Ironstone Sauce Tureen Imari Flow Blue Minton pattern 9698 Antique c 1850

NoAn ironstone sauce tureen, cover and stand decorated with a deep flow blue cobalt base with hand coloured Imari palette transfer print in pattern number 9698. The central pattern is a large highly stylised iron red peony flower with a geometric scrolling stamen and rococo stylised scrolling leaves in deep underglaze flow blue.  The border pattern is a truncated repeat of the central design along with a scrolling floral pattern and diamond diaper design. The handles, foot and rims are picked out in gilding. 

The quatrefoil footed round gourd shaped tureen has twin twisted leaf stem handles and the domed lid has a similar leaf stem ring handle or finial as well as a ladle or spoon slot. The stand or under plate has twin handles in a blind moulded scrolling pattern.

The tureen and stand are unmarked other than and impressed asterisk or star * and the iron red hand painted pattern number 9698.  This pattern is similar to the later Minton Merrion Japan pattern. We have seen this exact pattern (9698) attributed it to the factory of Minton and Co of Stoke on Trent Staffordshire, England and dates to the mid 19th century during the reign of Queen Victoria around 1850. 

The tureen measures 7 inches high by approximately 7 3/4 inches long  by 6 inches wide, the stand is 8 1/2 inches long and 7 1/2 inches wide. Together, the tureen and stand weigh 967 grammes unpacked.

The stand is in excellent antique condition without chips cracks nor restoration, there is some minor flaking to the enamel and rubbing to the glaze. The tureen base is in good antique condition it has a short tight crack to one side near a handle. The tureen lid is in fair antique condition it has been broken in half and has been glued back together, there has been a large chip to the ladle slot that has been filled and disguised (restored) as well as a couple of internal rim chips similarly treated. Please see the images.

 A nice decorative item to add to any collection of antique Victorian Ironstone, Minton or hand coloured transfer-ware.