These are a beautiful Pair of Very Rare 'Ceramic and Crystal Palace art Union' Moon Vases dating to Circa 1870 and superbly painted with Bird and Butterfly detail. The Art Unions were popular in Victorian times in London but the C & CP was unusual as it was private and had no charity aspect to it. Members paid a fee and would receive medals and books connected with the arts and also were given the opportunity to purchase pieces made by the big firms of the day so their was a benefit to the Union members and the big Porcelain makers. They had occasional lotteries where a one off item could be won by a member in a lottery. Thomas Battam, and his son Thomas Battam jnr formed the Union in 1858 and are listed as the founder and president. Thomas was also described as a "china-guilder" working at Copeland and Spode. He also seems to have had ceramic company that went on to the 1870's called Battam & Son. One of these vases has the impressed Burslem stamp to the base and maybe blank vases were given to the Union and hand painted by Battam's for a lottery prize possibly. The fact that they are not signed (by artist) also points to this probability. These are rare, large, wonderfully painted and very interesting.
Height 9.5" (24cm) Width 8.75" (22cm) Depth 4" (10cm)
€1950 Pair