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
I believe this Dutch or German Delft vase to be the earliest piece in my collection. It is made of tin-glazed earthenware and decorated with a blue & white Chinese motif, as were most European ceramic pieces dating from the 17th and 18th centuries
Time has not been kind to this very heavy vase, which stands 10-1/2″ tall, but it must have been cherished by its owners over the past 330 years or so. It has survived the loss of its original base and bears the battle scars of large chips and cracks, restored many years after it was first made
It now stands on a wobbly, cracked wooden base, painted blue and white to match the body of the vase. Unfortunately, the painted surface has become unstable, flaking each time the vase is touched
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
This condensed globular form Chinese teapot was made from purple granular “zisha” clay (containing mica, quartz and iron) and found only in Yixing (pronounced ee-shing), in the east coast province of Jiangsu. Due to its unique self seasoning capabilities, after many years of use you can brew tea just by pouring boiling water into an empty pot
A metalsmith created a new lid out of brass after the original one broke or was lost. I love the simple hand-hammered form and delicately curled knob. Teapot measures 4″ high, 8″ wide
Chinese character maker’s marks are incised on the bottom. Please excuse me if I have shown the marks upside down
This example has its original lid, which is amazing, as it was recovered from the 1840 Desaru shipwreck, discovered in May 2001
Photos courtesy of Nanhai Marine Archaeology
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.
This pressed glass whale oil lamp in the “Sawtooth Diamond” pattern measures 9-3/4″ high. It has a brass collar and was made of flint glass, most likely in New England in the mid 1800’s.
Mass produced molded pressed glass was made to look like more expensive, hand made cut glass.
Most likely, an itinerant tinsmith or tinker in the late 1800’s fashioned a round base to repair the broken lamp and make it usable again.
The oil lamp pictured below in the “Excelsior Variant” pattern shows what the original base on my lamp might have looked like.
Photo courtesy of Brey Antiques
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
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
I found this large tin glazed earthenware olive oil jug at a tiny gem of an antique shop in Seville, Spain. While looking for a restaurant open for dinner before 10PM, we stumbled upon the shop, tucked away on a small side street. As the lovely Spanish shop owner spoke very little English and I barely speak any Spanish, we had a challenging but fun time communicating and bargaining.
I love the simple shape of this jug, which stands nearly 12″ tall…
as well as the slightly askew applied handle and beautiful green color.
The entire bottom of the jug is held together with large metal rivets.
This Chinese export porcelain teapot from the middle 19th century is globular in form and decorated “en grisaille” (painted in shades of gray) with gilt highlights along the top rim.
Teapot measures 3-3/4″ high.
The simply shaped original spout was replaced with a finely detailed bronze spout in the form of a serpent.
Another teapot decorated en grisaille, shown with original spout and lid.
Photo courtesy of Richard Gould Antiques