Rockingham Stork Handled Vase C1831-42

We have for sale a rather lovely and very striking piece of Yorkshire history, a large Rockingham stork handled vase dating to somewhere around 1831-1842. The Rockingham stork handled vases were very much statement pieces, and like the majority of post 1830 Rockingham porcelain were of an enthusiastically flamboyant rococo design. This vase is a rather fine large example. It consists of a flared lobed neck extending down to to a bulbous body from either side of which protrude a pair of quite lovely and fanciful handles each in the form of a stalks neck and head. The body then extends down to a foot molded in the form of acanthus leaves. The vase is richly decorated with lovely rococo pattern in Imari colours of reds blue and gold and the handles are decorated entirely in gold. The vase is not marked, but very few of the Rockingham stork handled vases were. The output of the Rockingham factory in the 1830s was strongly influenced by the rococo revival. These styles were very much driven by the Prince Regent during the rRegency period and his taste for the more luxurious motifs in the French court during the reigns of Louis XV and XVI. Rockingham were very much leaders in adopting these rococo styles typified by flowing scrolls, shell like designs, naturalistic forms, bright colours and heavy gilding. This all came at a considerable cost and unfortunately Rockingham's persuit of perfection led Rockingham into insolvency and bankruptcy in 1842. However, Rockingham set a trend which other porcelain manufacturers adopted in their teawares well after Rockingham ceased to trade. This particular stork handled vase is 14.25 inches (36cm) high and is in a lovely antique decorative condition. However, large Rockingham stork handled vases are very top heavy. This means that the large examples are prone to toppling over. As a result, we have never yet encountered an example of an un-damaged large Rockingham stork handled vase. This particular example has had a very good invisible professional repair to the rim and also a very good professional invisible repair to one of the handles.