An impressive garniture of three Spode 'Japan' pattern large vases and covers

each of hexagonal form, the front and reverse painted with oriental flower panels and the sides with gilt scrolling foliate vines bearing iron-red blossoms, the shoulder and the cover decorated with alternating panels of large blossoms and gilt-scale patterned diamond devices, affixed on either side with gilt open-mouthed dolphin's mask handles, the knop with a gilt seated kylin.

Sotheby's New York, April 11, 1997, lot 342
The Collection of Jeffrey S. Childs and Robert C. Woolley, Sotheby's New York, January 25, 1986, lot 52

Covers: Two covers have been broken and restored back; they are completely oversprayed making it impossible to determine the full extent of the damage. There is some rubbing to the gilt knops. Vases: The large vase has been broken into at least several pieces and restored.The vase is completely oversprayed; evidence of the original damage is apparent on the interior of the vase. A 3-inch section of the rim has been broken and taped into place. There is additionally some rubbing and touch-ups to gilding in places. Small vases: One has been broken into several pieces and restored back; evidence of the original damage is similarly apparent on the interior of the vase. The other small vase has two long curving fine haircracks to two sides of the body at its midpoint, visible on the interior of the vase but not readily apparent on the exterior. Both have some minor occasional rubbing to the gilding.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The attribution of these vases to the Spode factory is based on a beaker vase with the same pattern as illustrated by Leonard Whiter in Spode,  pl. 241. This vase is marked 'No. 1227'; and although this number does not appear in the pattern books for the period, the author points out that the quality of the decoration is characteristic of the manufactory's production and that "its identity is established by a piece with the same decoration in the collection of the late Dr. Strachan." The distinctive dolphin-mask handles do appear in the Spode shape books. A garden pot and stand with these handles from the 1820 shape book is illustrated by Whiter, ibid., p. 95, no. 17. A pair of similarly decorated hexagonal vases, now mounted as lamps, were sold in these rooms, October 21, 2004, lot 110.