Antique German Elfinware Porcelain Powder Box

Updated September 23, 2026

Lot number	102
Estimate	150.00 - 250.00 USD
Category	Pottery, China & Glass
Auction	Fall Estates Collection
Date	October 11, 2026 at 11:00 PM EDT
Auction house	Four Seasons Auction Gallery LLC
Location	Oakwood, Georgia

Antique German Elfinware Porcelain Powder Box with Applied Forget-Me-Not Floral Lid. Circa 1890 - 1915. Dimensions: 3 inches high x 5 inches diameter. Offered is a charming antique German porcelain powder box, richly decorated in the Elfinware taste popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The circular lidded box features an extraordinary applied floral arrangement composed of hundreds of individually formed blue forget-me-not blossoms surrounding delicate hand-modeled roses in shades of pink and cream. The intricate floral decoration is mounted atop a white porcelain lid enclosed within an ornate gilt-metal and bronze-toned scrolling mount. The interior of the box is finished in white porcelain and displays a hand-painted floral bouquet consisting of roses, forget-me-nots, and wildflowers executed in vibrant enamels. The underside bears a handwritten "Germany" mark and decorator's numerals, consistent with export porcelain produced for the American and European markets during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Elfinware porcelain, named for its whimsical and highly decorative floral embellishments, was produced by several German factories and independent decorating studios, particularly in Saxony and surrounding regions. Examples featuring extensive hand-applied floral work remain highly sought after by collectors of antique porcelain and vanity accessories. Condition: Overall good antique condition. The applied floral lid retains excellent visual appeal with minor expected losses and scattered small chips to individual petals and blossoms consistent with age and handling. The porcelain body exhibits a few shallow rim flakes and small edge chips, visible in the photographs. Metal mount displays wear to the gilt finish and age-related patina. No major cracks or restorations observed. This auction house considers the photographs to be the condition report. Provenance: From the estate of a distinguished Georgia physician, whose collection of fine art, antiques, jewelry, and decorative objects was carefully assembled over a period of decades.

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