Hand-Painted Portuguese Blue & White Vase, Mid-20th Century

A refined hand-painted blue and white ceramic vase produced in Portugal, featuring a clean cylindrical form decorated with stylized floral motifs rendered in rich cobalt glaze. The design balances traditional Iberian blue-and-white pottery with a restrained, modern sensibility characteristic of mid-20th-century Portuguese decorative arts. The decoration is executed entirely by hand, with visible brush variation and soft tonal transitions within the cobalt, rather than flat or mechanical application. The crisp white ground provides strong contrast, allowing the saturated blue motifs to read clearly and rhythmically around the body. A solid cobalt band at the rim and base visually anchors the composition. The underside bears a hand-painted maker’s mark reading “Vinha do Castelo … Hand Painted … Made in Portugal”, along with pattern numbers and the notation “For Kheila,” indicating export production for an external retailer or distributor. This type of marking is consistent with Portuguese studio and workshop production intended for the international market during the mid-20th century. The form is elegant and versatile, suitable for display as a standalone object or as part of a curated blue-and-white ceramic grouping. ⸻ Details • Origin: Portugal • Medium: Hand-painted ceramic / faience • Decoration: Cobalt blue floral motif on white ground • Height: 6 1/4 inches • Diameter: 3 inches ⸻ Condition Excellent vintage condition. No chips, cracks, or repairs observed. Clean interior and well-preserved glaze with minor, expected age-appropriate surface variation only. ⸻ Period Mid-20th Century (circa 1940s–1960s) ⸻ Style Context Selected for its restrained form and hand-painted detail, this piece was curated specifically for French coastal interiors, where quiet craftsmanship and Mediterranean ceramic traditions are valued over scale. This vase fits comfortably within: • Mid-century European decorative ceramics • Blue-and-white interiors • Transitional, collected, or gallery-style settings Its restrained scale and graphic clarity allow it to integrate easily into both classic and contemporary interiors.