Thrift store fodder or Ovington?

[littledove]

Hello everyone,

I do like antiques, but I have a lot to learn.  I was the lucky? winner of this vase/urn at a white elephant Christmas party. The lady who brought it told me her husband had bought it from a man who said it was "very valuable".  Well, she thought it was junk and the perfect white elephant gift.

I almost sent it to the thrift store, but the marking on the bottom intrigued me and so here I am to pick the brains of those who know.  I did a search for Ovington, but none of the crests seem to match these markings.

Can anyone help?

Thank you in advance

[railman44]

Well, I wouldn't call it 'junk'.  I'm assuming the pictures are decals?

[KC]

The mark is called a double L mark.

http://www.oldandsold.com/pottery/france1.shtml

Doesn't look like pasteware tho'!  If it is a true mark it was used later....this mark is one of the most copied marks as well as was used by many French makers in different forms. There are so many that resemble this mark but the thickness of the L's and the way the tops turn are so different.  Chris could say what this was instantly!

"Other L Marks. Colourable imitations of the Sevres mark were used many years ago. A double LL was used at Lille.An early Minton mark closely suggested the double-Louis. The honest modern " Derby " mark is rather like the Royal monogram used at Sevres. Angouleme porcelain bore a deceptive mark of the kind. And there have been endless fraudulent productions of what purports to be vieux Sevres."  Quote from Old & Sold site as well.

Still lookin'!

[D&b antiques]

The first thing is call me when you take it too the thrift shop. It's French Ovingtons was located in New York.A high Priced Crystal & china shop. famous for there imported Crystal & china.

We had one other piece of Ovington's appear here. This one $250.00 Dollars.

[KC]

Ovington's was a infamous place in New York to buy some of the highest quality/fine china from France.  They did sell items that didn't have their mark/name on the items/pieces but so many were made exclusively for them and did bear their name.  The store, Ovington Brothers, started in the late 1800's and the last of three brothers to run the store passed away in 1909.  The store continued to remain open by family and sell fine china/bronzes/glassware and sometime after 1920 shortened the name to Ovingtons. (So any items with Ovington Brothers is prior to 1920.) Yours will be after that time.

The question I have for you...Can you describe how the information Ovington's New York made in France is put on the piece.  Is it fired on there? Or written by some other means?
(D&b I am being cautious on this one...it is a beautiful piece....and there have been repro's out there.  Their items are still worth a beautiful penny!)

Info on the store:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bklyn-genealogy-info.com/Business/Progress/over.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bklyn-genealogy-info.com/Business/Progress/O/ovington54.html&usg=__VXsbBfwQUdi2anR4maeyzDL2bUY=&h=663&w=860&sz=527&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=EW7g7nyFbZbhkM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=145&prev=/images%3Fq%3DOvington%2Bbrothers%2Bad%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Examples of their fine wares:
http://cgi.ebay.com/OVINGTON-BROS.-NY-HAMMERSLEY-&-CO-ENG.-ROLL-PLATE-*NR*-_W0QQitemZ260542583398QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20100124?IMSfp=TL100124155001r2712
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://pics.rubylane.com/graphics/shops/alleycatlane/1292.1F.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rubylane.com/shops/alleycatlane/ilist/,cs%3DPorcelain,id%3D5.html&usg=__SSlub5qI6g-N9yzp9eBFPIgiHbk=&h=80&w=106&sz=3&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=LG_BWqLlkjrc6M:&tbnh=63&tbnw=84&prev=/images%3Fq%3DOvington%2Bporcelain%2Bmarks%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26um%3D1