Featured Majolica at auction a few days ago...

I did not bid on this but am curious what others think as to origin and possibly the maker. Its more or less a cover for cake or perhaps butter as far as we could tell. Note there is no bottom plate; it is all one piece. I'll tell you what it sold for a bit later.

 

WHat colour is the inside? I'd have thought a cheese dome.

 

It reminds me of work from a German company called Zell.

I'm not certain (because the article doesn't show this type of wrk), but this might be the company:
https://de.zxc.wiki/wiki/Zeller_Keramik

If that is the company, and the body of the piece is porcelain, it would date between 1842 and 1942.

I don't get a 19th C sense from the decoration, though it could be Henri Rousseau-esque. My guess would be 2nd or 3rd quarter 20th C. But that's strictly a guess.

And I would guess a cheese dish. Is there a vent hole somewhere on top?

Do you have the dimensions?

 

12" high and 8.5" across. Note there are some cracks in the bird.

I believe those are holes in the top but I didnt specifically ask about that.

 

I think the vent holes are for serving heated cheese. Let the aroma suffuse the room. As someone once said, "Smells like God's socks."

 

LOL---"Smells like God's socks". Never heard that one before.
But then my mind went to decades ago when my folks ate limburger cheese.

 

It's larger than any cheese dome in my limited experience.

 

It’s lovely. I could see someone bidding up the price simply because they like it vs its value as an antique.

 

JMHO.
nice majolica jugendstil cheese dome. possibly continental. France, Belgium, Germany. missing plate or woodboard.

 

it went for $260

 

too much. for that price you get a marked and undamaged Villeroy & Boch or Sarreguemines when looking around.

 

It looks very much like the highly sought after George Jones majolica. If so, and with a base, very valuable. Oh, and it’s a cheese dome.

One very similar here:

http://etruscanmajolica.blogspot.com/2012/11/majolica-pottery-marks-george-jones.html

 

thank you, quite interesting artist. that explains the price.

 

Stilton cheese domes are massive.

I asked about the interior, because I'd expect it to be pink if it's Jones.

 

I agree, they commonly have pink interiors. I wondered if that’s why you asked.

 

Actually, George Jones was a prominent manufacturer, rather than an artist. They made pottery other than majolica too.

 

the original of my post is very similar to this one, said to be 14" tall which makes sense if the missing base was 2":

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-george-jones-majolica-1982031624

too bad the base is missing, still probably a good deal. Nice call by MT, there's on one website linked to that is also similar but for the topper.

 

Well, there'd be collectors who are missing the dome or who wish to replace a damaged one, so it is still worth a fair bit to the right person. Of course, if you intend keeping it, you could have a wooden base turned with a recess to accommodate the rim.