Figure of the Day: The Thomas Parr Spill Vase, 1852

The Victoria & Albert Museum

In the early to mid Nineteenth Century, matches were rather costly, and, so, alternative ways of lighting candles (and cigars) were employed. Spills—thin pieces of wood or rolled paper) were kept on the mantle in spill vases. These bud-vase-like pieces allowed for easy access to the spills which were used to transfer fire to other, smaller uses such as candle lighting.

Here, we see a spill vase depicting popular actors Jenny Marston and Frederick Robinson as Perdita and Florizel from Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale.” The couple is standing on a base styled like a mound of earth, behind them is a tree in the shape of a spill vase.

Celebrated Nineteenth Century stage stars were often depicted as ceramic figurines, especially by Staffordshire factories who specialized in molded earthenware portrait figurines. Marston and Robinson were favorite subjects. They are seen here in Scene iii of a revival of “The Winter's Tale,” which was performed at Sadler's Wells Theatre in July of 1851.

Figure of the Day: The Thomas Parr Spill Vase, 1852

The Victoria & Albert Museum

In the early to mid Nineteenth Century, matches were rather costly, and, so, alternative ways of lighting candles (and cigars) were employed. Spills—thin pieces of wood or rolled paper) were kept on the mantle in spill vases. These bud-vase-like pieces allowed for easy access to the spills which were used to transfer fire to other, smaller uses such as candle lighting.
Here, we see a spill vase depicting popular actors Jenny Marston and Frederick Robinson as Perdita and Florizel from Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale.” The couple is standing on a base styled like a mound of earth, behind them is a tree in the shape of a spill vase.

Celebrated Nineteenth Century stage stars were often depicted as ceramic figurines, especially by Staffordshire factories who specialized in molded earthenware portrait figurines. Marston and Robinson were favorite subjects. They are seen here in Scene iii of a revival of “The Winter's Tale,” which was performed at Sadler's Wells Theatre in July of 1851.

The Home Beautiful: The Deroche Spill Vase, 1830

Spill Vase
Deroche, 1830
The Victoria & Albert Museum

We all know what a spill vase is.  Well, just in case you don’t—spills were long curls or sticks of rolled paper which were used to transfer fire from the hearth to a lamp or candle, or used to help light the fire in the grate.  These were kept in “spill vases” on or near a mantelpiece.  Very often, these spill vases were figural, or, in this case, highly decorative.

This spill vase was made, in 1830, in the Gothic revival style-- one of the most enduring and widespread architectural and design movements of the Nineteenth Century.  It’s the work of the Deroche Firm about whom we know very little except that it mainly operated as a decorating studio and producer of wares in a vast variety of styles.

The vase of porcelain boasts molded decoration in the form of gothic tracery against a deep green background.  Gilt on the arches, base and rim add dimension and shimmer which would have looked quite handsome on a mantelpiece.