A Hand Made Enamelled Sandstone Vase

What “enamelled sandstone” usually means

Sellers often use “sandstone” as a visual descriptor for a coarse, stone-like ceramic body. In appraisal terms your vase is usually one of the following:

• Stoneware with a textured body (high-fired, dense, often rings when tapped).
• Earthenware with a sandy slip (lower-fired, slightly more porous, often sounds duller).
• A decorative composite (less common, but some modern décor pieces mimic a gritty clay look).

“Enamelled” can also mean two different things in everyday listings. A potter may be describing a glossy glaze on the rim. But some pieces genuinely use vitreous enamel (powdered glass fused to a surface) or enamel-like overglaze decoration. The practical takeaway: do not price based on the label alone—price based on what the object actually is.

Fast identification checklist (10 minutes)

If you only do one pass before listing or insuring, do this. It will help you decide whether you’re dealing with a modern craft vase or something that deserves deeper research.

1. Measure and weigh. Height, mouth diameter, and weight help compare to auction comps.
2. Look at the base. A clean foot ring with even sanding can suggest studio pottery; rough, sharp edges can signal lower-cost production.
3. Check the enamel/glaze edge. Hand-applied glaze often shows a soft transition and tiny pooling; sprayed glaze tends to look uniform.
4. Use a flashlight inside. Thick, opaque walls can be earthenware; thinner, denser walls can indicate stoneware.
5. Tap test (gently). A clearer ring usually indicates a denser, higher-fired body (stoneware/porcelain). A dull thud can be earthenware or a repaired piece.
6. Search for marks. Look for incised initials, a stamped symbol, a paper label shadow, or a felt pad hiding a mark.

Dating and origin clues (without over-claiming)

The original WP report suggested a 20th-century handmade piece and floated South America as a possible provenance. With an unsigned vase, provenance is usually “probable” rather than certain. Focus on verifiable clues:

• Uniformity vs. individuality: perfectly repeated motifs and identical glaze thickness often point to production runs; subtle asymmetry and tool marks support hand-making.
• Surface vocabulary: mid-century studio pottery often uses deliberate texture (grooves, impressed patterns, slip trails) paired with a restrained color palette.
• Decoration band: an applied or painted band at mid-body can be purely aesthetic, but it’s still a useful search term (e.g., “textured band studio pottery vase”).
• Wear patterns: genuine age shows as base rubbing, micro-scratches, and grime in recesses—not dramatic “patina” sprayed on the high points.

If you have any acquisition details (estate location, known travel history, gift receipts), include them with your documentation—they can be more valuable than stylistic guesses.

Unsigned? How to research the maker

Unmarked does not mean worthless—it just means you need a different research workflow. Start with what you can photograph and quantify.

• Reverse image search the profile shot and the base/foot. Matching silhouettes can reveal a workshop line.
• Search using construction terms: “stoneware vase enamelled rim,” “textured sandstone vase band,” “unglazed body glazed lip.”
• Check for label shadows: a faint clean circle on the base sometimes indicates an old gallery sticker.
• Ask with the right photos: ceramics dealers respond faster when you include rim, base, and a raking-light texture close-up.

Condition issues that move the price

For most modern decorative ceramics, condition is the biggest lever after maker attribution. Appraisers will note:

• Chips on the rim (especially through the enamel/glaze).
• Hairline cracks that open under light pressure or show staining.
• Crazing (fine crackle in the glaze) — often acceptable, but it affects resale appeal.
• Restoration (filled chips, overpainted bands). A blacklight can help spot touch-ups.
• Base wear: honest wear supports age; completely pristine bases on “vintage” claims deserve skepticism.

Value range and recent auction comps

The original WP appraisal estimated US$150–$180 for the described handmade sandstone vase with an enamelled top, in very good condition and without a visible maker’s mark. That range still makes sense for many unmarked 20th-century decorative or studio pottery vases, especially when the form is attractive but attribution is uncertain.

To add market context, here are three recent auction comparables from the Appraisily auction dataset for ceramic vases. They’re not identical to your vase, but they show how quickly price moves when you add a signature, a known regional tradition, or higher-end decorative techniques.

A signed pair of Longwy enamel ceramic vases at Collective Hudson (20 Oct 2024, lot 210) achieved $400. Even with minor condition issues noted in the listing, the recognizable maker name and decorative finish supported a stronger result than most unmarked décor vases.

Duran Arte y Subastas (25 Sep 2024, lot 628) sold a pair of Triana ceramic vases dated circa 1920 for €800. Here you’re paying for a documented regional tradition and early-20th-century date—two factors that can push similar-sized pottery well beyond the $150–$180 band.

At Casa d’Aste Babuino (25 Jul 2024, lot 600), two small 20th-century Chinese enameled ceramic vases sold for €180. That result is closer to the “modest decorative ceramics” range and reinforces the idea that enamel/overglaze alone doesn’t guarantee a high price without size, condition, and attribution.

Practical takeaway: if your vase remains unmarked after inspection, pricing it in the low hundreds is reasonable. If you identify a studio potter, a gallery label, or a specific regional tradition, that is when you re-price using closer comps.

How to sell and ship a handmade ceramic vase

For a modestly priced handmade vase, you have three common sales paths: local marketplace pickup (no shipping risk), online sale (Etsy/eBay), or consignment through a décor-focused auction or shop. Choose based on the value tier and how fragile the enamelled area is.

• Photograph the rim from multiple angles. Buyers will assume chips until proven otherwise.
• Disclose any repairs. Hidden restoration can trigger returns and fee losses.
• Double-box shipping: wrap the vase (no tape on surface), suspend it in a smaller box with foam, then place that box inside a larger one with padding.
• Avoid loose peanuts as the only fill; they shift and can drive pressure into the rim.

About the valuation method

Appraisily valuations for ceramics start with a description (material, form, decoration, marks), then a condition grade, then market comparables. For unsigned decorative pottery, the value is usually a fair-market estimate based on what similar pieces sell for at auction and on secondary marketplaces.

If you need an insurance replacement value, the number can be higher than a fair-market value because it reflects retail sourcing and the time needed to find a similar piece. If you need a donation value, the standard is typically fair market, supported by comps and documented condition.