I do not know w to start to describe this fantastic piece of Amphora Pottery/Porcelain. We believe the age to be from 1892-1910 because of the marks on the bottom . We bought this item from a lady in South Dakota over 35 years ago . I kept it in our house all these years because I was intrigued by the artwork & fine detail. I tried to do research & educate myself, in order to be able to list this item correctly, but must confess that I am more confused than ever. Some of the bottom marks I did find, & could identify, but t are some that I could not. The word "Amphora" is incised in the base with a circle around it. T is a Crown incised into the base, which specifically dates this piece from 1892-1910. I think the capital incised " B" stand for Bohemia and the cobalt " A" sidestamped also helps to date this piece to the same time period. As for the incised numbers " 1349 " and " 2" .... I am unsure of what they stand for... perhaps an artist signature..??? Please see photos.
I think this piece of Amphora was supposed to be a planter? T is some damage on this planter. If you look closely at the lady's purse, you will see that one side of the handle is missing. Also, t is a bottom rim chip in the area of the lady's feet, & one chip on the lady's hat. T is wear to the gold on this fine item, but it is in the same condition as when we bought it 35 years ago. I hope the winning bidder of this valuable old piece will fully appreciate its true beauty. I wish I knew what the title name of this piece of Amphora is. Looking at the lady leading the three children, it made me think of the game "Follow the Leader". The faces of the children have such wonderful detail & they look happy...like they are having fun. The planter has delicate pink roses painted throughout the piece, & t is heavy gold garland-like rope draped around the top. This garland reminds me of the old time theaters & the lavish theater drapery from years ago.
The approximate measurements are 10" long x 6 1/2" deep x 7" high .
FYI: "Amphora" is the name of a company & the astonishing art pottery it created. Located in Turn-Teplitz, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) , the firm was founded in 1892 by Eduard Stellmacher, his brothers-in-law Hans & Karl Reissner, and Rudolf Kessel. All these men were closely connected to Eduard's father Alfred Stellmacher, who between 1876 & 1893 established himself as the foremost manufacturer of decorative ceramics in Turn-Teplitz. The Riessner brothers & Rudolf Kessel had married daughters of Alfred Stellmacher, so they formed part of Alfred Stellmacher's family circle. Hans Riessner had also served as workshop head at Alfred's porcelain manufactory, & Eduard had worked t as a designer. Thus it was with Alfred Stellmacher's blessing that Amphora's founders established themselves in one of his vacated manufactory buildings."
Although Amphora and several other firms--such as Artistic Ceramics Paul Dachsel, Eduard Stellmacher & Co., and Ernst Wahliss & Co--have long been considered part of the Teplitz ceramics industry, they in fact were located in the neighboring village of Turn. Together, Turn & Teplitz constituted a pottery production center, which is why the words Turn-Teplitz often appear on the bottom of Amphora ceramics. During Amphora's heyday, Bohemia formed part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so Amphora pottery is sometimes considered Austrian.
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