CIRCA 1780

Details

A GEORGE III BLUE JOHN SOLID URN OF EXCEPTIONAL PROPORTIONS
CIRCA 1780
The domed lid with a plain knob above a ring-turned spreading neck, the body of tapering ovoid form on a black Ashbourne marble waisted spreading socle and square plinth base, the socle almost certainly original as a Blue John socle would not have supported the weight of the body, the finial repaired
20¾ in. (53 cm.) high

Provenance

Almost certainly supplied to Sir William FitzHerbert, 1st Bt. (1748-1791) for Tissington Hall, Derbyshire.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

This magnificent Blue John vase is of exceptional colouration and scale. The considerable weight of the body strongly supports the theory that the black Ashbourne marble socle is original - as a Blue John socle would not withstand the pressure of the weight of this vase. A related Blue John vase, although of much smaller scale (13½ in. high) was commissioned by Sir William FitzHerbert's near neighbour Sir Nathaniel Curzon, 5th Bt. (1726-1804), later 1st Baron Scarsdale, for Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire (sold by The Kedleston Estate Trustees in these Rooms, 4 July 2002, lot 121).

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