Archive for October, 2021

Chelsea porcelain red anchor mug, c.1755

Sunday, October 31st, 2021

This bell-shaped Chelsea porcelain mug was made in England between 1752 and 1756. The superbly painted polychrome floral decoration was no doubt inspired by similar examples made by Meissen. A red anchor mark can be found on the underside.

At one point in the mugs early life, the original loop handle broke off and a metal replacement was attached. The simplicity and delicacy of the new handle, as well as the rich bronze color, make this mug even more appealing to me than if the original handle was still intact.

This mug with similar form and decoration suggests what the original handle on my mug might have looked like.

Photos courtesy of Scottish Antiques

Treasure hunting in Providence, RI

Sunday, October 10th, 2021

One of the first things I do with my free time when working on a project out of town is to check out the local museums. I think of it as a treasure hunt and have been successful in spotting ceramics and glassware with inventive repairs in most of the museums and historic houses I have visited throughout the world. Not surprisingly, I found a few nice examples at RISD Museum, a 10 minute walk from the house I am staying in.

Check out these fine examples of early repairs hiding in plain sight. The next time you visit a museum, make your own treasure hunt and try to find staples, replace spouts, and other make-do repairs.