April « 2010 « Past Imperfect, The Art of Inventive Repair

Archive for April, 2010

Blue & white Chinese teapot, c.1790

Monday, April 19th, 2010

This Chinese export porcelain teapot with globular (aka bullet) form has a blue underglaze decoration and a simple looped handle.

Teapot measures 4-1/2″ high.

Nicely painted decoration of a man on horseback is featured on both sides of the teapot.

Not only has the spout been replaced with silver sometime in the early to mid 1800’s…

…but the lid now sports a nicely turned wood replacement knob.

The wood replacement knob is held in place with this early, hand forged bolt & nut.

This example shows what the original spout and knob may have looked like.

Photo courtesy of Collectibles Articles

Tags:blue & white, Chinese, metal spout, porcelain, silver, wood knob
Posted in teapot | No Comments »

Primitive wooden shovel, c.1870

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

This wins the prize for being the largest antique with an inventive repair in my collection. I found this grain shovel, hand carved from one piece of wood, at an antique shop only a few miles from my weekend house in upstate NY. It measures 36″ long by 13″ wide and I believe the wood to be pine.

It was not unusual for large utilitarian pieces carved from a single piece of wood to crack. The farmer who repaired this piece was quite thorough, using a large piece of metal and dozens of small nails to repair the split blade.

Wooden “one piece” shovels of this design were first made by the Shakers in the early to mid 1800’s.

A pair of iron straps were nailed to the back of the blade to help secure the break.

Tags:American, staples/rivets
Posted in household | 12 Comments »

Flow blue jug, c.1840

Friday, April 16th, 2010

“Flow blue” describes a technique of firing transferware pottery with lime or ammonia chloride added to the kiln, resulting in an intentional blurry or runny effect. Over 1,500 different patterns were produced throughout Europe, England and the United States during the Victorian era

This ironstone pottery jug stands 6-1/4″ high and has a popular Oriental pattern in deep cobalt blue

Although unmarked, I believe this piece to have been made in England

A silvered metal handle with wide bands were secured to the jug, replacing the original broken handle

This similarly shaped flow blue jug shows what the original handle might have looked like on my jug.

Photo courtesy of eBay

Tags:blue & white, English, metal handle, pottery, transferware
Posted in jug | No Comments »

Glass covered compote, c.1870

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

This large pressed glass covered compote stands 13″ tall and was made in America during the Victorian era

It is not surprising that the original glass base did not support the weight of this heavy piece. A funnel-shaped tin replacement base, painted gold, adds “elegance”

A similarly shaped covered compote with frosted leaf pattern shows what the original base might have looked like

Photo courtesy of All Antique Glass

Tags:American, glass, metal base
Posted in bowl/dish | No Comments »

“Port scene” Qianlong mug, c.1780

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

I seem to have many Chinese export mugs in my collection, including this large one with an intricately painted Mandarin port scene. I purchased this, along with another large mug, in London last year.

I love the stylized cobalt blue underglaze border along the rim and the beautiful colors of the famille rose palette, highlighted with gilt detailing.

Mug proudly stands 6-1/4″ high and is 5-1/4″ in diameter.

It is possible that the fine rope covering on the bronze replacement handle was itself replaced, after a more typical rattan covering wore out over many years of use.

The bottom of the mug has an early hand painted “25” mark, possibly a dealer’s price or inventory number.

This mug with similar form and decoration still has its original porcelain handle intact.

Photo courtesy of Mimi’s Antiques

Tags:Chinese, Mandarin, metal handle, Qianlong
Posted in mug/tankard | 1 Comment »

Wedgwood sugar bowl, c.1840

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

I am still researching this 3″ high by 5-1/2″ wide black basalt open sugar bowl with an incised WEDGWOOD mark on the bottom.

I purchased this piece of jasperware in London at the Covent Garden Market and was told by the dealer that the piece dates from 1753, though I feel it to be from a later date, and that the hallmarks on the (added?) sterling silver rim date to 1853.

Cracks in both handles are now supported by the addition of four silver bands riveted through to the inside of the bowl.

If anyone knows more about this piece, I would greatly appreciate any further information you may have.

Tags:English, pottery, silver, staples/rivets
Posted in sugar bowl | No Comments »

Lard oil lamp, c.1820

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

This unusual early American lard oil lamp is made of tin and measures 14″ tall

A woven wick would have protruded from the tilted font at the right, keeping the wick immersed in oil

The original tin base would have been much shorter than this wood replacement, made from a later electric lamp

This lamp has its original base intact

Photo courtesy of Knotty Pine Antiques

Tags:American, wood base
Posted in lamp | 1 Comment »

Globular teapot with double repairs, c.1750

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Someone must have really loved this much abused Chinese export porcelain teapot with globular form and famille rose decoration. Not only does it have a severely chipped lid but it lost its original spout and handle sometime during its long life.

Teapot measures 5″ high.

The same red and green enamel decoration is on both sides.

A loose, cartoon-like decoration is revealed upon closer inspection.

When the porcelain handle broke off it was replaced with a wooden handle, possibly from a pewter teapot. It was repaired again later with reinforcement wire