Posts Tagged ‘metal handle’

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“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

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Stoneware “one cup” teapot, c.1830

Monday, April 12th, 2010

English salt-glazed stoneware teapot decorated with brown iron-rich slip, attributed to S & H Briddon in Brampton, Derbyshire in the early 1800s. The lid has a pierced mushroom-shaped finial.

This small fluted form “bachelor’s teapot” measures 3-1/2″ tall and is 7″ wide from the end of the handle to the tip of the spout.

The metal replacement handle is secured to the body using two horizontal and three vertical metal straps.

Here is the exact same teapot showing its original handle, as found in Robin Emmerson’s book “British Teapots & Tea Drinking” (Crown, 1992)

This Chinese Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Yixing teapot seems to be the inspiration for the English piece.

Photo courtesy of AntiqueTica

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Nanking barrel form mug, c.1770

Monday, April 12th, 2010

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

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Spode hunting scene jug, c.1830

Saturday, April 10th, 2010

This small Copeland Spode pottery jug with white relief figures was made in Stoke-Upon-Trent, England.

The fox hunt, a popular image on ceramics in the 19th century, was based on an original Wedgwood design.

Jug measures 3-1/2″ tall.

A typical metal replacement handle, with tin bands along the top and bottom, secures the handle to the jug.

An identical jug can be seen in this photo (top row second from the right) from The Old China Book, first published in 1903.

This close up of the photo above shows what the original handle looked like.

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Famille rose cream jug, c.1790

Friday, April 9th, 2010

My father gave me this Chinese porcelain baluster form sparrow beak cream jug for my 38th birthday.

It dates from the Qianlong period (1736-96) and measures 5″ high.

The sides are decorated with enamel floral decoration in the famille rose palette.

What really makes this piece exceptionable is the simply shaped, hallmarked sterling silver replacement handle.

I have not looked up these marks, but once I do I will be able to identify the maker and the year this handle was made. Until then, if anyone knows about these marks I would love to know.

This similar jug is missing its lid but still has its original handle, in the shape of a ruyi scepter.

Photo courtesy of Three Empires

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Child’s lustreware mug, c.1840

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

English copper lustre child’s mug from the mid-1800s has a light blue enamel band with relief figures of children…

And cupid sitting on what appears to be a polka dotted goat!

This little mug measures 3″ tall and is 4-3/4″ long

The tin handle and straps at the top and bottom were attached to the body, enabling the mug to be functional again

The original handle might have looked something like this

Photo courtesy of Eron Johnson Antiques

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Chinese export sauce boat, c.1780

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

I found this porcelain sauce boat nearly 20 years ago during my first “official” search for antiques with creative repairs in London, June 1991. Actually, this was one of a pair of matching sauce boats with identical replaced handles. Knowing I did not have enough money to purchase both pieces, the dealer split up the set and sold me just one. A lovely gesture that I appreciated at the time, but now I am sorry that someone lost out on the opportunity of owning the pair

This was one of four antiques with inventive repairs I found during that memorable trip. You can check out the other three pieces, which I have already posted: English copper lustre jug, Globular Chinese export teapot and Chinese “clobbered” saucer

The inside is painted in a famille rose underglaze floral design, and it measures 8″ from bow to stern, and is 2-3/4″ high. The sturdy replacement handle is made of forged iron

This example still has its original applied porcelain handle

Photo courtesy of Andrew Dando

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“Parson, Clerk & Sexton” jug, c.1790

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Pottery jug made in Staffordshire, England with cobalt blue glazed molded relief design of three men shown drinking and smoking, as well as trees on the front and back. There is a feathered border just below the rim and a leaf border in the middle and along the bottom.

Jug stands 8-3/4″ tall and dates from the late 1700’s.

This popular design is called the “Parson, Clerk & Sexton”, also known as the “Parson and Clerk” jug.

This type of soft paste pottery is referred to as Prattware.

An elaborate tin handle and a multitude of tin straps replace the original handle, which must have broken off in the nineteenth century.

The condition of the jug is deplorable, with numerous cracks and breaks. It’s amazing it still appears to be on one piece and has lasted over 200 years!

The bottom of the jug is inscribed “Dec 275”, perhaps meaning December 2, 1875. This might have been the date the piece was repaired and I only wish the mender had signed his name as well.

The same jug, decorated in a more colorful palette, still has its original “rustic” style handle.

Photo courtesy of David Pownall Willis

The vape pens we’re sponsored by the Pax 2. Follow the link for more information.

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Mandarin mug with hunting scene, c.1750

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Chinese porcelain mug made for export during the Qianlong period, measures 5″ high

Decorated with panels depicting a hunting scene in the Mandarin style

With a beautifully painted cobalt blue Fitzhugh style border

The original handle was replaced with a gesso covered aluminum armature, painted to match the porcelain. Time has not been kind to the handle, as very little gesso remains with just a hint of color

This is what the original handle might have looked like

Photo courtesy of Andrew Dando

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Googly doll door stop, c.1930

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

This unusual door stop is an example of an item I had to buy, despite not liking it very much. But how could I pass up a broken doll-in-a-can door stop?

When this fragile bisque doll lost its legs, it was submerged in cement and put in to a tin can, along with a metal wire handle covered in oil cloth.

Based on the popular Kewpie doll of the 1910’s and with a nod to Betty Boop, these inexpensive Japanese dolls with “googly” eyes were given out as carnival prizes. I applaud the ingenuity of the family member who rescued the sad little girl’s broken toy, and brought it back to life as a useful household item.

Here’s another example of a doll-in-a-can door stop, but this one is fully adorned

Photo courtesy of Louwers Antiques

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