A pair of Continental faïence two-handled jardinières, probably c.1900, blue N marks, of bucket-shaped form, each with masks below lug handles, painted in dark-blue and manganese with fantastic birds gripping foliate scrolls in their beaks, issuing further foliage and flowers, the lower part with a band of ruyi lappets, 28.5cm and 28.2cm high (2)One of the jardinières has a crack from the rim (near a handle) which runs half way down the body (this is principally visible on the interior). There is a chip to the corner of the other handle. There is some minor slight chipping to the footrim.The other jardinière has an area of flaking to the glaze of the mask. There is a minor shallow rim chip to the interior, and there is a shallow chip adjacent to the footrim (approximately 1cm. x 1 cm.) and some further slight footrim chips. In addition, there is a very slight short crack from the upper rim (this is very minor). There are some firing faults to both jardinières, particularly near the rims and the handles, which date from the time of manufacture.