LARGER IMAGES OF URN #1 LARGER IMAGES OF URN #2
These two palace sized urns, are veritable gardens of Eden right at your fingertips. The pair date back to the 1880's, and reflect the artistry and craftsmanship of that period. In almost perfect condition, these urns have survived over one hundred years which is testament not only to the care and love with which they have been treated, but also to the invaluable attention to structure and detail that can be only rarely found in our modern world. Thus these two exquisite urns seem ethereal, in comparison with the mass production that has in many ways replaced art in the present day. As the eye works it's way down from the floral clusters marking the top of the urns, to the embossed scrolling carefully rendered on the base of each, one cannot fail to be anything other than dazzled. The hand sculpted, hard-paste porcelain flowers are each one of a kind, imbued with colors that span the entirety of the rainbow. The initial floral clusters, nestled within delicate greenery, are seated atop elegant gold accented, reticulated lids. The lid seems to be the crest of the garden as flora and fauna spill down onto the curvaceous bodies of the urns; while the two are a pair, they are by no means identical. Each urn boasts original artwork depicting scenes that range from playful to classical, all couched in the surrounding glory of the garden. Most notably along the bodies and the elegant handles of the urns luscious fruits mingle with tiny lady bugs, beetles and other such creatures which crawl and wriggle reminding us of the beauty of all creations in nature. Yet just as we are drawn into the delights of nature; tiny cherubs, that adorn the sides of the urns, bring our minds back to the celestial with their glorious expressions and childlike majesty. This sense of grandeur extends to the floral sprays and delicate gold flourishes that ornament the graceful curves of the footed base of each urn. From the loftiest to the lowest lying flower, each of these unique and prized urns are every inch, masterpieces. Damage noted: each urn's pedestal base has some chipped flower petals -5 on one and 6 on the other, and each base has a crack.