Rare, Frederick Rhead, a Bursley ware, two-handled, Amstel pattern vase

Tonight on behalf of Auld Curiosities (my alter ego if you will), it is a rare pleasure to offer a rare shaped piece of Bursley ware. Decorated in the “Amstel” pattern by Frederick Alfred Rhead (1856 – 1933). This shape has not been easily found, despite extensive checks through reference books or on the search engines, but there a few examples. The hand painted pattern dates to the early 1920’s is now seen as one of the ultimate expressions of art deco at that time and is extensively collected, though getting harder to find now. Some people will no doubt argue that Frederick’s son (Frederick Hurten Rhead) and daughter (Charlotte Rhead) eclipsed him, but for raw energy and power this pattern is hard to beat. I am still to sort out, in my own mind, if the piece is a decorative specimen vase, a decorative flask or indeed a decorative item with no fixed definition other that gloriously decorative. The piece stands 6 ½” (652mm) tall to the top of the opening, has a maximum width of approximately 7“ (178mm). In depth the piece measures approximately 3 ½” (89mm) giving a really nice balance to whole piece. No evidence of damage or repair on close examination.

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