1920s Keeling & Co ‘Losol Ware’ Small Lidded Sauce Tureen with Matching Ladle

This is a charming example of a classically designed small sauce or gravy tureen by Keeling & Co., of the Dale Hall Works in Burslem.

Both the tureen and lid are decorated with a transfer-printed burgundy-coloured banner featuring floral cartouches. The lid has a notch out of the rim for the matching ladle, which bears the same banner design on the interior. The rims and handles of the lid, tureen and ladle have been decorated by hand with gilt.

The base of the tureen is marked with the words ‘LOSOL WARE’ in red and ‘KEELING & CO. BURSLEM MADE IN ENGLAND’ with a crown logo in the centre. This mark was in use between 1912 and 1936. In addition, there is the hand-painted pattern number ‘5481’ in gilt towards the edge.

It has a maximum height (including the lid) of approximately 11.0cm, with a maximum width across the handles of 18.4cm and a diameter across the base of about 8.3cm. The ladle has a maximum length of 12.5cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 680g.

It is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, although there are some scratches to the transfer print and wear to the gilding, which is commensurate with age and use.