Article: Practical Ceramic Objects Are Now Displayed as Art

Would you pay more than a thousand dollars for an air freshener? Or bid $10,000 for a slightly damaged Staffordshire pottery coffeepot?

Other people have, but before you go running to the cupboard, realize these aren't your everyday household items. The air freshener actually is a rare pastille burner of Minton ironstone. The more common burners in figural forms sell for only a few hundred dollars; what made the Minton burner special was its fine chinoiserie painting and elegant form.

Made in England in the early to mid-19th century, these ceramic containers with detachable, perforated lids were used to burn cassolette perfumes and freshen the air. The scents were usually finely ...

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