A truly magnificent pair of ornately decorated antique tureens dating from around 1880, made by Ashworth Bros, Hanley.  Both in extraordinarily good condition, this is a very rare Ashworth Bros design depicting blue and gold Oriental style images around the outside and the inside.  The tureens have scalloped edging, fluting to the lid and 'snakeskin' like handles.  Gold is flecked throughout the design - internally, externally and to the lid, as well as on the surrounds and handles. 
There are no chips, no fractures and apparently no fading to the colours, including the gold.  The only defect I can find is a short, hairline, surface crack on the base side of one, as shown in the last pictures.  The tureens look unused and have evidently been preserved safely in a cupboard.
They are a spectacular as ornaments and an authentic piece of history that have clearly had great meaning and value for someone to have looked after them so preciously for this amount of time.
Length 30 cm
Width (at widest point) 23 cm
Height approx 15 cm