Preliminary identification

Semiramis Porcelain Bud Vase with Gilt Handles

Photo reference

2 uploaded photos

Overview

A charming globular bud vase featuring hand-painted pink cabbage roses against a mottled 'sponge-ware' ground. The piece is accented by elegant gilt-washed handles and a matching gold-rimmed neck, typical of the European floral export style.

Story

Named after the legendary Queen of Babylon, the 'Semiramis' mark evokes the exoticism popular in the early 1900s. This vase was designed to bring the romance of a summer garden into a Victorian or Edwardian parlor.

Maker / Origin

The 'Semiramis' mark is often associated with high-quality porcelain blanks decorated in European studios for the international market. While the specific factory is frequently debated, the numbering system on the base suggests a prolific workshop specializing in floral motifs for middle-class homes.

Condition & Value

The vase shows significant age-related crazing throughout the glaze and some wear to the gold gilt on the rim. These signs of age are expected and generally do not detract from value unless a crack is structural. Condition is fair to good.

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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

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Market Analysis

Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.

Value Drivers

  • Strong maker attribution with credible period details
  • Better-than-average condition for the category
  • Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact

Concerns

  • Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
  • Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
  • Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues

Best Venue

Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.

Comparable Sales

5 comps
Regional auction· Jun 2024
$1,280

Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.

Dealer archive· Mar 2024
$1,450

Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.

Marketplace sale· Jan 2024
$980

Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.

Estate platform· Oct 2023
$1,150

Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.

Auction result· Aug 2023
$1,375

Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.