The days are getting cooler and garden plants are reaching the end of their blooming season. Now is the time to consider bringing mother nature inside — with style. Vintage planters and plant stands are a great way to keep that “summer feel” going.
Plants were popular in the Victorian home. Jardinieres on stands and wooden or marble plant stands were made to hold large potted plants, especially ferns. Wire and iron racks that resembled trees or shelves were made to hold groups of small pots. A flat round tray at the top of the stand held either a plant in a ceramic bowl or a small statue. Pedestals were used to fill the corners of the rooms to add to the fill-every-nook-and-cranny look of Victorian décor. Here are 5 great examples.
Roseville Blackberry jardinière and pedestal, unmarked, pattern introduced c.1932, 29 in. h. by 13 1/2 in. diam., $1,920.
Photo: Rago Arts & Auction Center
Planter, designed by Clarice Cliff (1899-1972), marked, 10 in. w., sold for $62. Cliff was an English ceramic artist who worked at several English potteries and is known for her brightly colored Art Deco designs. It’s from her most famous line called Bizarre ware, made from 1927 until 1936. Bizarre pieces featured vibrant geometric patterns, flowers, trees and landscapes.
Squirrel planter, McCoy Pottery, Roseville, Ohio, 1950s, 6 in. h. by 8 1/2 in. w., sold in an online auction for the bargain price of $11. If you have more money to spend, this 6 1/2-inch-high Pink Poppy vase is for sale in an online shop for $475. It, too, was made by McCoy in the 1950s.
Brass plant stand, with a tile top made by Longwy, France, sold for $4,650.
Photo: Rago Arts & Auction Center.