Pattern: Sultan

Maker: Hortensja

                          Photo courtesy of Michael O'Brien                                   Catalogue image courtesy of Malcolm & Hilary Ross

 Marigold

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Shown in the 1936 Hortensja catalogue (Poland) on a page featuring lidded (covered) sugars. The page is entitled:  Cukiernica z pokrywką in Polish (which translates to mean sugar bowl with lid). These items could double up as bonbonnières.

We found our sugar (minus its lid) back in 2002, at a large antique fair in Gothenberg, Sweden. The mouldwork is very detailed and finely executed, the iridescence is rich marigold and the base is ground smoothly around the outer rim. In the centre of the base is a complex geometric design that echoes the star pattern featured on the main part of the piece.

For many years we searched in vain through catalogues, looking for a maker. No luck! Then recently, we were browsing throught the pages of the 1936 Hortensja catalogue (courtesy of Malcolm and Hilary Ross) and we spotted the illustration (above, right). That’s it! We realise how we had glossed over the catalogue illustration previously without recognising the item. It’s a very dark reproduction and the intricate geometric design doesn’t show up well at all. We’ve lightened the image here so you can see it more easily.

We named it Sultan as no name is given in the catalogue and we felt this described its splendid and rather fine appearance.