Staffordshire child’s mug, c.1840

April 4th, 2010

This little pearlware pottery mug was made in Staffordshire, England in the mid-1800’s and was meant to be a “Present for a good boy”.

The cobalt blue transfer decoration depicts a bucolic country house with mother standing outside, a school and a waterfall.

The sharp remains of the original ceramic handle protrudes from the unusual tin plate and scrolled handle repair, not ideal for the fingers of a small boy.

Mug measures 2-3/4″ tall.

Even though the bottom of the mug is undamaged, it is completely covered in tin.

This child’s mug with similar form and transfer decoration has its original applied handle intact.

mug

Photo courtesy of eBay

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American stoneware crock, c.1880

April 4th, 2010

Another favorite of mine, purchased from the same collector who graciously sold me the set of five Lambeth jugs. This 11-1/4″ high stoneware crock, most likely from New England, has an incised “4” to indicate it has a capacity of four gallons and is decorated in a cobalt slip abstract floral design.

This beauty also sports one of the most unusual repairs I have seen, as the large cracks are held tightly together with woven willow.

I was destined to own this piece, as a hand painted letter “B” (the first letter of my last name) appears on the reverse side of the crock.

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Flint glass salt cellar, c.1860

March 28th, 2010

An example of an EAPG (Early American Pattern Glass) master salt cellar in the “Bull’s Eye” pattern, made of flint glass in the mid-late nineteenth century.

This small piece was made in America and measures 3″ high and is 3″ wide. It lost its original glass pedestal base most likely in the late 1800’s.

The salt can be passed around the table again, as a crafty person has fashioned a new replacement base from a simple piece of wood.

This is another example of a flint glass master salt cellar, showing its original pedestal base.

Photo courtesy of eBay

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Sparrow beak cream jug, c.1750

March 28th, 2010

Chinese export pear shaped porcelain jug with sparrow beak from the mid-1700’s with multi color enamel decoration in the Mandarin style, stands 4″ tall.

Blue painted metal replacement handle and LOTS of strapwork guarantee many years of use, after the more delicate original handle broke off.

This Chinese porcelain jug with similar form and decoration shows what the original handle on my jug might have looked like.

chinese jug

Photo courtesy of Ruby Lane

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Castleford teapot, c.1810

March 28th, 2010

Iconic white feldspathic stoneware 4-3/4″ high teapot from Castleford, England, has neoclassical relief and applied decoration with blue enamel detail. Originally designed by Dunderdale & Co. in 1800, many manufactures in the same  region made their own version inspired by the original.

This teapot has survived 200 years of despair and repair.

The unique sliding lid, which had the same scalloped edge detail as the pot, seems to have slid off on to the floor and has been replaced by a brass lid, some time in the mid-1800’s.

The tip of the spout was also damaged and a metal sleeve now covers the broken spout.

There are even a few staples holding a crack together, making this an unusual example of an item with three inventive repairs made from three different materials.

An early paper label and an incised “22” are mark found on the bottom.

This example with eagle decoration and made for the American market maintains its original lid and spout.

Photo courtesy of Martyn Edgell Antiques

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Set of five Lambeth jugs, c.1870

March 27th, 2010

This is the holy grail of antiques with inventive repairs…a set of five matching two-tone salt glazed stoneware jugs with matching replaced tin handles! Each jug has a fox hunt scene in relief; the three larger jugs are marked “QUART” and the two smaller ones have “PINT” incised on the front. They were made in Lambeth (now known as Waterloo), a borough within London, England. I purchased the set from a dealer in New Jersey who loved them as much as I do. It took a couple of visits and a little bit of coaxing to convince her to sell them to me, as I assured her they were going to a good home.

These three jugs are quart-sized and measure 7″ tall.

And these two jugs are pint-sized and are 5-1/4″ tall.

All jugs have replaced handles with two straps made from tin, as well as multiple cracks and chips. If these jugs could talk I am sure they would tell colorful tales of life in an 19th century English pub!

This is what a Lambeth jug looks like with its handle intact.

Photo courtesy of Eron Johnson Antiques

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Art deco lamp, c.1938

March 27th, 2010

I love this American “machine age” metal lamp, found at a newly opened antiques shop in upstate NY. It sits on a side table in my bedroom and is one of the few pieces from my collection that I use often. The lamp dates from the late 1920’s and measures 18″ tall. The coffee tin with key wind lid is dated 1938.

A truly inventive solution to recycling a discarded coffee can and replacing a damaged lampshade all at once.

The pierced top of the “shade” allows the heat from the bulb to escape, as well as cast a lovely pattern on the ceiling.

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Longwy enamel tea cup, c.1920

March 27th, 2010

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Chinese famille rose Mandarin teapot, c.1750

March 27th, 2010

Globular shaped Chinese export porcelain teapot has finely painted enamel and gilt “Mandarin” decoration.

Both sides of the teapot have exquisitely detailed figures painted in the famille rose palette.

Teapot measures 5-1/2″ to the top of the lid.

The nicely woven rattan covered bronze handle is a replacement, fabricated in the late 18th to early 19th century.

This teapot with similar shape body and spout shows what the original handle might have looked like.

Photo courtesy of Guest & Gray

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Pratt “Native Scenery” tea caddy, c.1900

March 27th, 2010

English porcelain tea caddy with blue and white transfer decoration, made by F & R Pratt and Company of Fenton, Staffordshire from 1880 to 1920. The scene is believed to depict Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby known as “The Ladies of Llangollen” who lived together in North Wales from 1790 to 1831.

Tea caddy measures 5-3/4″ high.

Marked in blue transfer on the bottom “Pratts Native Scenery”.

Clever copper strap repair holds together the two broken halves of the lid.

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