Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) whale oil lamp in the “Early Moon & Star” pattern, aka “Old Moon & Star” and “Star & Dot” with brass ferrule collar, measures 8″ high
After the original glass base snapped off, a tinsmith created a simple conical form replacement base
The lamp below has a similarly shaped oil font and stands on a metal connector stem and marble base
Photo courtesy of Antique Investments
Each year I look forward to stopping at some of the many Memorial Day weekend yard sales near my upstate NY home. I found the newest addition to my collection of antiques with inventive repairs last Saturday at a yard sale just a few miles from my house. This dark green hand-held welding mask made of glass-reinforced plastic by Oxweld measures 14-1/2″ high by 8-1/2″ wide
Mask appears to have been cut down from a flip-up helmet and converted to a hand held mask. A sturdy hand carved wood handle has been bolted on for easy gripping
A paper label bearing the name “BETHLEHEM” is partially obscured by the addition of the handle
“OXWELD, TRADE MARK” is stamped on the face of mask
Oxweld has been in business for almost 100 years, starting with the production of railway lanterns
Kitty Kalwasinski Markovich and Florence Josephs, “Rosie the Riveter” World War II steel workers. Welding mask has names of brothers marked with stars
photo courtesy of The Pullman State Historic Site
This Chinese export ribbed barrel form mug is decorated in the Imari style with polychrome enamel and gilding. Chinese Imari porcelains are copies of popular Japanese Imari pieces of the mid 17th to early 18th century and were made for export to Europe and North America
Rim is decorated with an alternating diaper & floral spring design
Mug measures 4-3/4″ high and has a 2-3/4″ diameter opening
The replaced silver handle & rim were exquisitely crafted by an experienced silversmith and I only wish they left their hallmark. It is some of the finest silver work I have seen on a repaired item. Porcelain handle fragments enable the new silver handle to be mounted, in the same manner as a crown is attached to the remains of a tooth
This mug, identical in form and decoration to mine, still has its original handle. But it too has been repaired, this time using metal staples to hold it together. There seems to be a design flaw as the delicate handle couldn’t support the weight of the heavy mug…especially when filled with ale.
Photo courtesy of eBay
One of the most unusual repairs I have seen can be found on this early 19th century English pearlware sugar bowl with strap handles. Both sides are decorated with the same cobalt blue transfer decoration of a sheep shearer in a pastoral setting.
Sugar bowl measures 3″ high by 5″ wide.
After a hole bore through the thin-walled ceramic bottom, a clever restorer used a small piece of glass as a patch. An early paper label reads “ENGLISH SOFT PASTE 1770”, incorrectly dating the piece to be about 55 years older than it actually is.
The underside of the sugar bowl reveals a glass patch held in place with putty. Although not an attractive repair, it was probably a quick fix and has lasted longer than the owner most likely anticipated.
An article featuring items from my collection appeared in the October 2001 issue of Martha Stewart Living. I was told that Martha appreciates antiques with inventive repairs and was quite pleased with the article. The gorgeous photographs were taken by Maria Robledo; Thomas Hine wrote the text and the story was created by Brian Andriola, Fritz Karch and Alexa Mulvihill. Look closely at the images below to see examples from my collection…
Photos courtesy of Martha Stewart Living
Ribbed body ovoid form jug with sparrow beak spout is made of porcelain and has finely painted iron-red & gilt floral and scroll decoration. It was made in China between 1750-90 for export to Europe and North America
Jug stands 7-1/4″ and has sustained much damage over the past 135 years. In addition to the obviously replaced handle, the lid is cracked, chipped and is missing its pomegranate finial
The iron replacement handle is covered in woven rattan, itself in need of repair. There are layers of exposed insulating fabric between the metal and the exterior rattan surfaces
Twine was used to tie the lid to the handle, a practical yet unattractive way of keeping these two pieces from separating
This pot shows what the original handle might have looked like
Photo courtesy of Eldred’s
Tin glaze earthenware bowl made in the town of Puente del Arzobispo, near Talavera de la Reina, an important ceramic center in the Castilla – La Mancha province of Spain. Puenta became one of the most important centers for ceramic production, after being founded in the early 1200’s.
Nine 2″ long rustic iron staples repair the cracks in this bowl.
Green, yellow and brown tin under glaze decorate the bowl’s surface with an abstract design.
Bowl measures 11-1/4″ diam, 5″ high.
Each of these polychrome decorated jugs was purchased separately and in different countries one year apart. Both have the same relief stag & dog decoration and possess a similar metal replacement handle. They were most likely made in Staffordshire, England.
The larger jug (left) has pink lustre decoration and measures 6.5 inches tall. It was purchased in the UK, not far from where it was made.
The smaller jug (right) was found in Maine and has a polychrome flow blue and pink lustre decoration. It stands 6inches tall.
Both jugs have tin replacement handles of a similar design
“EPSOM CUP” is impressed only on the larger jug
These three jugs of graduating size still have their original branch form handles
Photo courtesy of WorthPoint
“In this picture he is drilling a hole into which he fixes a small brass rivet, and a cup when mended will often contain a dozen or more of these, and the whole thing is done at the cost of a cent or two”
From the book “Familiar Chinese Faces” by J.C. Carter, published in Shanghai by McTavish & Co. Ltd.
Solid brass candlestick, made in America and measuring 10″ tall
Conical tin replacement base, constructed by bending a piece of tin and crimping the bottom edge
The base looks as if it were made from a funnel
Another brass candlestick shown with a square footed base
Photo courtesy of One of a Kind Antiques
