Royal Doulton Flambé Handpainted Draft Horses Vase

Royal Doulton Flambe is among the most celebrated and visually dramatic of all the company's ceramic achievements — a high-fired reduction glaze of deep crimson and black that Charles Noke developed at Burslem in the early twentieth century, drawing on the ancient Chinese tradition of ox-blood glazes that had fascinated Western potters for generations. This 7.5-inch ovoid vase displays the Flambe ground at its most arresting: a rich, lustrous field of deep red bleeding into black with the unpredictable, flame-like pooling that makes every Flambe piece unique and no two examples identical. Against that extraordinary ground, hand-painted draft horses complete a composition of considerable power — the strength and mass of the animals entirely at home against the elemental drama of the glaze.

Flambe Veined and Flambe with painted animal subjects represent the upper tier of Royal Doulton's Flambe production, requiring not only the demanding reduction firing that produced the ground but the additional skill of painting onto the finished glaze surface — work carried out by a small number of specialist decorators at Burslem whose names appear on the most important examples. Draft horse subjects within the Flambe range are among the more uncommon animal treatments, less frequently encountered than the foxes, elephants, and penguins that dominate the Flambe animal market, and correspondingly desirable to collectors seeking pieces beyond the standard repertoire.

Royal Doulton Flambe has attracted strong international collector interest for decades, and quality examples in the 7 to 8 inch range with figured animal decoration represent the sweet spot of the market — substantial enough to display with authority, decorated with the hand-painted subjects that distinguish premium Flambe from the plain glaze pieces. This vase is offered in mint condition with minor paint scratches to the reverse, entirely consistent with age and in no way affecting the display face. The Flambe ground itself is excellent, with strong colour and the characteristic luminous depth that defines the best examples.

Offered in excellent display condition — minor paint scratches to reverse only, not visible from front. We ship internationally with full insurance; combined postage available on multiple purchases. William Cross Antiques has specialised in Royal Doulton and British ceramics for over four decades — enquiries welcome by email.