Some of the most glorious examples of majolica available to the collector today are majolica umbrella and cane stands.
Wedgwood Lincoln umbrella stand
The large size of these pieces allowed manufacturers the luxury of creating pieces of great detail and stunning design. Most of the large potteries created such pieces, often in patterns familiar to the average collector from tableware. Any lover of majolica is bound to adore these pieces for their look alone, ignoring the utilitarian function for which they were created. They also never fail to make a statement.
Victorian men and women of taste often walked with a decorative canes, but canes as walking devices go back thousands of years. Originally designed to assist in walking, canes became a status symbol to denote power as far back as the ancient Egyptians. One of most elegant examples of ancient walking sticks is in one of the pieces found in Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb.
Tutankhamen was buried with numerous walking sticks because it is believed he had a club foot, but great rulers have for centuries carried sticks as symbols of their power. In the 17th century it became fashionable for people to carry elaborate canes as a regular part of their attire. This fashion peaked in the late Victorian age, so naturally they needed somewhere to store these, hence the potteries came to their rescue.
The history of umbrellas is a bit more recent, but not much. Parasols preceded umbrellas as a convenient way to protect oneself from the sun. Although these too go back to ancient Egypt. The Chinese were the first to waterproof their parasols with wax to protect from the rain. Like canes, umbrellas were considered a status symbol and were carried as a way of denoting one’s wealth. It wasn’t until the 16th century that umbrellas became more common. Around the 18th century umbrellas became a necessity among civilized folk. Never one to pass up an opportunity to make a profit, all manner of ceramic manufacturers made stands to house umbrellas when not in use.
Let’s take a look at some of these designs. Both English and Continental companies did ingenious things. Some doubled as floor vases. Let’s start with the English.
Minton heron cane stand
Minton crane cane/umbrella stand George Jones umbrella/cane stand George Jones daisy majolica umbrella/cane stand Wedgwood Argenta St. Louis umbrella/can stand Wedgwood majolica Fan cane stand Designs for the Kate Greenaway umbrella stand
from the Wedgwood pattern books
Wedgwood majolica Kate Greenaway umbrella/cane stand Wedgwood Fan umbrella/cane stand Wedgwood majolica sunflower and lily umbrella/cane stand
Wedgwood majolica umbrella stand
Wedgwood fruit umbrella/cane stand Fielding majolica ostrich umbrella/cane stand
Fielding Argenta heron umbrella/cane stand
Fielding majolica Fan umbrella/cane stand
Fielding Hare umbrella/cane stand
Fielding aesthetic umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft heron umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft tobacco umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft lily umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft majolica faux bois umbrella stand
Holdcroft bird umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft bamboo umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft majolica umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft banana leaf stand
Holdcroft majolica heron cane stand
Unattributed majolica umbrella/cane stand, possibly Forester
Unattributed majolica boot umbrella/stand
Putti with cornucopia umbrella/cane stand attributed to Forester
Forester majolica dragon umbrella/cane stand
Forester majolica faux bois umbrella/cane stand
Brown-Westhead Moore Inuit umbrellas/cane stand
Brownfield faux bois umbrella stand
Brown-Westhead Moore faux bamboo umbrella stand
Unattributed English cane/umbrella stand
Bretby owl umbrella/cane stand
Bretby majolica cane stand
Bretby monkey umbrella stand
Bretby majolica crane umbrella/cane stands. Compare to the
Royal Dux examples below
Doulton Lambeth faïence cane stand
Unattributed majolica bulldog umbrella/cane stand
Unattributed umbrella/cane stand
Unattributed umbrella/cane stand
Unattributed tree trunk umbrella/cane stand
Royal Art Pottery majolica umbrella stand
Continental potteries made amazing stands as well.
Wasmuël pug umbrella stand
Julius Greiner majolica cane stand Nimy majolica calla lily umbrella stand Schiller & Sons umbrella stand Massier majolica crane heron stand Massier majolica crane cane stand Massier majolica flamingo umbrella/cane stand
Massier frog umbrella stand
Massier leaping fish umbrella stand
Onnaing bamboo umbrella/cane stand Onnaing majolica umbrella stand
Catalog page showing Orchies umbrella stands
The Orchies cat umbrella stand from the catalog above. Signed Foubert Orchies swan umbrella stand Orchies majolica iris umbrella stand
Onnaing majolica umbrella stand
Onnaing majolica umbrella stand
Wasmuël majolica umbrella stand
French Palissy fish umbrella stand
Unattributed continental elf and basket cane/umbrella stand
Royal Dux majolica turkey cane stand Royal Dux majolica flamingo cane stand
Royal Dux majolica flamingo cane stand Royal Dux majolica crane cane standRoyal Dux majolica crane cane stand
Royal Dux majolica crane cane stand, very similar to the Massier crane
Royal Dux majolica heron cane stand, very similar to the Massier heron
Woodpecker majolica umbrella/cane stand from Poet-Vaval
Kraus majolica cane stand Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand
Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand
Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand
Etruscan Majolica umbrella stand
Over the years I’ve seen beautiful collections of antique canes displayed in such stands, or you can do what I’ve done—fill them with peacock feathers! No matter how you use them they will add charm to your home.
Video: ©D.Bastas; Music: ©The Beatles
Wonderful...thank you for posting!
ReplyDelete