23/03/2022
You might be forgiven for thinking, at first glance, that this handsome vase is Chinese in origin. However, it was, in fact, made by the Paris firm of Samson, probably in the late 19th century.
Edmé Samson lived at a time when fine porcelain was avidly collected by those who could afford it and, in 1845, he set up his own company with the intention of making high quality copies of pieces that were on display in museums or in private collections.
The company produced copies of pieces by many of the major English factories as well as Italian maiolica, Persian, Hispano-Moresque and Chinese wares.
While not intending to deceive, many of these have been mistaken for ‘the genuine article’. Not all the Samson wares were marked and, in more recent times, some pieces seem to have had their painted marks removed in what one can only suppose was an attempt to defraud prospective buyers.
Perhaps the irony of the situation is that, nowadays, pieces from the Samson factory have become very collectable in their own right. This particular vase and cover stands about 11 inches tall and has the red pseudo-Chinese mark on its base that is seen on many Samson wares. It has some slight damage - a short hairline crack in the neck of the vase and, (as can be seen on the photos) two small chips on the cover, one of which has been repaired. The vase is priced at £125 and can be seem in my cabinet (no. 114) at the Warehouse.
