Every July I look forward to picking wild blueberries at our farm in Upstate New York and showcase the bounty in various pieces from my collection of make-do’s. Pictured first is one from this weekend, followed by examples from summers past. For more information, click on each of these previous posts: Nanking reticulated basket, c.1750, “King’s Rose” pearlware bowl, c.1850, Chinese footed dish with fort scene, c.1840, and Pierced creamware fruit basket stand, c.1790.
This minuscule pearlware pottery Dutch shape cream jug was made in the UK in the first half of the 1800s. It is hand decorated with brown sprigs on a tan ground and stands just 2 inches high. Due to its small size, I believe it to be part of a child’s tea set.
This large jug with similar form suggests what the original handle on my tiny jug might have looked like.
Photo courtesy of Pinterest
This poor pressed clear glass candle holder barely survived whatever mishap it befell over 125 years ago. Only about half of it remains, and thanks to a crafty tinker, it now stands 11 inches high in its make-do replacement base. And what a strange base it is! The 3.5 inch square weighted base, has a post on one end, not centered, and is missing metal pieces at the top. Perhaps this base was actually made for something else, and the broken candle holder was added. If anyone out there can shed any (candle)light onto this subject, please let me know. I’d love to solve this mystery.
This candle holder with similar form to mine suggests what the original base might have looked like.
Photo courtesy of eBay
In some cases, broken ceramics were beyond preservation or repair. But thanks to our thrifty ancestors, fragments of shattered plates were sometimes formed into mosaic and memory ware pieces, such as this Rose Medallion display bowl. Although this is more of a mosaic, true memory ware pieces are made from everyday household objects, including ceramic shards, glass and mirror fragments, buttons, beads, jewelry, shells, pipes, and doll parts. One of my favorite memory ware vessels is covered in unusual items such as glass doll eyes, a tiny glass jar, and a working thermometer!
This colorful example of recycling was made from broken Chinese and English porcelain and pottery shards attached to a shallow brass bowl. It measures 13 inches in diameter, 3 inches high. The overall effect suggests a plate with large figures in the center surrounded by a darker floral border. But look closely and you will find a variety of fragments featuring flowers, insects, and even a maker’s mark.
This whimsical contemporary jug was made by Lisa Rauter using antique ceramic shards and other found items.
Photo courtesy of flickr
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue make-do! Happy July 4th to our American friends.
This cylindrical porcelain mug was made in China for export during the Qianlong Period (1736-1795.) It is painted in the Famille Rose palette, has front circle decoration with a small face, and measures 5.25 inches high.
Well over 150 years ago, a bronze replacement handle with wrapped rattan replaced the original broken entwined strap handle. In addition to the tiny face decoration, I particularly like the elaborate and large floral terminals and glad they remain intact.
It’s been a busy spring but I’m back!
This child’s pearlware pottery sauce boat with pedestal foot was made in England in the late 1700s. It has cobalt blue hand-decoration in the Pagoda with Fence (aka Chinese House) pattern and measures 2.5 inches high, 4.25 inches wide from handle to spout. The metal replacement handle and support straps were most likely added by a tinker, well over 150 years ago, to replace a broken handle.
It is not unusual to find children’s pieces with early repairs, as you can imagine how many tiny hands have dropped their prized pottery playthings. Actually, it’s amazing how many fragile ceramic toys have survived intact. I have dozens of examples of miniatures in my collection and I would be happy just collecting these small examples of inventive repairs.
This example suggests what the original handle on my miniature sauce boat might have looked like before the handle broke off.
Photo courtesy of The Hoarde
This baluster form redware pottery pepper pot was made in Britain during the first quarter of the 19th century. It is decorated in brown, pale blue, and cream glazes and features a tree (aka dendritic) pattern on the body and dome. Intricate inslip-inlaid checkered rouletting in black and cream decorates the top rim. Pepper pot stands 5.25 inches high.
After the original base broke off – I imagine sometime between the middle 1800s and the middle 1900s – this nicely proportioned turned wood replacement base was added. The warm color of the polished brown wood blends nicely with the natural redware glaze, making this distinctive repair unnoticeable at first glance.
This pepper pot, with similar form and decoration, shows what the original base on my pot might have looked like.
Photo courtesy of Skinner
I am pleased to have three pieces from my collection on view at the exhibit Conserving Active Matter at Bard Graduate Center Gallery in New York City. Please check out the exhibit, which runs through July 10, 2022.
As is noted on their website, “Conserving Active Matter explores the activity of matter through objects that span five continents and range in time from the Paleolithic to the present. From the things that clothe us to those that shelter us; from things that reflect our interest in the past to those that enable its performance in the present; and from sacred objects to the profane, Conserving Active Matter envisions the work of conservation as essential for the lives of the things that sustain us.”
