{"product_id":"antique-belleek-basket-c-1921-1954-hand-woven-irish-porcelain-applied-roses-shamrocks-4-strand-black-mark-era-fermanagh-ireland","title":"Antique Belleek Basket c.1921-1954, Hand-Woven Irish Porcelain, Applied Roses Shamrocks, 4-Strand Black Mark Era, Fermanagh Ireland","description":"✦ Antique Belleek Hand-Woven Porcelain Basket ✦\u003cbr\u003e✦ Black Mark Era — Circa 1921-1954 ✦\u003cbr\u003e✦ Approximately 70-100 Years Old ✦\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA breathtaking antique Belleek basket from the pottery's celebrated \u003cbr\u003eBlack Mark era, hand-woven in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. \u003cbr\u003eThis is among Belleek's most labor-intensive and prestigious \u003cbr\u003eforms — a true heirloom piece that has survived nearly a century \u003cbr\u003ein extraordinary condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e▸ DATING THE PIECE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis basket can be dated with confidence to circa 1921-1954 based \u003cbr\u003eon three converging pieces of evidence:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. FOUR-STRAND BASE WEAVE. According to Belleek expert Fergus \u003cbr\u003e   Gambon (Phillips auction house, London), Belleek transitioned \u003cbr\u003e   from three-strand to four-strand base construction around \u003cbr\u003e   1920-1921. The four-strand weave on this basket places it \u003cbr\u003e   firmly after that transition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2. IMPRESSED PAD MARK reads \"Belleek, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland.\" \u003cbr\u003e   The inclusion of \"Ireland\" places it after 1891 (per the \u003cbr\u003e   McKinley Tariff Act), and the mixed-case lettering format \u003cbr\u003e   with comma-separated text matches pad marks documented in \u003cbr\u003e   the Janice Gill Collection and Leslie Hindman Auctioneers \u003cbr\u003e   archives for the 1921-1954 period.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3. NO ® REGISTERED TRADEMARK SYMBOL. Belleek added the ® symbol \u003cbr\u003e   to its marks in 1955. The absence of ® on this piece confirms \u003cbr\u003e   production before 1955. There is also no Celtic knot cartouche \u003cbr\u003e   or \"Deanta in Eireann\" colored print mark.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e▸ DETAILS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- Maker: Belleek Pottery, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland\u003cbr\u003e- Period: Late 2nd \/ 3rd \/ Early 4th Mark — Black Mark Era\u003cbr\u003e- Approximate Production Date: 1921-1954\u003cbr\u003e- Age: 70-100 years\u003cbr\u003e- Mark: Impressed pad mark \"Belleek, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland\"\u003cbr\u003e- Construction: Four-strand woven base with twin sugared twig handles\u003cbr\u003e- Diameter: 9 inches (body) \/ 9.5 inches with handles\u003cbr\u003e- Weight: 11.1 oz\u003cbr\u003e- Material: Parian porcelain — hand-woven and hand-applied florals\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e▸ DECORATION\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe rim is adorned with three-dimensional roses, rosebuds, leaves, \u003cbr\u003eand tiny shamrocks — each shaped petal by petal and applied \u003cbr\u003eindividually by a single artisan. The twin twig handles are \u003cbr\u003eencrusted with porcelain \"sugar\" thorns, created by shaking \u003cbr\u003eground porcelain onto a wet surface before the final firing. \u003cbr\u003eThis is one of the most difficult finishes in all of European \u003cbr\u003eporcelain — and a hallmark of pre-war Belleek craftsmanship.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e▸ CONDITION\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExceptional antique condition. No chips, cracks, hairlines, or \u003cbr\u003erestorations. All applied flowers, leaves, shamrocks, and the \u003cbr\u003edelicate twig handles are intact. To have survived nearly a \u003cbr\u003ecentury without damage is genuinely remarkable, given the \u003cbr\u003eextreme fragility of the openwork construction. Please review \u003cbr\u003eall photographs carefully as part of the description.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e▸ ABOUT BELLEEK BASKETS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe basket form was pioneered by William Henshall at Belleek \u003cbr\u003ePottery in the 1860s and remains the pottery's most prestigious \u003cbr\u003ecreation. Each strand of porcelain is hand-rolled and woven \u003cbr\u003ewhile wet against a mold; the rim, feet, handles, and florals \u003cbr\u003eare applied afterward. The piece is then fired multiple times. \u003cbr\u003eEven today, only a small number of Belleek artisans are trained \u003cbr\u003ein this tradition. Black Mark era examples (pre-1955) in \u003cbr\u003eexcellent condition are increasingly scarce on the antique market.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e▸ A PIECE FOR\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- Wedding gifts — something old, something Irish, something heirloom\u003cbr\u003e- Anniversary gifts — especially porcelain\/china milestone years\u003cbr\u003e- St. Patrick's Day collectors and Irish heritage families\u003cbr\u003e- Belleek collectors seeking authentic Black Mark era pieces\u003cbr\u003e- Display in a curio cabinet, vanity, or dining sideboard\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e▸ SHIPPING\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis piece will be meticulously double-boxed with generous \u003cbr\u003ebubble wrap and dedicated padding around the applied florals \u003cbr\u003eand twig handles. Fully insured Priority Mail with signature \u003cbr\u003econfirmation. Ships from Seattle, WA within 2 business days \u003cbr\u003eof payment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e▸ ABOUT SWCURATED\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery piece in our shop is personally sourced from Pacific \u003cbr\u003eNorthwest estates and antique markets, carefully researched, \u003cbr\u003eand authenticated before listing. We specialize in fine \u003cbr\u003eEuropean and Irish ceramics with strong provenance and \u003cbr\u003estorytelling appeal.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eQuestions about authentication, age, or history? Message us \u003cbr\u003eanytime — we love talking about the pieces we curate.","brand":"SW Curated","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49117901881596,"sku":"ced_32170600532","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6053\/0940\/files\/il_fullxfull.8011956054_50yc.jpg?v=1779161493","url":"https:\/\/swcurated.com\/products\/antique-belleek-basket-c-1921-1954-hand-woven-irish-porcelain-applied-roses-shamrocks-4-strand-black-mark-era-fermanagh-ireland","provider":"SW Curated","version":"1.0","type":"link"}