. When looking directly into the Vase it is not perfectly symmetrical and really doesn't have that mold made look. The piece is signed on the bottom with the incised "Hampshire Pottery" along with the M in a circle to honor his wife Emoretta. She was the sister of the founder, James Scollay Taft. There is also the shape number "24" impressed just above the M in a circle mark. This Vase has that nicely ground bottom along with Hampshire Pottery's white clay showing.

Hampshire Pottery started producing Matte Glazes in 1891. This was 7 years earlier than their main Competitor "Grueby Faience" of Boston, Mass. Hampshire Pottery resembles the style of Grueby but were much more affordable as they were mold made pieces as opposed to hand thrown. The M in a circle mark was used from 1904-1914.

Matte Blue in this shape is hard to find. I have only had a few of these in 40+ years as a dealer/collector. This will make a wonderful addition to any matte Pottery collection of Art Pottery and would look great on that Stickley Mission Arts and Crafts Bookcase.

Antique Porcelain & Pottery
Antique Vases