Vase

A white jasper vase which has been dipped in black jasper to give a thin top coating of black. White jasper decoration, which has been made in moulds, has then been applied. This process is known as sprigging. Around the body of the vase the decoration depicts torches. The vase was used to hold pot-pourri, which is a mixture of dry flower petals and herbs. The lid is pierced to let the smell of the petals and herbs escape. In the eighteenth century pot-pourri vases were very useful in masking unpleasant smells.