Small French antique sugar bowl or small tureen without lid birds and flowers, Art Nouveau shabby green transferware Gien c 1890-1910

A lovely, shabby small French antique soup dish / tureen soupiere green transferware from Gien 1890-1910.

This is a classic piece of green and white late Victorian floral china featuring elegant sculpted handles, moulded form and a decoration of sprays of leaves and flowers with birds in flight, all rendered in a lovely forest green transferware. This piece would be beautiful as a flower vessel, candy dish, or for general serving.

In shabby antique condition with several large chips to the inner and outer rim, there are no cracks or discoloration so the bowl still displays very nicely.

Maximum dimensions - 16cm wide (including handles) x 10cm (bowl width at widest point excluding handles) x 10.5cm high

An authentic and charming piece of antique ceramic ware to use, display and enjoy.

Feel free to ask any questions! :)
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Notes on shipping -

SHIPPING VIA MONDIAL RELAY to a relay point of your choosing within Metropolitan France. If you would like door-to-door shipping, please upgrade your delivery options to La Poste Chronopost.

I will always refund shipping overages. Etsy shipping charges are not always accurate to every destination - please enquire if you would like an exact quote for fully-insured shipping to your destination.

I am very happy to combine shipping so please get in touch if you like multiple items in my store.

I always shop around to ensure the best possible packaging and shipping solution for you. Rest assured I will be using all my skills as a former art gallery owner to ensure that this treasure makes its way safely to your home. I have shipped literally hundreds of fragile items to every continent over the past 20 years. Your shipment will be fully insured against loss and damage in transit so you can buy with confidence.

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PASSION FLOWER SYMBOLISM (Source: Wikipedia)
The "Passion" in "passion flower" refers to the passion of Jesus in Christian theology. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique physical structures of this plant, particularly the numbers of its various flower parts, as symbols of the last days of Jesus and especially his crucifixion:

- The pointed tips of the leaves were taken to represent the Holy Lance.
- The tendrils represent the whips used in the flagellation of Christ.
- The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles (excluding St. Peter the denier and Judas Iscariot the betrayer).
- The flower's radial filaments, which can number more than a hundred and vary from flower to flower, represent the crown of thorns.
- The chalice-shaped ovary with its receptacle represents the Holy Grail.
- The 3 stigmas represent 3 nails and the 5 anthers below them 5 hammers or 5 wounds (four by the nails and one by the lance).
- The blue and white colors of many species' flowers represent Heaven and Purity.
- In addition, the flower keeps open three days, symbolising the three years' ministry.
- The flower has been given names related to this symbolism throughout Europe since that time. In Spain, it is known as espina de Cristo ("thorn of Christ'"). Older Germanic names[32] include Christus-Krone ("Christ's crown"), Christus-Strauss ("Christ's bouquet"[33]), Dorn-Krone ("crown of thorns"), Jesus-Lijden ("Jesus' passion"), Marter ("passion"[34]) or Muttergottes-Stern ("Mother of God's star"[35])