Hi Bridget,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

This is a mid 19th Century Sevres parcel gilt porcelain cache-pot (pronounced 'cash-po'), a decorative container, often without drainage holes, designed to hold a potted plant and its inner pot, effectively hiding the utilitarian grow pot. It's a French term, meaning "hide-a-pot," and is used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of a plant indoors.

I would not be surprised if you looked and found a tiny signature on the edge of the painted scenes, which identifies the painter; the A & S below identify this as having been thrown in the mid 19th Century, circa 1847-1860.

It was common for these to have been made in pairs and a surviving pair will be worth more than twice that of an individual cache-pot. Where pairs of comparable age, size and decoration usually sell for between $500-700, similar individuals rarely exceed $250.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique Second Republic/Second Empire Sevres parcel gilt and gilt metal mounted porcelain cache-pot
made in France, mid 19th Century
Of circular section, with pierced gilt brass or bronze gallery with ram's head handles, the cobalt-blue ground body decorated large decorative medallions, one of flowers, the other of figures in a landscape, on a domed foot with gilt metal feet, marked underneath with the Sevres "Double-Louis" L's and "A" and "S".
8 inches high by 8 inches diameter
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition; value assumes minor use wear but no cracks or repairs.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$150-250*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia