Rococo Covered Urn Vase — Hand-Painted Floral Cartouche with Gilt Brass Dragon Handles

Design & Inspiration

Few decorative objects command a room quite like a tall covered urn. This majestic piece draws its lineage from the grand vases de garniture that graced the mantelpieces and consoles of Rococo and late Victorian Europe — those palatial interiors where every surface told a story of artistry and aspiration. Rising from a pierced, scrollwork brass base, the vessel climbs through a deep wine-red lower register, transitions into a luminous ivory body, and culminates in a crowned lid finial of burnished gilt. The visual weight is architectural; the decorative detail, intimate.

Materials & Craftsmanship

The body is formed in fine ceramic, fired to a high-gloss finish in a rich wine red that recalls the famous claret grounds of Sèvres and Royal Worcester. At the heart of the ivory panel, a hand-painted floral cartouche blooms with roses, peonies, and foliage rendered in the naturalistic tradition of 19th-century botanical porcelain painting. Surrounding the cartouche, gilded rocaille scrollwork — gold acanthus tendrils and cross-hatched latticework — frames the scene with characteristic Rococo exuberance. The lid mirrors the body's colour scheme, its shoulder adorned with gilt foliate arabesques and the crown capped by a turned acorn finial.

The brass mounts — cast, chased, and finished by hand — are the true conversation piece. Each handle takes the form of a slender dragon or serpentine figure, its tail arching into a scroll that meets the neck of the vase and its head descending to grip the shoulder: a motif that echoes the ormolu mascaron mounts of Empire and Régence metalwork. The pierced base, cast in openwork brass with interlocking acanthus and scrolls, elevates the piece and allows light to play through its negative spaces, lending the composition an almost lantern-like quality when placed near a light source.

Dimensions & Details

Weighing 4 kg, this covered urn has the physical presence to anchor a mantelpiece, centre a console table, or punctuate the end of a hallway credenza. The brass-color variant selected at purchase (Gold, Silver, or Antique Gold) will harmonise with the gilded paintwork or introduce a deliberate tonal contrast — a design choice that subtly shifts the piece between warm Rococo opulence and cooler Neoclassical restraint. The removable lid makes the interior accessible for dried botanicals or fragrance sachets, extending the vase beyond pure ornament into gentle functional use.

Handcrafted in Egypt

Every piece bearing the Brass & Wood name is produced in Egypt by artisans whose knowledge of classical European decorative traditions has been passed through generations of skilled workshop practice. The hand-painting, the brass casting, and the final assembly are executed without the shortcuts of mass production — each urn leaves the atelier as a singular object. This is not a reproduction of lesser intent; it is a faithful and luxurious interpretation of one of Europe's most celebrated decorative forms, crafted to honour that legacy and to become a legacy of its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials are used in this vase?

The body and lid are crafted from high-fired ceramic with a hand-applied glaze and hand-painted floral decoration. The handles, neck ring, base ring, and openwork base are cast brass, finished by hand. No wood components are present in this piece.

Is the lid removable and can the vase hold water?

The lid is fully removable. However, as with all fine ceramic decorative pieces with brass mounts, we recommend using the vase for dried flowers, decorative branches, or ornamental display only — not for fresh flowers with water, which could affect the brass fittings and painted surfaces over time.

Can this piece be customised?

Yes. Brass & Wood offers customisation on brass finish colour (Gold, Silver, Antique Gold). For bespoke commissions — including alternative ground colours or size variations — please contact our studio team directly.