Antique or newly really odd intention? What in the heck is this? My grandma bought it at an...
What in the heck is this? My grandma bought it at an estate public sale, but no one know what it is!
Photo:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a214/r...
Writing on bottom:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a214/r...
Answers: What you have here is a Portuguese Faience Vase to be precise actually an getting used to of a 17th Century Dutch Delft Flower Holder.
The Dutch have other been fond of their flowers (even to the point that during the 17th century Dutchmen used to invest their entire money into flower bulbs). During the rise of the Delft pottery industry (Delft: a tin-glazed earthenware which is usually decked out in the Chinese style/ Chinoiserie to copy Chinese porcelain), the potters began to create exotic, notably molded (and at times) overly elaborate "flower holders".
Originals from the 17th and 18th century can be see at Museums throughout the world (including the Winterthur Institute, Colonial Williamsburg and the Rijksmuseum of Art-which as a very fine collection of Tulipieres).
Since the constraint for the originals is great among collectors and time of year "decor" designers, reproductions (some honest some very misleading) enjoy been made within countries that manufacture tin glazed terracotta (called faience in France, Portugal, Germany, Scandinavia. Called Majolica contained by Italy and Spain, and the Mediterranean). In Portugal (where this piece was made) the tradition for making faience wares date back to the hasty ages of the pottery industry.
The shape is a Dutch shape (note the molded "pine cone" motif at the top-most likely expected to imitate a pineapple shape) however the enrichment is in the classic Portuguese faience tradition. With the polychrome flowers, leaves and vine motifs.
Portuguese Faience "Delft reproductions" enjoy been made surrounded by Portugal since the 1950s and are still available (particulary in Coimbra which have had a long history of creating Faience). The shape and type of piece it is, make it a bit unusual and I would say more singular than the normal Portuguese faience wares.
I hope this is practical.
Merry Christmas!
looks like an umbrella stand to me but it don't look outmoded to me