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Antique German Souvenir China Vase, Frog Pond, Boston Common
A charming little piece of turn-of-the-century tourist china, made in Germany for the American souvenir trade and sold to visitors to Boston.
The body is finished in deep cobalt blue with generous gilt highlights, and the front carries a colored transfer view of the Frog Pond on Boston Common, with the fountain playing, elms in full leaf, and a warm sunset sky behind. The scene is captioned in a small banner: Frog Pond, Boston, Common. Two pierced scroll handles rise along the sides, heavily gilded, and the flared rim is scalloped and finished in gold with a creamy white interior.
For a piece just three and a half inches tall, it has a lot of presence. Souvenir china of this kind was made in enormous variety by German factories and sold at resorts, parks and city landmarks across America, and collectors today seek out particular towns, landmarks and subjects. The Frog Pond has been a Boston landmark since the city\'s earliest days, and Boston Common itself is the oldest public park in the United States.
A NOTE ON WHAT TO CALL IT
Small two-handled pieces like this one turn up described as miniature vases, spill vases, or souvenir toothpick holders, and all three terms are in common use. A true spill vase held paper or wood spills used to carry a flame from the fireplace to a candle or pipe. Whatever name you prefer, it displays beautifully and makes a lovely little holder for toothpicks, matches, a single small bloom, or simply stands on its own.
MARKS
The base is marked Made in Germany within a circle. The country-of-origin marking places it after 1891, and the \"Made in\" wording points to roughly 1900 or later, consistent with the great period of American souvenir china from about 1900 to the First World War.
SIZE
Approximately 3 1/2 inches tall, with an opening of about 1 1/8 inches.
CONDITION
Good antique condition for its age. No chips, no cracks, no repairs. There is gilt loss along the top rim and lighter wear to the gilding on the handles and trim, as is very common on these pieces and clearly shown in the photos. The cobalt ground shows fine surface scratches and light scuffing in places, most visible when the light catches it. The transfer scene itself is bright and complete with no fading. A small factory blemish is present in the glaze on the underside.
Please note: color of the item may vary slightly from the photos due to different monitor displays, lighting conditions, and camera settings. We do our best to accurately capture and describe the true color of every item.
Please review all photos closely, as they form an important part of the condition report. Additional photos are available on request, and we are happy to answer any questions before you buy.
ABOUT THIS SELLER
Welcome to Times Gone By!
We are Terry and Sue, a husband and wife team who have spent many years collecting vintage treasures and antiquities we truly love. Now retired, we are gradually downsizing our collection and sharing pieces with new homes. Some items listed are sourced for resale, while others come directly from our own personal collection built over the years. Every item is inspected closely and photographed in detail so you can shop with confidence. We describe condition as accurately and honestly as possible, including any flaws, so there are no surprises when your item arrives. All items ship within 1–2 business days of payment, carefully packed to ensure safe arrival. We welcome questions before you buy, and we stand behind every item we sell. Thank you for taking the time to visit our shop and for supporting a small, retired collector-run business. We hope you find something as special as it was to us. We would never intentionally misrepresent anything and try to describe all items to the best of my ability. Small items ship in a padded mailer or small box. Most of what we offer is used, vintage or antique and their condition will reflect that. Potential buyers should do their own research and use their own expertise before purchasing.
Thank you for looking! 😊✌
