Sculptural ceramic pot with amazing detail... stumped

[gino22]

Not a fan of ceramics but knew this was a deal at $10. Beautiful sculptural details, seemingly hand-made and hand-signed, but signature is too stylized for me to make heads or tails of. Still, I feel like this will be more than worth the effort of triple-packing, which is more than I can say for most ceramics given my limited knowledge. Anyone know the signature or even what to call this? Fondue pot? About 8" diameter.

TN app keeps crashing once I add images, so looks like I'll have to do these one at a time:

 

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[gino22]

Image 2

 

[gino22]

Signature

 

[iloveshinythings]

I know it's not much, but to me it looks like "RY" or "PY" as a mark, but you've got it upside down.

Either way, cool covered dish.

 

[JimDon]

Form wise it resembles a tobacco jar. My guess would be possible Czech or German. I am not sure of the maker.

 

[gino22]

Form wise it resembles a tobacco jar. My guess would be possible Czech or German. I am not sure of the maker.

Thanks - I'm going to follow that lead since the first thing that came to mind when I saw the design was "Austrian", although I can't articulate quite why... something fatalistic and woodsy in the subject matter, which I guess I equate with Austria... which I guess I equate with Germany and the Czech Republic...

Not sure if this helps, but there is a form-fitting plain white ceramic bowl within the main bowl. Not sure if it is original to the piece or included later for ease of cleaning.

 

[bdsawyer]

Looks like a tureen or possibly pie dish to me

 

[gino22]

The more I think about this, the more I think it's a tobacco jar (or intended for some other non food item). Seems too ornate for something as practical as a food dish...

 

[gino22]

Any more leads on the mark? Searched quite a bit, not finding anything close in terms of style

 

[gino22]

My friend who is a sculptor and works at a vintage shop loves it but has no idea what it is, offered $100. Tempted to sell but feel like there is more to it.

Been researching in my downtime and can't find anything close. Some 18th century urns are in the ballpark in terms of design and shape but this is too small and the signature looks early 20th century to me.

 

[Baltimore]

Looks like you've stumped us. Honestly I'd scoop that $100 and call it a job well done, It'd probably be tough to find a higher offer considering how hard it's been to find info on it. Plus, you won't have to ship it, and you may get paid in cash.

 

[gino22]

True, but now I'm obsessed with the thing. One of my favorite finds.

 

[bdsawyer]

I will chime in again. It's definitely an English/European style covered game dish or pie dish. All have the ceramic insert inside with small venting hole on the top. It appears to be a copy of the Victorian wedgwood and majolica styles. Unsure on the maker

 

[gino22]

I will chime in again. It's definitely an English/European style covered game dish or pie dish. All have the ceramic insert inside with small venting hole on the top. It appears to be a copy of the Victorian wedgwood and majolica styles. Unsure on the maker

Thank you so much. Now I'm finding comparable items.

 

[Red-Coat]

Just doing a bit of tidying up on some older threads, mainly for the benefit of anyone searching the site for information.

The mark is for the “Haldon Group” of Sun Valley, California who make all kinds of ceramic items. It’s a game pie tureen, but a modern ‘reproduction’, inspired by (although not a direct copy of) caneware pottery items made by Wedgewood in the 18th Century.

Here’s one from fleabay, which has the same Haldon Group trademark on the bottom:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165297666822