Archive for November, 2010

English stoneware harvest jug, c.1850

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

A two-tone unsigned salt-glazed stoneware jug from England, possibly by Doulton Lambeth. The sprigged hunting scene & cupids decoration has a glass-like coating, achieved by adding salt to the kiln and firing at approx 1660 degrees F (780 degrees C). As the sodium chloride vaporizes and bonds with the silica in the clay, it creates a silicate glass “salt-glaze” finish

Jug stands 5-1/2″ tall and is 5-1/2″ wide

A detail of the applied sprig decoration to the front of the jug

Judging by the many chips along the rim, I am not surprised this jug lost its handle as well, as it was not doubt used daily for many years in an English pub

The tin handle with thumb grip and horizontal band replaces the original handle, created by a tinsmith in the middle to late 1800’s. Tin replacement handles are one of the most common types of inventive repairs and I have dozens of examples in my collection

This jug still has its original handle and gives an idea of what the handle on my mended piece would have originally looked like

Photo courtesy of WorthPoint

Leeds pepper pot, c.1830

Friday, November 19th, 2010

Provocatively profiled pearlware pottery pepper pot. This 4-3/4″ tall Leeds pepper shaker was made in the region of West Yorkshire, UK, known for quality pottery which once rivaled the wares of Wedgwood

With a cobalt blue 7-point star design on the top…

and a ribbed, feathered band around the middle

The original base has been replaced by a beautifully made tin replacement, painted to match the cream colored body, but now yellowed with age

A cork in the bottom allows this pot to hold and dispense the pepper once again

Another Leeds pepper pot with a more typical baluster form, maintains its original base

Photo courtesy of Prices4Antiques

Large copper lustre jug, c.1830

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

A large copper lustre stout bodied baluster shaped jug from the Staffordshire region of England has a hidden inventive repair. Copper lustre decorated wares originated in the 9th century and were first made by Islamic potters. Inspired by these early pieces, English pottery houses Spode and Wedgwood developed their own techniques, starting at the beginning of the 19th century and continuing to around 1860. Silver lustre, once referred to as “poor man’s silver”, was another popular glaze created during this period and is highly prized today

Jug measures 6-1/4″ tall and is 8-1/2″ wide from spout to end of handle. The unusually wide blue band is curiously devoid of any decoration

The scrolled handle includes a small thumb rest at the top. A dramatic large gash reveals the red clay body beneath the glazed surface

Somehow the bottom of the jug broke or simply wore out. Today if this type of damage occurred, the piece would most likely be thrown out and replaced

A surprising glass patch covers the hole in the bottom, allowing the jug to hold liquids once again. An early form of putty was used to adhere and seal the glass piece to the bottom of the base

This copper lustre jug with a similar form and large blue band is overpainted with a more typical pink lustre decoration

Photo courtesy of Antiques Atlas

Qianlong cream jug, c.1750

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

A lovely porcelain baluster form cream jug with sparrow beak spout, decorated in the Famille Rose palette. Made in China during the Qianlong period (1736-96) for export to North America and Europe, when fine porcelain was in high demand

The delicate ornamentation rendered in polychrome enamels depicts a cashpot, itself decorated, and spilling with flowers, vines and a pumpkin

Jug stands 3-1/2″ tall, minus its lost cover

When this jug was dropped and its handle lost, it was brought to a metalsmith who fashioned a replacement handle from bronze. The scroll shape of the new handle, more elaborate in form than its predecessor, suggests it was forged in the early to mid-1800’s

This cream jug, from the same period and of similar form and decoration, has its original cover and handle intact

Photo courtesy of  Guest & Gray