Pair Spode Spill Vases c1820

Description

A pair of simply beautiful Spode spill vases c1820. Decorated with densely applied wild roses and rose stems . The birds are canaries. first imported into Britain by Spanish sailors they were kept exclusively by the 18th century aristocracy for their song. These are intended to adorn your fireplace. to keep matches. spills and tapers that would be used to light a cigar perhaps at the fireside.

Condition. There is some minor restoration of the birds but this is very hard to detect. Otherwise excellent condition

Height 10cms. 6cms diameter.

It always amazes how role. perceived value and cachet changes throughout history. Canaries became plentiful and less exclusive. their song. or rather the lack of it lead to their being used in mines. Mice were also used but the effects of carbon monoxide were less noticeable. a canary would quite literally “fall off its perch”. I remember the outcry when canaries were replaced in mines with modern electronics in the mid 1980s. it is hard to reconcile this with us being a nation of animal lovers.