This is probably the best painted piece of Lucerne i have ever seen. It is definitely as early as it comes and one of the first pieces produced. The banding combination only turns up on the earliest examples of Applique and only on Lucerne occasionally and the odd piece of Lugano Blue. The signature to the base is that of John Butler who was the artistic director at the factory and who was responsible for the Applique designs. I believe this vase to date to late 1929 early 1930 and is also slightly more detailed than standard pieces with 3 cottages to the landscape as well as the castles, this is the only piece i have ever seen decorated like this. The other Applique designs all came later than this and all carry Red/Black banding or Red/Black/Yellow and were more neatly decorated, this vase feels like a painting rather than a painted vase. An important piece of Applique history that measures a huge 15" in height and is 8" wide. It has has a minor restoration to the base which was only small and does not affect the outer body or the signature and factory marks.