Joseph Strnact Vase

Q: I inherited this vase from my grandmother. It’s 12 inches high and has a painting of young girls in a garden on one side. It’s marked with a shield framing the letters “JS.” The words “Made in Austria” are underneath the shield. What can you tell me about it?

A: Blue glaze with gold trim is typical of a decorating style used in Austria and the surrounding areas from about 1880 into the 1930s. The mark on your vase was used by Josef Strnact of Greising, Germany, from about 1900 to 1933. The attractive picture on your vase makes it worth about $250.