Floral Porcelain Sardine Dish

Sold as presented; to be candled by Salvage Bohemia.

Approx. 15 oz wax pour • $2.30 per oz

A charming Austrian porcelain sardine dish, complete with its original fitted underplate and domed cover topped by a wonderfully detailed painted fish handle. The rectangular dish has softly scalloped edges and delicate gilt trim, with a garland of pink roses and green foliage encircling the rim, scattered with tiny purple floral dots.

The covered form was designed for serving sardines and other small table delicacies, with similar examples also used for butter, caviar, preserves, and other condiments. The whimsical fish handle is both functional and decorative, transforming an otherwise practical serving piece into a delightful table object. Examples of Austrian sardine boxes from this period are known with hand-painted floral decoration, gilt accents, and figural fish handles.

The original underplate is especially lovely, repeating the floral decoration around its scalloped border and giving the piece a more substantial presence on the table.

As a candle vessel, the proportions give you a wide, shallow candle surface while the fish handle and floral underplate make the whole thing feel like a little piece of tableware sculpture.

Origin: c. 1904-1918; Austria
Material: Fine glazed porcelain
Condition: Excellent antique condition.