Chinese export porcelain barrel form mug with cobalt blue underglaze Nanking decoration, measuring 5″ high. As this mug is the perfect size and shape for holding pencils, it sits on my home office desk as a pencil cup.
Visible cracks with metal staple repairs are seen all around the mug.
The rich cobalt blue underglaze decoration includes this beautifully rendered building.
This mug is a lucky survivor of much abuse over the past 240 years, as is evident from the various cracks, chips and a missing handle.
I have only seen a few examples of metal replacement handles covered in woven wire with a pattern emulating rattan.
Metal staples, painted white and blue to blend in to the glazed decoration, still hold the cracks tightly together.
This mug with similar form has its original handle, with a blue heart-shaped thumb rest, intact.
Photo courtesy of Earle D. Vandekar
Tags: blue & white, Chinese, metal handle, porcelain, staples/rivets
hello , just seen your site and I have to say I thought I was the only one that loved rivited items I think its are art form in its self and so lovely to think that people showed so much love and recycled their items , In a throw away society that we live in today I doubt you could get someone to do this now anyway , lovely collection , you made my day seeing someone elses collection of quirky antiques , take care