Silver-Plated and Ceramic Butter Dish with Stand

This is an antique or vintage ceramic and silver-plated butter dish with a bell-shaped stand, likely designed to keep butter cool. The main butter container is a cylindrical ceramic crock, adorned with hand-painted floral motifs featuring prominent purple and pink blooms, possibly mallows or hollyhocks, against a creamy background. Around the top and bottom edges of the ceramic section, there's a decorative band resembling a braided or textured trim, highlighted with gilded accents. The silver-plated components include a fitted lid with an ornate finial, a curved swing-handle attached to the lid, and an intricate stand. The stand features a fluted, tapering central column supported by a highly decorative, ornate base with four scrolled feet and classical acanthus leaf or similar botanical ornamentation. The silver plating shows signs of age, including some tarnishing and possible plate loss in areas, particularly visible on the flat surfaces of the lid and the raised decorative elements of the stand. The ceramic appears to be in good condition, with vibrant colors and no apparent chips or cracks. The overall design suggests a late 19th to early 20th-century aesthetic, indicative of the Art Nouveau or Victorian periods, characterized by their love for elaborate details and functional elegance.