made in Glasgow

Miniature vase, with Oban coat of arms

This porcelain miniature vase is decorated with the coat of arms of Oban in Argyllshire. It was made for the souvenir market by the Nautilus Porcelain Company at the Possil Pottery in Glasgow and dates from between around 1900 and 1910.

The arms consist of an heraldic shield divided into three, depicting a galley, the lion rampant and the Campbell Gyronny. The galley, with a fish swimming underneath, refers to the fishing industry in the area. The Gaelic motto underneath, 'AIR AGHART', translates as 'Forward'.

Crested china became the most important type of British souvenir between 1900 and 1930. Its invention is credited to William Henry Goss (1833-1906), the owner of the Falcon Works in Stoke-on Trent. The main producer of crested china in Scotland was the Nautilus Porcelain Company, at the Possil Pottery in Glasgow. Run by the china merchants MacDougall & Sons, of 77-79 Buchanan Street, the company produced 'Nautilus' miniatures between around 1900 and 1910. The pottery closed in 1911.

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Online ID:	000-180-000-061-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0504: National Museums Scotland Part 2 Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland H.1994.818
Date:	Between around 1900 and 1910
Material:	Porcelain. Inscription: [Oban coat of arms (shield with lion rampant, cross, ship and fish)]; 2hr 213part; Oban; mark: Nautilus M porcelain. 7
Dimensions:	50 mm H x 50 mm W
What:	Vase, miniature / souvenir
Subject:
Who:	Nautilus Porcelain Company, Possil Park, Glasgow (Maker)
Where:	Scotland, Argyll, Oban Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Possil Park
Event:
Description:	Porcelain vase with the coat of arms of Oban, Argyllshire, made by the Nautilus Porcelain Company, Possil Park, Glasgow
References:	Evans, G. Souvenirs From Roman Times to the Present Day. Edinburgh: NMS Publishing Ltd, 1999, pp 52-5.
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