IF you had to name one item that might symbolise the Victorian drawing room, you might opt for the aspidistra plant, seen in most Victorian households. But it was one thing having the plant -- you had to have something to put it in.

By far the most popular item was a rather large pottery container, known as a jardiniere. The word comes from the French word jardin meaning garden, and the term is actually applied to a wide range of containers not just earthenware pots. Similar items made of materials such as wood and metal could justifiably have the same description.

But it is the pottery containers that I'm concentrating on this week, for their popularity has remained constant for more than a century and Victorian examples in excellent condition are highly sought after. Certain ones can fetch hundreds of pounds each. It was back in the 18th century, long before the days of Queen Victoria, that the jardiniere began to come into fashion, mostly for displaying miniature artificial trees and shrubs, but it was really from about 1840 onwards, the start of Victoria's reign that the use of jardinieres became widespread.

Aspidistras and large ferns were the main plants placed in these pots, and while many mass manufacturers, some of them anonymous, produced very colourful and pretty examples, today's collectors really seek ones by noted manufacturers, the likes of Royal Doulton, Minton, and more individual potteries such as Brannam, Ault, and Moorcrott.

The key to it all is quality -- the top manufacturers just made a better pot and they are more durable, the colours are better fixed, the glaze more scratch resistant, the quality of the painted decoration superior to those by the lesser manufacturers and this is what makes them so appealing to the serious collector.

While it is possible to pick up a late-Victorian or Edwardian jardiniere of very attractive appearance and in good order for £50 or so, the best examples by the better manufacturers are more likely to start at around £250. Truly exceptional examples can fetch two or three times that sum.

Condition is of paramount importance, for originally these pots were not treated with the greatest of care and are susceptible to chips and cracks. Any visible damage will seriously devalue an item for collectors are always prepared to pay premium prices for pristine pieces.

Examples which have a floral or landscape scene actually signed by the artist, or perhaps with decorative lifting handles or are of unusual shape will always attract more interest and help the price along.

Our love of having potted plants indoors is as strong today as ever and while you can buy modem replicas at a fraction of the price of antique examples, there are many people who live in Victorian houses who like full authenticity with their decor, and prefer to seek out the genuine examples from the antiques fairs, shops and auctions.

VICTORIAN VALUES: A typical jardiniere