Lot 181

Exceptional Royal Doulton Lambeth Hand-Painted Japonisme Stoneware Jardinière with Birdcage & Koi Decoration, Pattern 1897, c.1900

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Lot 181
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Exceptional Royal Doulton Lambeth Hand-Painted Japonisme Stoneware Jardinière with Birdcage & Koi Decoration, Pattern 1897, c.1900
Exceptional Royal Doulton Lambeth Hand-Painted Japonisme Stoneware Jardinière with Birdcage & Koi Decoration, Pattern 1897, c.1900
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Exceptional Royal Doulton Lambeth Hand-Painted Japonisme Stoneware Jardinière with Birdcage & Koi Decoration, Pattern 1897, c.1900

Current Bid: $20

(4 Bids)
by California Auction Company LLC
August 1, 2026 9:00 AM PDT
Live Auction
1212 E. Harding Way
Stockton, CA, US 95205

A striking and exceptionally decorative Royal Doulton Lambeth stoneware jardinère, richly hand-decorated in an elegant Japonisme aesthetic and bearing the Royal Doulton crowned backstamp with pattern number 1897. The bulbous vessel is masterfully executed with a finely crackled ivory ground embellished in raised tube-lined enamels and gilt detailing. The exterior is centered by an elaborate birdcage beneath a trio of finely painted birds, one clutching a vivid persimmon-colored fruit, framed by lush flowering chrysanthemums rendered in soft lavender, green, and cream enamels. The upper border displays an intricate scrolling gilt design punctuated by floral reserves, creating an exceptionally refined visual balance. The interior is equally impressive, featuring a lively school of hand-painted koi and carp swimming among aquatic plants against a finely crazed ivory ground. This unexpected interior decoration elevates the piece well beyond the typical decorative jardinière, demonstrating the artistic ambition for which Royal Doulton's Lambeth studios became internationally renowned. Royal Doulton's Lambeth works were among England's most celebrated art pottery manufactories during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Under the artistic direction of John Slater and later Charles Noke, the factory employed many accomplished artists producing highly decorative stonewares inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement and the growing Western fascination with Japanese art. Pieces displaying elaborate tube-lining, hand-painted enamels, and complex narrative decoration such as the present example remain among the firm's most desirable decorative productions. The combination of richly modeled enamels, intricate tube-lined ornamentation, extensive hand painting, and unusual birdcage and koi iconography results in an outstanding display piece equally suited for fine art pottery collections or sophisticated interior design. A particularly handsome example of Royal Doulton's celebrated Lambeth artistic production.

  • Provenance: Private Collection. Acquired from the secondary art and antiques market.
  • Literature: Desmond Eyles, Royal Doulton Stonewares. Louise Irvine, Royal Doulton Series Ware and Art Pottery. Victoria Bergersen, Royal Doulton: The Rise of an English Ceramic Factory. Comparable Royal Doulton Lambeth Japonisme stonewares may be found in museum and private collections featuring the firm's Arts & Crafts and Anglo-Japanese decorative production from the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.
  • Circa: Circa 1900–1910 Royal Doulton Lambeth, England Pattern No. 1897
  • Condition: Overall very good antique condition. Extensive age-appropriate glaze crazing throughout, consistent with antique Royal Doulton Lambeth stoneware. Minor surface wear and light rubbing to the gilt and raised enamel decoration commensurate with age and handling. No obvious large cracks or visible restoration observed from the provided photographs. The interior displays expected firing imperfections and minor age-related discoloration. A close inspection under UV light is recommended for complete condition assessment.

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Bid Increments
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$0 $49 $5
$50 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 + $50