Have it delivered hassle-freeBuyer protectionAll Designer items curated by WhoppahDownload the Whoppah App – get alerts & sell with ease.
Have it delivered hassle-free
Amphora Czechoslovakia Art Deco Vase Cavalier Portrait Heraldic Crest Enamel
€450Bid from €300
Buy with confidence
Shop & pay safely with Buyer ProtectionDesigner items curated by WhoppahWe only pay the seller once you have safely received the itemTrusted payment methods
Private seller: no right of withdrawal, but you get your money back if the item significantly differs from the description. Return policy
About this seller
Private sellerProduct description
RARE Amphora Art Deco Vase with Cavalier Portrait and Heraldic Crest, Czechoslovakia, circa 1918–1930s
A striking and theatrical piece of Amphora pottery from the famous Turn-Teplitz manufactory in Bohemia. It blends late Art Nouveau taste with medieval-inspired heraldic imagery, a style much sought after by collectors of early 20th-century European ceramics.
The decoration
The rounded body has an undulating outline and a shaped rim in vivid coral red. On one side is an elegant profile portrait of a Renaissance gentleman with a pleated white ruff, a plumed hat and a royal orb with a cross beside him. On the other side is a stylised heraldic crest with a helmet, plumed crest and two-tone shield, framed by the same scrolling motifs.
Both scenes are made in Amphora’s distinctive raised cloisonné-style enamel technique. Each area of colour is enclosed by a fine raised outline, which gives the design depth, sharpness and a jewel-like quality.
The mottled background in ivory, lilac and sponged gold is enriched with lattice bands and elegant dark green scrolls. Two sculptural handles, modelled in relief as stylised dragon-like creatures in copper-green glaze, give the vase an almost sculptural presence. The shaped red-edged base repeats small crowns, crests and scrolls to complete the design.
Mark: Oval stamp on the base, “Made in Czecho-Slovakia” / Amphora, which dates the vase to after 1918.
Why it’s special
Complex craftsmanship. Raised cloisonné-style enamelling, where each colour is separated by hand-applied outlines before firing, took far more skilled work than Amphora’s simpler production pieces.
Two figurative scenes. A portrait on one side and a heraldic crest on the other make it a true display piece from every angle.
Fully sculpted handles and an elaborate, layered décor typical of Amphora’s more ambitious designs.
Less common than the small and medium plain-decorated Amphora vases usually found on the market.
Historical background
The Amphora manufactory was founded in 1892 in Turn (today Trnovany), near Teplitz-Schönau in Bohemia, a region famous for its ceramics and then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After the First World War and the founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918, the factory continued under the “Made in Czecho-Slovakia” mark, moving from Art Nouveau to the more stylised Art Deco of the 1920s and 30s. Historicist and heraldic subjects like this reflect the Renaissance revival taste that was popular in Central Europe at the time.
Condition: Good overall condition, consistent with age. Minimal glaze wear on the handles, with no visible cracks or restorations. Please see all photos, as they are part of the description.
Dimensions: Height 15 cm · Length 26 cm · Depth 6 cm (approx. 5.9 × 10.2 × 2.4 in)
A collector’s piece that combines technical virtuosity with figurative storytelling. It’s perfect for lovers of Art Deco and Art Nouveau European ceramics, or as a striking centrepiece in an eclectic interior.
Carefully packed in several protective layers and shipped from Italy with tracking.
Item specifics: Brand: Amphora · Type: Vase · Material: Pottery, Ceramic · Style: Art Deco, Art Nouveau · Country of Manufacture: Czechoslovakia · Region: Bohemia, Teplitz · Production Technique: Hand Painted, Enamelled · Subject: Portrait, Cavalier, Heraldry, Coat of Arms · Features: Handles, Marked
Specifications
CategoryVasesConditionVery goodColorsMulti ColorMaterialCeramicNumber of items1Height15 cmWidth26 cmDepth6 cmSeller locationComo, ItalyDelivery optionsDelivery or pickup
Discover more
Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerComo, ItalyOn Whoppah since October 2026 • 0 sales