A Continental faience cistern, cover and circular basin 18th/early 19th century

possibly Spanish or Portuguese, each piece painted with a dense blue floral pattern and molded with lion masks in low relief, the cistern with serpent handles, G^{o mark in manganese. Some repair and flaking to the glaze on the handles, cover repaired.}

The cistern with the usual abrasion to the rims and protruding areas of the molding of the lions' masks; the rings with large areas of glaze chipped off; some cracking to the glaze, particularly near the rim. A 4 ½ x 5/8-inch (111.5 x 1.5-cm.) swath of glaze chipped off the shoulder under one snake's tail. The snakes with seriously misfired and chipped glaze; one loop handle at one time in four pieces and reglued, and the heads with chips. There must have been some sort of foot on this piece at some stage. The cover in half and at one time riveted, but the rivets removed; a 2 ¾ x ¾-inch (7 x 2-cm.) triangular chunk of the flange missing; the rim with four restored chips, one 2 ¼ inches long (5.6 cm.); two about ¾ inch long (2 cm.), and one a fill-in at one end of the break; at the top of the cover the break issues a 1-inch (2.3-cm.) hair crack; one looped leaf restored at the top (over the break below); and the tio edges of the artichoke knop with some chips and abrasions. The basin with the same sorts of chips and glaze abrasions on the lion's masks and the rim seriously abraded. The center with a star crack: 13 ½-inches (34.3 cm.) across the base and up the front and back, but at one end making a right turn and running around the side to meet itself at the other end; and issuing two 2-inch (5-cm.) and a 4-inch (10-cm.) crack in the bottom. The footrim, where the crack crosses it on one side has a shallow 2 ½-inch (6.4-cm.) chip. The glaze a bit speckly on the interior.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.