Flow blue jug, c.1840

April 16th, 2010

“Flow blue” describes a technique of firing transferware pottery with lime or ammonia chloride added to the kiln, resulting in an intentional blurry or runny effect. Over 1,500 different patterns were produced throughout Europe, England and the United States during the Victorian era

This ironstone pottery jug stands 6-1/4″ high and has a popular Oriental pattern in deep cobalt blue

Although unmarked, I believe this piece to have been made in England

A silvered metal handle with wide bands were secured to the jug, replacing the original broken handle

This similarly shaped flow blue jug shows what the original handle might have looked like on my jug.

Photo courtesy of eBay

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Glass covered compote, c.1870

April 15th, 2010

This large pressed glass covered compote stands 13″ tall and was made in America during the Victorian era

It is not surprising that the original glass base did not support the weight of this heavy piece. A funnel-shaped tin replacement base, painted gold, adds “elegance”

A similarly shaped covered compote with frosted leaf pattern shows what the original base might have looked like

Photo courtesy of All Antique Glass

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“Port scene” Qianlong mug, c.1780

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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Wedgwood sugar bowl, c.1840

April 15th, 2010

I am still researching this 3″ high by 5-1/2″ wide black basalt open sugar bowl with an incised WEDGWOOD mark on the bottom.

I purchased this piece of jasperware in London at the Covent Garden Market and was told by the dealer that the piece dates from 1753, though I feel it to be from a later date, and that the hallmarks on the (added?) sterling silver rim date to 1853.

Cracks in both handles are now supported by the addition of four silver bands riveted through to the inside of the bowl.

If anyone knows more about this piece, I would greatly appreciate any further information you may have.

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Lard oil lamp, c.1820

April 14th, 2010

This unusual early American lard oil lamp is made of tin and measures 14″ tall

A woven wick would have protruded from the tilted font at the right, keeping the wick immersed in oil

The original tin base would have been much shorter than this wood replacement, made from a later electric lamp

This lamp has its original base intact

Photo courtesy of Knotty Pine Antiques

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Globular teapot with double repairs, c.1750

April 14th, 2010

Someone must have really loved this much abused Chinese export porcelain teapot with globular form and famille rose decoration. Not only does it have a severely chipped lid but it lost its original spout and handle sometime during its long life.

Teapot measures 5″ high.

The same red and green enamel decoration is on both sides.

A loose, cartoon-like decoration is revealed upon closer inspection.

When the porcelain handle broke off it was replaced with a wooden handle, possibly from a pewter teapot. It was repaired again later with reinforcement wire

A silver plated spout replaces the original one, sometime in the late 18th to mid 19th century.

Surprisingly, the original lid with skep-shaped knob has survived, though it bears the battle scars of large chips along the outer edge.

This teapot is in excellent condition and has both its handle and spout intact.

Photo courtesy of AntikWest

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“Oriental” tea cups & saucers, c.1840

April 14th, 2010

A pair of English pearlware cups & saucers with an Oriental motif. The cups are 2-1/4″ tall and the saucers are 5-3/4″ in diameter

The orange transferware decoration of a Chinese man jumping rope is embellished with over painted highlights in pink, yellow, blue and green.

Three out of four pieces are broken and repaired with metal staples

Although these staples are not attractive to most people, they certainly do the trick in keeping the broken pieces intact

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Georgian Swansea jug, c.1810

April 13th, 2010

Beautifully painted high quality pottery jug from Swansea, Wales dates from around the year 1810.

The expertly painted decoration could be the work of William Billingsley of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

The front bears the original owner’s initials “AJ”, nicely painted in a gilt monogram.

Both sides of the jug are equally impressive.

Jug measures 5-1/4″ high.

A brass fitting, gilded to match the gold rim, was added later to replace a broken spout.

Interestingly, the original pottery handle has a trompe l’oeil “metal” strap and 2 rivets holding it in place.

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Stoneware “one cup” teapot, c.1830

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

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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