A Royal Worcester bone china potpourri vase with inner lid and pierced crown cover, shape No. 2048, the ovoid body painted by Freeman, signed, with a still life study of apples, blackberries and grapes against a mossy ground, the reverse with three cherries, printed factory mark and painted shape number '2048' to base, height approx 24.5cm. Note: John H. Freeman was born in 1911. A native of Worcester, he joined the Royal Worcester Company in 1925 specialising in the painting of fruit, floral groups and individual roses. He remained at Royal Worcester throughout his working life and became the senior fruit painter, where he was known amongst his colleagues as 'The Fruit Machine'.