Marks under the base.

Provenance: Sir Frederick Dixon Dixon-Hartland (1832-1909) and Agnes Dixon Dixon-Hartland (1860-1955), part of the collection at Ashley Manor in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire;
Amy Friedswede Dixon-Hartland (1870-1956);
Agnes Friedeswede Cecil Cowper Borrozzino (1896-1982);
Thence by descent, Private collection Rome.

Comparative literature: P. Atterbury and M. Batkin, "The Dictionary of Minton", Woodbridge 1990, p. 329;
J. Jones, "Minton. The first two hundred years", Shrewsbury 1993, p. 108, fig. 3/59.

The inspiration for this type of vase probably derives from Chinese cloisonné enamel models of the 16th-17th century and this specific typology, identified by the number 1630, is described in Minton's Ornamental Shape Books as 'Vase, loop handles, mask head and paw feet". Minton's turquoise glaze was known as "Royal Persian" and was especially popular in Chinese taste objects.
A model comparable to ours can be found in the collections of the British Museum, London (2005,0401.1).