Antique Victoria Austria Footed Porcelain Berry Strainer | Green & Gold Figural

Maker: Porzellanfabrik Victoria Schmidt & Co.

Mark: Victoria Austria crown mark

Factory/Decoration Number: 296, hand-applied in gold

Origin: Altrohlau (Stará Role), Bohemia

Date: c. 1904–1918

Material: Porcelain

Form: Footed pierced serving bowl / berry strainer

Decoration: Shaded green ground, romantic pastoral figural scene and gilt ornamentation

Size: Approx. 7” wide

Condition: Excellent antique condition; no chips, cracks or repairs observed

This beautiful Victoria Austria footed porcelain berry strainer / pierced serving bowl dates to approximately 1904–1918 and was produced by Porzellanfabrik Victoria Schmidt & Co. in Altrohlau (present-day Stará Role), in the historic Karlsbad region of Bohemia.

The bowl has a wonderfully sculptural form, molded into deep petal-like lobes that create its dramatic scalloped silhouette. Turn it over and the craftsmanship becomes even more interesting: three individually molded, curled porcelain feet elevate the bowl above the table, while a series of drainage holes pierce the center.

Its coloration is absolutely gorgeous. Soft apple and celadon greens gradually deepen into rich forest and emerald tones across the molded porcelain, creating beautiful dimension as the light moves around the piece. An intricate gilt ornamental border follows the scalloped shape, while the entire rim is beautifully finished in gold.

Nestled along one side of the interior is a beautifully detailed romantic pastoral scene depicting a gentleman and two women in period dress beneath the trees. Rich jewel tones of burgundy, violet, turquoise and soft green bring the scene to life against the shaded green porcelain, giving the piece the unmistakable Old World elegance of turn-of-the-century Continental porcelain.

Measuring approximately 7 inches wide, this appears to have been made as an elegant berry or fruit strainer/serving bowl rather than an ordinary kitchen colander. The pierced construction allows freshly washed fruit or berries to drain while the three raised feet keep the bowl elevated from the surface beneath it.

The underside bears the period VICTORIA AUSTRIA crown mark, along with the hand-applied gold number 296, believed to be an internal factory, decoration or production reference. The exact significance of these factory numbers is not presently known, so No. 296 is recorded here without assigning an undocumented pattern name.

CONDITION

This piece is in excellent antique condition, especially remarkable considering its age of more than a century.

No chips, cracks or repairs observed.

The gold rim and ornamental gilding remain beautifully preserved. The striking variation from pale green through deep emerald is intentional original decoration, not loss or wear to the finish.

There is a small brown/orange irregularity on the exterior and a tiny colored speck that appear to be original manufacturing/firing or glaze irregularities rather than later damage. These are shown clearly in the photographs and are part of the character of this early porcelain piece