Q: We were given this vase by a friend who was moving. It belonged to his German grandmother, who brought it to Australia with her. We are keen to find out any information regarding where and when it was made and its value, if any.

A: You have a Gouda vase. Gouda is a city in the Netherlands, not the name of a factory. It’s been a pottery center since the seventeenth century. Several factories made pottery marked “Gouda.” Many pieces featured Art Nouveau or Art Deco designs. Zenith pottery and the Zuid-Hollandsche pottery made art pottery with bold designs in bright colors like yours from 1898 to about 1964. Other factories made similar pottery. If your vase is 6 inches tall, it’s worth about $50.