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Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
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Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases

  • These monumental Minton vases were created specifically for the 1878 Paris Universal Exposition
  • They show Minton's integration of Japanese-inspired aesthetics with classical Western forms
  • The pair features exceptional hand-painted floral decoration against a rich black ground
  • The vases were formerly in the prestigious collection of Al-Tajir, once rumored to be the world's wealthiest individual
  • Get complete item description here
$168,500
Item No. 32-0440

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Description
Pair of World's Exhibition Vases
Minton
Dated 1876

This extraordinary pair of Minton vases represents the pinnacle of 19th-century British ceramic artistry, created in 1876 likely for the 1876 Philadelphia World's Fair, and shown again in the 1878 Paris Universal Exposition—two of history's most significant international showcases. Documented with the exhibition number "1744" in Minton's official exhibition logbooks, these monumental vases exemplify the technical virtuosity and artistic brilliance that established Minton as a global. . .
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Pair of World's Exhibition Vases
Minton
Dated 1876

This extraordinary pair of Minton vases represents the pinnacle of 19th-century British ceramic artistry, created in 1876 likely for the 1876 Philadelphia World's Fair, and shown again in the 1878 Paris Universal Exposition—two of history's most significant international showcases. Documented with the exhibition number "1744" in Minton's official exhibition logbooks, these monumental vases exemplify the technical virtuosity and artistic brilliance that established Minton as a global leader in ceramic production. The exceptional provenance is further enhanced by their inclusion in the renowned Al-Tajir collection, assembled by Mohammed Mehdi Al-Tajir, former UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom and once rumored to be the world's wealthiest individual.

The vases showcase masterful hand-painted floral decoration against a sumptuous black ground, demonstrating exceptional artistry and sophisticated composition. Their imposing form is enhanced by elegantly gilded twin handles and decorative bands that reflect superior craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. The design brilliantly integrates Japanese-inspired aesthetics within a classical Western form, perfectly capturing the cosmopolitan sensibilities of the late 19th century and reflecting the period's fascination with cross-cultural artistic exchange. Each vase retains its original ebonized wooden plinth, completing the presentation as it would have appeared to the 13 million visitors who attended the Paris Exposition.

Each painted scene is signed ‘W. Mussill’ to the lower edge. Originally from Austria, Mussill studied painting in Paris, coming to work for Minton in the 1870s after initially painting for the Sèvres manufactory. He specialised in large natural compositions like this pair, always painting in a distinctive free style with heavy use of impasto. He frequently executed special commissions for royalty.

Minton's rise to prominence began with their establishment in 1793, but it was their revolutionary ceramic techniques displayed at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London that catapulted them to international recognition. Queen Victoria herself purchased Minton pieces, declaring them to be "in the best taste," providing royal endorsement that solidified the firm's reputation. By the 1870s, Minton had perfected the creation of exhibition-quality pieces specifically designed to showcase British supremacy in the decorative arts. World's Fairs represented the ultimate platform for artistic competition between nations, and Minton consistently produced works of exceptional quality to maintain Britain's cultural and industrial standing on the global stage.

The underside of each vase is stamped with ‘MINTONS’, the date cypher for 1876, the inventory number 1744

40" high x 26 1/4" wide x 20 1/2" deep
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Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
Maker: Minton
Period: 19th Century
Origin: England
Type: Vases/Urns
Depth: 20.5 in. (52.07 cm)
Width: 26.25 in. (66.68 cm)
Height: 40.0 in. (101.6 cm)
Pair of Minton Exhibition Vases
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Buy with Confidence

At Antiquira, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.

Learn More

The Antiquira Difference

The Antiquira Difference

The Antiquira Difference

At Antiquira, we believe that antiques are not merely objects they are vessels of history, craftsmanship, and soul. Our philosophy is rooted in a commitment to curating timeless pieces that carry stories worth preserving, and presenting them with integrity, expertise, and personal attention. We see every client relationship as a partnership in stewardship, ,where trust, knowledge, and passion guide every exchange. Our goal is simple: to offer not just the rarest and most exceptional items, but also a buying experience as enduring and refined as the treasures we provide.

-Katie Phillips, Owner

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Antiquira is committed to offering fine art of the highest caliber and we seek paintings and sculpture by historically renowned artists, often with impressive provenance. The large majority of our works of art come from private collections; many are fresh to the market. Founded on Katie Phillips’s expertise in the field, our specialisms range from Old Master pictures to Modern Art masterpieces. We regularly exhibit Dutch, Flemish, and Italian Old Masters, Academic, Orientalist, Barbizon, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Maritime & Sporting, British Neoclassical and American Illustration.

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For more than a century, Antiquira has offered clients a superb selection of the highest quality jewelry. From the rarest colored diamonds, to the most sublime gemstones, to the most exquisite designer jewelry, Antiquira houses an extraordinary collection of fine jewels to satisfy the most discerning collector. Stunning creations by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and Patek Philippe are offered alongside extreme rarities such as vivid yellow, pink and blue diamonds, coveted Burma and Kashmir sapphires and elusive Golconda diamonds prized for their fire and perfection. Iconic jewels from the Art Deco, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Victorian periods round out the collection.

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Since 1923, Antiquira has been recognized as a leader in the antiques industry and today our collections of rare silver, furniture, clocks, porcelain, glass and objets d'art are second to none. Our commitment to curating the world’s most extraordinary and beautiful treasures has remained steadfast and our acquisition philosophy is simple: seek out and acquire only the very finest works whose provenance, beauty and rarity set them apart from all others. Our clients can be certain that each and every piece in our gallery has been hand-selected and carefully vetted for authenticity, condition and provenance. And, because our network of contacts spans generations, we are often able to acquire pieces that may have otherwise never been available on the market.

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