I have never seen a tureen like this before, with a ram's head on each side as its handles, and a very splendidly ornate pair of ram's heads they are too. A little chippy from use, but still none the less  attractive from having a story to tell.
 
The tureen is stamped 'Creil' and 'terre de fer' on the base, indicating it is an early piece, before Creil manifacturer joined with Montereau, thus its age can ne estibalted as before 1850.
 
There are a couple of chips on the base and an area of damage on the rim, as well as some minor scratching, small stains and some crazing - in othe words, perfectly timworn with all the expected signs of a long and well used life.
 
A wonderful opportunity to own a beautiful and rare piece of French ironstone, measuring 6" tall and 10" across the ram's heads.