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
An EAPG (Early American Pattern Glass) flint glass goblet in the “Master Argus” pattern, measures 7-1/2″ tall
What makes this replaced wood base so special is that is is made from lignum vitae, a trade wood known for its combination of strength, density and toughness. According to T.H. White’s “The Once and Future King”, Merlin’s magical staff was made of lignum vitae. Sadly, this type of wood is now listed as a potentially endangered species.
This goblet, also in the “Master Argus” pattern still has its original base
Photo courtesy of All Antique Glass
Large American primitive lathe-turned treenware mortar (with original red painted surface) & pestle, together measure 13″ high.
It was not unusual for wooden utilitarian items such as bowls and mortars to crack, due to a change in climate. Two steel bands were added to help stabilize the large break.
The underside of the mortar shows concentric lathe rings, reminding me of a 45 rpm vinyl record.
An EAPG (Early American Pressed Glass) kerosene oil lamp in the “Loop” pattern, made of flint glass with finger loop and brass ferrule. Measures 6 inches high.
The round glass base was replaced with an unusually shaped square replacement, beautifully made.
This is what the lamp looked like with its original base, burner, wick and chimney
Photo courtesy of LennyFran
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
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.
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
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.
This 6″ tall cracked jug with a replaced mismatched lid and tin base, possibly from Pennsylvania, is covered in a web of hand woven wire.
Redware pottery is earthenware made from red clay containing ferrous oxide, and the dark spots on the surface are a result of manganese in the glaze.
the cracked base was completely covered in wire and tin, now rusted. Please take a look at Tuscan pottery jug, another example of an earthenware jug with a similar repair.
This antique redware jug with similar form is without cracks and wire reinforcement.
Photo courtesy of Malleries
A remarkable pair of matching EAPG (Early American Pattern Glass) goblets in the “Giant Thumbprint” pattern, each measuring 7″ high and made in North America. It’s rare to find items with matching repairs & replacements, so I was thrilled to acquire these.
The matching replaced conical black enameled iron bases are filled with lead to support the thick-walled flint glass.
This is what the original simple glass bases might have looked like.
Photo courtesy of All Antique Glass