A large Regency Blue John krater-form vase, attributed to James Shore circa 1815

of richly colored and striated fluorspar, the turned vase shaped body with ring turnings and a flared neck and turned socle, the square flared handles rising above the neck with turned roundel terminals.  Now with a turned circular slate molding to the base, restorations.

Sold, Christie's, New York, October 28, 1985, lot 28

Sold, in these rooms, New York, April 7, 2004, lot 159

Overall in very good condition, the whole with a nicely polished surface. Restorations are barely visible to the naked eye, and the body of the vase is in remarkably good solid condition. The vase has not been drilled, and is in interesting to note that early 19th century sources state that these types of large blue john vases often were lit from the interior by candlelight. The restorations are as follows, the rim of the vase with an in-filled shallow chip approximately 1 inch by 1/4 in. by 1/8 in., the handles with some infilling in places mainly around joins with rim and body. The two roundels with some in-filled chips to extreme edges, and the foot of the vase with restorations including some infilling to cracks and one or two minor in-filled shallow chips. Please note that the molded black marble lip to the foot is later. Overall the color of the blue john when lit from the interior is very deep and beautifully translucent as pictured in the catalogue illustration. It is incredibly rare to find a blue john vase of this size and secondly in such good stable condition.
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.

This impressive vase is closely related to another vase of similar form, now in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire (Ford, op.cit., p. 86), which was made in 1815 by James Shore of Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. Little is known of Shore other than his claim that his vase, which measured 24 inches high including the plinth, was the largest ever made. After his death it passed to John Mawe, another worker in blue john, who had shops in Matlock, Castleton, Cheltenham, Scarborough and London, and then to William Adam at whose sale in 1849 it was presumably acquired by the Duke of Devonshire. Shore's vase now has slate handles, although a contemporary illustration of it indicates that these were originally in blue john (Ford op.cit. p. 90).  The construction of the two vases is the same being formed by a series of rings fitted one above the other, the stone of the two vases also being identical and from the Bull Beef Vein. This particular vein was mined in the Blue John Cavern which was located in the Treak Cliff hills, Derbyshire, and 'was probably the most popular amongst 19th century craftsmen and clients but there is little left'. (Ford op.cit.). Originally the present vase may have been fitted with a stepped black slate plinth.  Another comparable large krater-form Blue John vase sold in these rooms April 9, 2009, lot 144; and another large Blue John vase with ormolu mounts sold in these rooms from the Collection of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman April 28, 2010, lot 165.
The profile of this vase is derived from an ancient Greek pottery krater, a large vessel intended for wine.  Thomas Hope designed several vases of this form in bronze and gilt metal, including one appropriately ornamented with 'Baccanalian masks, vine wreaths, and other emblems of Bacchus'. (Hope, op. cit. plate XXXV).  A related Regency blue john vase attributed to James Shore was sold in these rooms, April 9, 2009, lot 144.

See:

Thomas Hope, Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, London, 1807
William Adam, Gem of the Peak, 3rd edition, 1843 and 4th edition,1848
Trevor D. Ford, 'Blue John Fluorspar', Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geographical Society, vol. 30, part I, no. 4, 15 September 1955,  p. 56
Trevor D. Ford, Derbyshire Blue John, Ashbourne, 2000