Stunning Rare Masons Ironstone Medium Sized (6.75 inch tall) Lidded Prunus Jar/Ginger Jar in the Fruit Basket Pattern, Plum/Muliticoloured Colourway with the Rare Iridescent Overglaze, Circa 1950, Mint/Cabinet Condition

I’m continuing my Downsizing of my Ginger Jar/Prunus Jar Collection and have now moved onto my Mason’s Ironstone Ginger Jars, of which I have three.

For sale here is a Stunning Rare Masons Ironstone Medium Sized (6.75 inch tall) Lidded Prunus Jar/Ginger Jar in the Fruit Basket Pattern, Plum/Muliticoloured Colourway with the Rare Iridescent Overglaze, Circa 1950, Mint/Cabinet Condition

Mason’s were a family of potters trading from circa 1800 to circa 1854, where they were taken over by Messrs. G L Ashworth & Bros in 1861 (they continued to use the Mason’s printed marks and also their moulds and patterns). It became part of the Wedgwood group in 1978 and continued until production ceased in 1997.
Charles James Mason patented Ironstone in 1813, making the company a fortune. Ironstone was developed as a cheaper, mass-produced and more durable alternative to porcelain.

Masons produced Ginger Jars, or more correctly, Prunus Jars in many of their popular patterns including Regency, Strathmore, Blue Mandalay, Brown Velvet, Mandarin and the Fruit Basket pattern as seen here. The jars were produced in four sizes from what I can tell, Miniature, Small, Medium and Large. They were originally a based on a Chinese shape that functioned as a spice storage jar, hence the term Ginger or Prunus jar, but were produced by Mason’s more as a decorative piece, although they can be used for storage – loose tea, tea bags, ground coffee, coffee beans etc.

From my research online, this jar is one of the second largest sizes available, ie: Medium, although this size is sometimes sold online as “Large”, as it is quite large, but I think there are larger ones again! But this one would be larger than most examples and certainly larger than the Willow Pattern ginger jars I have already listed.

The Fruit Basket pattern, is one of Masons most popular patterns which was produced in a range of colours including, blue, blue/multi, green, green/multi, brown, pink, pink/multi, and this rare example which is Plum/Multi with the Iridescent Overglaze. The pattern features a wicker basket overflowing with exotic fruits and foliage, printed in plum and hand-painted in greens, pinks, plums, yellows and blues and then overglazed in a fabulous iridescent overglaze, which is what makes this example so special and quite rare to find.

The jar and lid are both in excellent mint/cabinet Vintage condition with no chips, cracks, or pattern loss, no crazing, and no damage to the special overglaze.

The Jar stands 6.75 inches/ 17 cm tall at the highest point. It roughly measures 5.5 inches/14 cm in diameter at the widest point.

The back stamp reads MASON’S PATENT IRONSTONE CHINA “Fruit Basket” ENGLAND, with a crown and banner and GUARANTEED DETERGENT PROOF & ACID RESISTING COLOURS. The backstamps are a bit of a minefield, but according to my research the backstamp dates the piece to circa 1950.

A spectacular item that rarely comes up for sale online, and is a perfect gift for a Collector or Masons Ginger Jars. "Replacements.com" doesn't have one of these available in the Medium size, but the slightly larger example is priced at €500 ex post/packaging/customs. See the final photo. So this one is very reasonably priced, so I am not expecting any low ball offers, unless part of a bulk purchase.

An amazing investment piece for a collector of the “Fruit Basket” pattern or any Mason’s lover! This could be the size you are missing from your Ginger Jar Collection, or this could be the start of a new obsession!

I'll have other Masons Ironstone Ginger Jars coming shortly, see the photos, which show the other two I will be listing.

Check out my other items and more coming soon! Discounts possible for multiple purchases!