FLOW BLUE POTTERY,GEISHA GIRL IN GARDEN VASE,ENGLAND RARE,STAFFORDSHIRE ART POTTERY,1910s,HANCOCK AND SONS Start Price USD 48.99 Current Price USD 48.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 49.99 Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, November 17, 2008 End Time Monday, November 24, 2008 Location Southeast, U.S.A. See more about 'FLOW BLUE POTTERY,GEISHA GIRL IN GARDEN VASE,ENGLAND' Description       Up for auction or "Buy It Now" is a Rare, Sampson Hancock and Sons of Staffordshire, England (1858 to 1937), Staffordshire Art Pottery, Flow Blue Vase with a "Geisha Girl in the Garden" Pattern in Excellent Condition, Circa 1910's.       My guess would be that Hancock of England made more than one of these vase, but how many have survived? This rare and exceptional vase is in excellent condition with no chips or cracks, but there is some glaze crazing and missing gold trim. There is also some discoloration inside the vase within the glaze crazing lines. When you view picture # 9 you will see 2 lines inside the vase near the top that appear to be hairline cracks. You can not feel these lines with your fingernail (which is a rule of thumb) and they do not show through to the other side of the vase. You will also see the same type of lines in photo # 10 of the inside bottom of this piece and they also do not show through to the other side which you can see in pictures 7 and 8. This vase was used and these lines appear to be long glaze crazing lines that show up from staining. Please understand that the clear glaze is like a lacquer over the pottery and the glaze can crack or "Craze" without the clay body of the piece cracking. Crazing can also be tiny and all over or just a few lines here and there like this piece has on the inside and on the outside this vase has the tiny lines. This is a solid piece and you can ping it all day and it sounds solid. The last picture # 11 shows you a glaze drip that's on one side of the piece. This vase measures 9 1/2 inches tall and across the top it is about 3 1/4 inches. The base is 3 1/2 inches in diameter and the most bulbous point near the base is 4 3/4 inches in diameter. The actual inside opening of the vase at the top is 2 1/4 inches in diameter and it weighs 1 pound, 1.8 ounces.       This is a true "Flow Blue" piece featuring the "Geisha Girl in the Garden" pattern, with roses around the neck and it's also true Staffordshire Art Pottery. This vase has the mark of Sampson Hancock and Sons which was used between 1912 until they closed in 1937. Flow Blue was first introduced around the mid-1800's and then went on hiatus for around 20 years before becoming popular again in the late 1800's. When it comes to English flow blue wares, you can find pieces with marks going into the early 1920's which is why I state 1910's for this piece or early 1920's. The Geisha Girl has always been a favorite pattern throughout the years with more popularity sometimes than others and at the time this piece was made it was very popular. This vase was produced to compete with the Chinese and Japanese export trade and the British used what they learned from their own importing of Asian pottery to make this piece. If this vase wasn't marked the way it was there could be some difficulty with an attribution to its actual origin.       Hancock and Sons was one of the Staffordshire Potteries that didn't make it through the Great Depression for some reason which was world wide plus they didn't start making a true "China" until about 1920. "China" in dinnerware terms covers porcelain and semi-porcelain, but more than likely this piece is made of some type of highly vitrified eathenware pottery other than ironstone, bone china or porcelain.       This vase is a true aesthetic beauty that will always be in style and whether you collectible is Geisha Girl, Flow Blue or Art Pottery this vase will make a fantastic addition to your collection. THANKS FOR LOOKING AND PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER LISTINGS!       P.S. *PayPal is accepted and traditional paper methods are too.               *I offer 2 USPS shipping services and shipping insurance is optional. I will also use other USPS services upon request.               *International Buyers: The shipping service I offer is the least expensive with insurance and I only accept PayPal or Credit Card via               PayPal on International Sales.               *FEEDBACK: If you participate in eBay's feedback program, I will gladly leave you feedback after you leave me feedback first.                                                                                                         THANK YOU!    Place a Bid!