,,collecting ,,as ,a ,,pastime ,illustration3 ,bronze ,statuette for ,gas4 ,circa #ahej4 ,,plate ,i4 ,,collecting ,,as ,a ,,pastime ,,by ,,charles ,,rowed ,with #fh ,half-tone ,illustrations ,,cassell ,,and ,,company1 ,,ltd ,london1 ,new ,york1 ,toronto and ,melbourne #aibj ,,to ,,the ,,memory ,,of ,c4 ,h4 ,r4 ,,raison ,d',,tre ,this book is written1 and the illustrations prepared1 mainly to inspire1 inform and amuse ,amateur ,collectors4 ,in this ,i trust it will be successful1 but ,i further hope that it may arrest the attention and stimulate the interest of many other readers4 ,,the ,,author4 ,,contents ,,page ,,raison ,d',,tre vii ,,reflections #a ,,first ,,course ,,grandfather ,,clocks ,,and ,,old ,,furniture #ab ,,second ,,course ,,old ,,pewter--,,the ,,pewter ,,pot ,,and ,,the ,,mystery ,,piece #ce ,,third ,,course ,,old ,,brass ,,and ,,copper #gg ,,fourth ,,course ,,old ,,mortars #hb ,,fifth ,,course ,,old ,,pottery #hf ,,sixth ,,course ,,old ,,china #abb ,,seventh ,,course ,,old ,,horse ,,amulets #adj ,,final ,,course ,,sheffield ,,plate ,,and ,,old ,,silver #add ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations #a4 ,,bronze ,,statuette ,,for ,,gas 7circa #ahej7 ,frontispiece ,,facing ,,page #b4 8,,the ,,trusty ,,servant0 ,,print 7circa #ahcj7 #ad #c4 ,,grandfather ,,clocks3 ,,john ,,burgess ,,de ,,wigan2 ,,philip ,,smith1 ,,barton2 ,,phillips1 ,,ludlow #ae #d4 ,,grandfather ,,clocks3 ,,pennington1 ,,ince2 ,t4 ,,helm1 ,,ormskirk2 ,,bold1 ,,warrington #ah #e4 ,,grandfather ,,clocks3 ,,brown1 ,,liverpool2 ,,monks1 ,,prescott2 ,,no ,,name1 ,,enamelled ,,dial #ai #f4 ,,oak ,,dresser1 ,,welsh1 #ag,,th ,,century1 ,,with ,,pewter #bd #g4 ,,elm ,,dresser1 ,,welsh1 ,,early #ag,,th ,,century1 ,,with ,,pewter #be #h4 ,,ecclesiastical ,,chest 7circa #afjj7 #bf ,,oak ,,dower ,,chest1 ,,dated #agjb #bf #i4 ,,oak ,,spindle ,,back ,,chairs1 ,,early #ai,,th ,,century #bg ,,birch ,,chairs1 ,,early #ai,,th ,,century #bg #aj4 ,,chinese ,,chippendale ,,chair1 ,,late #ah,,th ,,century #bh ,,oak ,,lancashire ,,chairs 7,,faked7 #bh #aa4 ,,cromwellian ,,gate-,,leg ,,table 7,,oak72 ,,knife-,,box ,,with ,,shell ,,inlay2 ,,salt-,,box ,,dated #afei2 ,,bowl1 ,,by ,,copeland #bi ,,gate-,,leg ,,table1 ,,made ,,of 8,,foudroyant0 ,,oak #bi #ab4 ,,bureau ,,with ,,bookcase 7,,mahogany7 #cj #ac4 ,,mahogany ,,bureau1 #ah,,th ,,century #ca ,,chest ,,of ,,drawers ,,with ,,bureau ,,fitment #ca #ad4 ,,birch1 ,,veneered ,,rosewood1 ,,folding ,,table2 ,,tea ,,caddy #cb ,,mahogany ,,table1 ,,drop ,,ends #cb #ae4 ,,mahogany ,,chest ,,of ,,drawers #cc ,,dishes--,,davenport1 ,,leeds1 ,,copeland2 ,,bowls--,,bow1 ,,chelsea1 ,,plymouth1 ,,bow #cc #af4 ,,dwarf ,,chest ,,of ,,drawers ,,with ,,heppelwhite ,,mirror #cd #ag4 ,,oak ,,chest ,,with ,,oak ,,cupboard1 ,,enclosing ,,pewter #ce #ah4 ,,mahogany ,,corner-,,cupboard ,,with ,,pewter #db #ai4 ,,old ,,pewter ,,group #dc #bj4 ,,old ,,pewter ,,group #df #ba4 ,,old ,,pewter ,,group #dg #bb4 ,,pewter ,,snuff ,,boxes #fd #bc4 ,,pewter ,,pots--,,inscribed #fe #bd4 ,,pewter ,,pots ,,and ,,lidded ,,tankards #gj #be4 ,,pewter 8,,alms-,,dish0--,,faked 7,front7 #ga ,,pewter 8,,alms-,,dish0--,,faked 7,back7 #ga #bf4 ,,the 8,,odamifino0 #gd ,,the ,,converted ,,bedpan #gd #bg4 ,,the ,,mystery ,,piece #ge #bh4 ,,old ,,brass ,,group #gh #bi4 ,,old ,,copper ,,group #gi #cj4 ,,old ,,mortars 7,nos4 #a1 #b1 #c1 #d1 #e7 #hd #ca4 ,,old ,,mortars 7,nos4 #f1 #g1 #h1 #i1 #aj7 #he #cb4 ,,old ,,pottery ,,group #hh #cc4 ,,old ,,pottery ,,group #hi #cd4 ,,old ,,pottery ,,group #ib #ce4 ,,old ,,pottery ,,group #ic #cf4 ,,pictorial ,,pottery #ih #cg4 ,,willow ,,pattern #ii #ch4 ,,china ,,cabinet1 ,,mahogany1 ,,late #ah,,th ,,century #abb #ci4 ,,old ,,china ,,group #abc #dj4 ,,old ,,china ,,group #abh #da4 ,,old ,,china ,,group #abi #db4 ,,old ,,china ,,group #acf #dc4 ,,old ,,horse ,,amulets1 ,,group #a #acg #dd4 ,,old ,,horse ,,amulets1 ,,group #b #adb #de4 ,,sheffield ,,plate ,,and ,,old ,,silver #adc ,,collecting ,,as ,a ,,pastime ,,reflections ,there is a cause for everything4 ,are antique collectors born or are they made8 ,is the craze inherent1 or do circumstances or environment create the craving8 ,how in later life do early associations influence our peculiar fancies8 ,possibly my seven years as a choir-boy at ,winchester ,cathedral attending services and practices there fifteen times weekly1 being boarded at the ,bishop's ,palace1 and playing games under the shadow of the ruins of ,wolvesey ,castle may have laid impressions which tended to render me susceptible to the medival4 ,my reflections bring to mind my singing at the enthronement of ,bishop ,samuel ,wilberforce1 and seeing the bones of ,king ,rufus taken out of his tomb and laid in skeleton form on the floor of the chancel4 ,in those times a man was not considered too old at forty1 as the ,dean was doing his little bit at ninety4 ,to go back still farther1 when quite a small boy ,i lay for weeks with a broken leg1 which had to be broken a second time owing to poor setting1 in a room out of which there was a secret chamber for hiding those 8wanted0 in the good old days4 ,this ancient home with its pointed gables and windows was suitably named 8,gothic ,lodge10 and is near ,southampton1 close to a house in which ,lord ,jellicoe's grandfather resided4 ,anyone knowing ,winchester will be familiar with the picture of 8,the ,trusty ,servant10 and illustrative of the extraordinary things a collector may come across in his rambles1 ,i found a good print of this in a nice old maple frame hanging in a dark shop of a dingy street in a drab town in the ,north of ,england1 and1 of course1 ,i purchased it 7,plate ,,ii1 facing p4 #ad74 99 99 99 99 99 ,the rostrum shook under the thud of the fist of the reformed prizefighter1 and the hall reverberated with his stentorian exclamation4 8,ah-h-h-h1 my friends1 what will the drunkard do for drink80 ,allow me just to whisper1 8,what won't the collector do for curios80 ,it is generally understood that there is honesty among thieves4 ,this may be so--not being a member of that fraternity ,i cannot vouch for its accuracy4 ,that this desirable attribute prevails amongst the majority of antique dealers and collectors is to my mind open to question4 ,you know you cannot do yourself justice unless you know more than the other fellow1 while he in his turn1 if you are a stranger1 treats you with suspicion1 and so you both play ,brer ,rabbit4 ,i was once going through a collection acquired by a professional gentleman1 and he called my special attention to a very good figure of ,nelson1 which he informed me he had obtained at a bargain price4 ,the figure was in a shop run by an alien1 probably now a naturalised ,englishman1 who asked fifteen shillings for it4 ,on its being pointed out that the figure only possessed one arm the alien said he had not noticed that and dropped the price to eighteenpence4 ,i suppose1 after all1 this question of honesty resolves itself into a matter of conscience1 and we must realise that this is a commodity liable to degrees of elasticity which can be regulated without a great deal of effort to suit the demand requisite for the occasion4 99 99 99 99 99 ,did you ever know a collector give away anything from his special line8 ,i once had a little ,leeds ,pottery cottage 7impressed mark7 pressingly offered me out of pure good will by a dealer1 who although he was only half a collector was a whole-hearted ,christian1 and ,i wish he were still in the flesh to read this fond reference to his genial urbanity1 but he has gone aloft4 ,open confession is good for the soul1 and ,i feel at this point ,i must unburden my conscience after alluding to others whose feelings may have been disturbed by my theories4 ,on one occasion a very old and valued friend was giving a charity bazaar at his residence1 so he asked me to contribute some of my old pewter4 ,my friend and ,i had much in common1 but he little knew what he was asking of me then or with what pangs of heart-burning those twenty pieces were selected1 packed1 and forwarded1 with a lying letter expressing the pleasure ,i felt4 99 99 99 99 99 ,one other outstanding instance of generosity comes vividly to my mind4 ,early on1 when ,i could talk of nothing but old pewter1 ,i spent an afternoon with a friend who still resides in a hamlet1 the name of which ,i ,aughton't to disclose4 ,he specialises in old porcelain and young pullets1 together with rare bits and roses4 ,at the time ,i was almost in despair because ,i could drop on no pewter dishes4 ,imagine my delight when ,i received anonymously three good marked specimens from the residential district aforesaid4 ,on meeting the donor and overwhelming him with my profusion of gratitude1 he remarked1 8,look here1 old man1 you needn't make such a fuss about it4 ,the fact is my wife came across these dishes when spring cleaning1 and she asked me to get them out of the way1 so ,i sent the bally things off to you40 99 99 99 99 99 ,i have alluded to the influence the collecting craze may have on the conscience1 and on the gift of charity4 ,the bump denoting the latter varies very considerably in individuals1 as in some cases it is reported to be undiscernible by the most gifted phrenologist1 yet we each think our own so abnormally developed that we wonder how we keep our hats on4 ,as an instance of the way in which the mania may take hold of the common sense contained in a brain occupied with big undertakings1 and large financial questions1 let me give you an instance4 ,at a shop on ,blackpool ,pier ,i noticed an oak pulley-block partly gilded1 and learnt it had belonged to the rigging of the ,foudroyant1 which was wrecked there in #ahig4 ,although ,i did not want this myself ,i knew a friend who would like to have it4 ,he was very keen on ,nelson relics1 and had shown me with pride the room he devoted specially to the display of these1 which he had accumulated regardless of cost4 ,i purchased the block for a guinea1 packed it up1 sent it off to the ,south of ,england by passenger train1 and wrote saying what ,i had done4 ,what gigantic schemes matured or what h4p4 pressure was required to keep his powerful brain under control1 ,i do not know1 but in the evening of the following day ,i received an urgent telegram saying the pulley-block had not yet arrived1 and would ,i trace it forward8 ,now why could not a man of his experience and resource have waited more than twelve hours after getting my letter for a thing like that to come #bej miles by train1 without giving me extra trouble1 when ,i had already put myself out of the way to give him a little pleasure8 ,i forgave him when ,i received his note of thanks1 and he never met me afterwards without referring to my thoughtfulness on his behalf4 99 99 99 99 99 ,soon after ,i started ,i had the advantage of comparing notes with a medical friend1 who had a decided penchant for antiques1 and he diagnosed collecting as a disease on which he considered himself an authority1 if not a specialist1 as his knowledge had been acquired by constant practice4 ,his faculties were so acute that on one occasion while feeling the pulse of a patient he lost count of the beats through catching sight of a ,bartolozzi print hanging near the bed4 ,he was pleased to say the patient recovered her health1 and he obtained the ,bartolozzi4 ,further evidence in support of this theory is the case of a minister who1 after seeing my collection for the first time1 could not sleep1 but lay awake wondering in which of the houses in his parish he had seen any pewter4 ,may ,i not carry this a step further without giving offence1 by suggesting that when thoughts require to be concentrated on less worldly things1 while paying his consoling visits he should spend much of the time with both eyelids closed8 ,be this as it may1 he has secured a number of bargains4 ,another instance came under my notice through seeing a letter from a wealthy merchant1 the ramifications of whose business are world-wide1 in which he stated he had been poking about slums1 and had picked up two pepper-pots for a few coppers4 ,consequently he could not see his way to offer more than three shillings for two which had been advertised for four shillings4 99 99 99 99 99 ,i have discovered among my press cuttings an article which appeared in the ,times1 ,august #ab1 #aiaj1 and ,i should like you to read the following extract3-- ,,on ,,collectors 8,the collector's instinct seems to be a curious by-product of the human mind2 and not only of the human mind1 for magpies1 monkeys1 and even dogs1 sometimes have it4 ,when a dog makes a store of bones1 old and entirely fleshless1 he is like the collector who keeps obsolete things just because they are obsolete4 ,a used postage stamp is to a man what a bone without flesh is to a dog2 but the collector of postage stamps goes further than the dog1 in that he prefers an old postage stamp to a new one1 while no dog1 however ardent a collector of bones without flesh1 would not rather have a bone with flesh on it4 ,yet there is more method in the human collector1 since he always has before him the ideal of a complete collection1 whereas no dog1 probably1 ever dreamed of acquiring specimens of all the different kinds of bones there are in the world4 ,this ideal of a complete collection is the usual spur of the human collector2 and often he will collect the most out-of-the-way things in the hope of attaining it4 ,but there is also the spur of rivalry1 and because of that there are not many collectors of things that no one else collects4 ,every collector likes to have at least one rival whom he may out-do1 and from whom perhaps he may steal2 for the collector's instinct is sometimes too strong for the most honest of men1 so that they come to regard stealing as only a bold and skilful kind of collecting4 ,they would never steal anything except what they collect2 but in stealing a fine specimen they are only rectifying the iniquity of chance which has given that specimen to an ignoramus who does not deserve it4 ,for them collecting is a game1 and stealing is not a breach of the rules4 ,indeed1 there is only one breach of the rules1 viz43--forging4 ,but even forgeries make collecting more exciting2 and perhaps they are not really a breach of the rules1 but only an added complication in the game1 a new kind of bunker1 so to speak1 which tests the skill of the player40 ,great minds think alike6 ,oh1 thank you6 99 99 99 99 99 ,in my numerous calls ,i have only once been openly treated with suspicion1 and that happened in a county town which boasts of an imposing jail4 ,possibly the existence of that massive pile with its undesirable inmates had given cause to the local antique dealer to be ever doubtful of his visitors4 ,my friend and ,i had left the motor at the hotel1 found a small shop crowded with antiques1 opened the door1 which was of the stable pattern in two sections1 and walked in4 ,after a few minutes1 during which we were examining curios1 and making audible comments1 the proprietor came out of the back1 and demanded to know how we got in4 8,through the door40 8,yes1 but why didn't you ring the bell80 8,perhaps the bell is out of order40 8,no1 that won't wash1 ,i know your sort40 ,he was irate1 so we left him in possession4 ,my friend was very indignant1 and was not appeased when ,i hinted that the unpleasant incident would not have occurred if ,i had been by myself4 99 99 99 99 99 ,i do not envy those who go to auction rooms or large antique premises1 buy a cart-load in one afternoon1 write out a cheque1 and have the goods kecked at the door like a load of coal4 ,i have always been pleased that ,i started and have kept on buying my finds in penny numbers1 and now ,i am able to put them in volume form ,i am well rewarded for my persistence4 ,like the lady who never made her tea the right strength1 because she had a poor eye for measuring distances1 ,i attempt no estimate of the miles ,i have travelled in pursuit of the game4 ,i have motored as far north as ,dunbar with success1 made discoveries in ,dover1 found dishes in ,devonshire1 turned up treasures when touring the ,lakes1 and been over to ,ireland for pewter4 ,reflections on these journeys are constantly arising as my eye lights on one or other of the numerous specimens which adorn my home1 and ,i am truly thankful that ,i turned my attention to the collecting of antiques in the way ,i have done1 thereby providing myself with a pastime which has been beneficial to the body and mind of a busy man4 ,in my narration ,i hope ,i may not cause the reader to conclude that ,i am egotistical1 desirous of creating the impression that ,i know it all1 make no mistakes1 and pick up nothing but bargains4 ,i must plead guilty of having on more than one occasion when homeward bound thrown rotten purchases out of the train1 taking care1 of course1 not to hit any resting man working on the line4 ,there have been times when on closer scrutiny ,i have discovered an 8antique0 purchase to be modern1 and ,i have turned it over to the hazards of everyday use1 feeling sure that its existence among the household effects would not remain in evidence for a lengthy period to remind me of my lack of acumen4 ,by giving some of my experiences the amateur who1 like myself1 has essayed to go cautiously will1 ,i feel1 enter into the spirit which has pervaded my search after antiques to get what enjoyment there was to be obtained in pursuit of the elusive bargain4 ,an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory1 and a few mistakes are the best school for the student4 ,i hope in the contents evidence of originality may occur1 and that the touches of humour may not be considered misplaced1 even by those who take their collecting very seriously4 ,i have the good fortune to number among my friends one who for half an ordinary lifetime has been so keen a collector of antiques that he has gathered together a host of treasures which have not only filled his house from ground floor to garret1 but have partly stocked the local museum as well4 ,he must have read nearly everything published on his beloved subjects1 and when he heard ,i had decided to write this book1 in an encouraging letter he said1 8,i shall1 ,i know1 be very much interested4 ,i love to read a #8spicy' article4 ,i always think it sinks deeper than the heavy and often cumbersome accounts we sometimes get40 ,i have not enquired just what my friend's definition of the word 8spicy0 may mean1 but as he knows half my pleasure in collecting is the fun of the thing1 and that it is my natural bent to find humour whenever it chances to come my way1 ,i trust he will not be disappointed with the result of my efforts to enliven what he might otherwise have considered another addition to heavy material4 ,i hope the illustrations will give satisfaction4 ,long before ,i started collecting ,i was possessed of a good half-plate camera1 with a fine lens1 which ,i used out in the open on any occasion as ,i felt disposed1 consequently this experience came in most useful when ,i desired to photograph specimens of my collection indoors4 ,i have therefore not only the satisfaction of knowing that all the subjects exhibited have been gathered together by my initial effort1 and are all under my own roof1 but that ,i have taken most of the photographs myself4 ,the result of taking all these on half-plates has allowed me to keep uniformity running through the book1 and enabled me to present the pictures the right way up4 ,the arrangement in so many volumes which compels each reader to twist the book every time he wishes to study a picture1 will be found practically absent in this4 ,as the smartly set up autocratic adjutant commands his regulars 8,right-turn0 and 8,left-turn0 so does the short-sighted conservative author compel his readers to 8,read-turn0 and 8,lift-turn40 ,i take no credit for the developing1 printing1 or toning of the photographs1 for ,i have a detestation of shutting myself in the dark room1 and a dislike for the tedium of the remaining part of the process4 ,by arranging a set of shelves for the groups1 and fixing the camera at the most suitable distance ,i have maintained the same proportion of size throughout1 a point which should be borne in mind as one which has saved the necessity of giving more than a few measurements4 ,the times of exposure for the photographs have varied from two minutes to two hours4 ,collecting1 therefore1 has livened up my photography2 and it is fresh in my mind that photography has livened me up on two occasions while ,i have been on this work4 ,the first when1 after hanging about for twenty minutes while a 8grandfather0 was reflecting his face1 ,i found ,i had omitted to take the cap off the camera4 ,secondly1 when another 8grandfather0 was supposed to be undergoing the required operation1 ,i discovered after the lapse of a similar period1 which seemed to be about double the time1 that ,i had forgotten to pull up the slide1 and this happened just when the necessary light for that day had finished4 ,such incidents as these are by the way1 but the linking up of photography with the still life that is depicted is a further justification for the title 8,collecting as a ,pastime40 ,,first ,,course ,grandfather ,clocks and ,old ,furniture ,the ,first ,plunge--,the ,clock and the ,chest--,varsity ,blue--,the ,statuette--,a ,weird ,arrival--,faked ,chairs--,foudroyant ,oak--,more ,clocks--,study the ,chart--,making ,converts--,lacquer ,clocks--,barometers--,the ,elusive ,mercury--,welsh ,dressers--,chinese ,chippendale ,chair--,spinning ,wheel--,spindle-backed ,chairs--,more rushed ,seats--,gate-legged ,mahogany ,table--,buying ,worm-holes--,bureau and ,bookcase--,a ,revelation--,oak ,cupboard--,four ,corner ,cupboards--,dated ,furniture--,mahogany ,inlaid ,tables--,a ,surprise--,chests of ,drawers3 ,small1 large1 and a ,combination--,just in ,time--,bureau--,how not to ,auction--,the ,tea-caddy4 8,the oak tree was an acorn once10 and so was the case of my first grandfather clock4 ,quite by chance in #aijb1 ,i noticed in a shop window a brass dial bearing the inscription 8,john ,burgess de ,wigan10 with well-engraved numerals1 and fitted with quaintly cut brass hands4 ,on enquiry ,i was told they had a case for it1 and this was found propped up1 for its feet were groggy4 ,as #ags4 was the price asked for the lot1 ,i plunged4 ,to my amazement an old clockmaker soon had the works going and he assured me they would see me out1 but ,i have some anxiety about the original wrought iron hinges1 which ,i compute will have swung1 back and to1 nearly #ij1jjj times4 ,the minstrel 7,moore and ,burgess7 sang that 8the grandfather clock was too tall for the shelf1 so it stood ninety years on the floor40 ,my old gentleman had evidently been in more confined space than this one they made such a song about1 and as the owner could not bend its back he knocked off the feet4 ,i fitted him out with new understandings made of very old timber1 which suited him down to the ground4 ,when the case was renovated the venerable timekeeper was placed in my hall1 where he has ticked away regularly except on those days when his rope has not been wound up1 or when a new rope was necessary4 ,i found1 by starting a correspondence in the ,wigan ,observer1 that ,burgess was one of the earliest clock-makers in ,wigan1 and that my clock was made about #afij4 ,the first long-case pendulum clock was made by ,thomas ,tompion in #afha and the prefix 8de0 to names was dropped about #agjj1 so it would be interesting to know how many clocks are still in existence bearing the 8de0 in front of the surname4 ,i have had clocks offered to me said to be #cjj or #djj years old1 while one man thought his would be at least #ejj2 when ,i stated that ,i had read in my clock book that #bdj years was the limit he disdainfully brushed that opinion aside with the remark1 8,oh1 books6 ,do you believe all you read80 ,this was the antique seed that has spread from hall to room1 and from room to room1 until there is no room for more4 ,strange to say1 within a week ,i had found a companion to 8old ,burgess0 in the form of a very ancient oak ,ecclesiastical chest1 bearing four locks without wards1 but with each key-hole a different shape2 the keys to correspond would be in the hands of the parson1 two wardens and sexton respectively 7,see ,plate ,,viii74 ,the clock and the chest have stood vis--vis since their introduction1 and if the regularity of the former and the complacency of the latter had been emulated by the occupants of the house1 what a model home they would adorn6 ,it is believed that on one occasion 8old ,burgess0 forgot to strike1 for which he may be forgiven4 ,on the newel post there is fixed a fine old bronze female figure1 bearing a light1 and on the occasion of a young cleric spending the night with us this statuette was found draped in a ,varsity blue wrap 7the owner of which has since served as an ,army ,chaplain throughout the ,war7--truly a sight to set any decorous time-server off his balance6 7,plate ,i47 ,this model of the female form divine deserves an artistic treatment1 to which ,i do not feel competent to do justice1 but ,i opine the modeller1 ,l4 ,v4 ,e4 ,robert1 who was doing his level best about sixty years ago1 intended it to be a representation of 8,summer10 or 8,hygeia10 and that he was proud to impress his name thereon4 ,it stood for years in a mansion1 and was turned out into the cold when the premises were altered on changing owners1 so ,i then found it a home4 ,i was very proud of 8old ,burgess0 7and am still7 and1 of course1 called the attention of all our visitors and the piano-tuner thereto4 ,this musical fiend struck a discordant note when he piped out1 8,i see it's only a #cj-;hour4 ,i have one that belonged to my wife's great-aunt and it has an eight-day movement1 which is so much more convenient40 ,there are some people who seldom do1 and never say1 the right thing4 ,that set me on looking for an eight-day grandfather1 and ,i looked in vain1 and for fear ,i might strain my sight ,i confided my absolute requirement to a friend who knocked about the country1 and he assured me at once he could soon fix me up1 8but what price will you go to80 ,as ,i wished to give him as little trouble as possible ,i said1 8,oh1 ,i'm not particular1 say fifty shillings40 ,one morning not long after this the commissionaire announced in my office that two gentlemen wanted to see me in the hall--a marble hall1 mark you6--and here ,i found my friend looking very worried1 with a man who touched his forelock1 but to whom ,i was not introduced4 ,they had with them something that bore resemblance to a coffin with a dirty shroud1 the latter having apparently twisted itself round the former1 a state of packing that no estimable undertaker would undertake4 ,they then proceeded to unshroud and prop up the outer shell1 which had three sides and a bit4 ,illustration3 8,the ,trusty ,servant0 7,print1 circa #ahcj74 ,,plate ,,ii4 ,illustration3 ,john ,burgess1 ,philip ,smith1 ,phillips1 de ,wigan4 ,barton1 ,ludlow1 #afij4 #agjj4 #agaj4 ,,plate ,,iii4 8,the case is the nearest match ,i could get to your thirty-hour2 and the dial and works are in the box there40 8,but where is the back80 8,i can't exactly say2 some is on the ,birmingham platform1 some at ,stafford where ,i changed1 there is quite a lot on the platform here1 and ,i noticed pieces kept falling off as ,i followed this man wheeling it from the station2 but whoever looks at the back of a clock8 ,you can easily fit in another without anybody being the wiser40 ,i then saw the dial and works1 and found ,i was face to face with ,grandfather ,philip ,smith of ,barton1 which ,barton ,i cannot say1 but probably near ,nottingham4 ,i did my best for him1 and he has done his best for me1 so ,i am recompensed for the expense ,i was put to in renewing his youth4 99 99 99 99 99 8,sergeant1 just sweep up that dust in the hall40 8,yes1 sir40 99 99 99 99 99 ,i now received a welcome gift of two high-backed ,lancashire ,cromwellian black oak chairs from a revered friend1 who was wishful to encourage my new craze1 and very useful and instructive these have been4 ,i say instructive1 for they had not been in the shadow of 8old ,burgess0 long before ,i compared the grain of their oak and his1 with the result that while the panel in the back and front leg spindle of one was finely carved1 and the oak undoubtedly #agth century1 in the other they were as modern as the frames4 ,i may here mention for the benefit of any reader who does not know that old oak furniture is seldom black with age1 and that the polisher can stain it any shade preferred1 that when ,nelson's flagship1 the ,foudroyant1 built in #agig1 was wrecked at ,blackpool in #ahig1 much of her oak was made into furniture1 and some fine chairs quite light in colour may be seen at the ,hotel ,metropole there4 ,i have a black gate-legged table made from ,foudroyant oak which is an exact replica of a good ,cromwellian design with twisted legs1 and which was quite light in colour until it was stained 7,plates ,x and ,,xi74 ,i now had another oak grandfather clock with a brass dial offered me1 and although it had a thirty-hour movement ,i did not hesitate to pay the price asked4 ,it had come from ,ormskirk1 where it was made by ,t4 ,helm about #aggj1 as in the ,constable's book of accounts for that year there is an entry 8paid ,thos4 ,helm for taking care of clock40 ,it stood for a hundred years in a farm opposite my house1 and ,i got it from descendants of its original owners1 so for sentimental reasons ,i would not part with it1 even at an advance on the first cost4 ,this clock originally was worked by a rope1 but a chain was substituted before ,i became its possessor4 ,i have other things to talk of than grandfather clocks1 but three were not enough for me4 ,i have from time to time provided room for others1 and for the last few years have found nine none too many1 as seven of them need winding only once a week4 ,they do not all strike at once1 for a few have been deprived of their capacity for music-making1 by having the striking weight taken off4 ,by the aid of the photographs and with the following particulars the reader has a fair illustration of the evolution of the external part of grandfather clocks extending over one hundred years4 ,i believe the dates ,i estimate are not far off the mark1 and ,i hope some readers may be enabled to set their minds at rest if they have been in doubt as to the age of their own grandfather4 ,maker ,height ,width of ,dial ,special ,features ,body ,john ,burgess #f #aa #ab #aa ,oak2 square edged body1 de ,wigan hand cut heavy brass hands1 quaint fret1 iron strap hinges4--,circa #afij4 ,philip ,smith #f #h #ab #ab ,oak2 square edged body2 ,barton artistic fret1 early brass hinges4--,circa #agjj4 ,phillips #f #i #ab #ab ,oak2 square edged body2 ,ludlow carved 8fret40--,circa #agaj4 ,pennington #f #aa #ac #ab ,oak2 square edged body1 ,ince fluted oak pillars to head which is fitted with side lights2 pollard oak bands to doors and panel2 carved 8fret40--,circa #agbj4 ,t4 ,helm #f #aa #ac #ab ,oak2 door and panel ,ormskirk banded with mahogany1 rounded ask pilasters2 painted 8fret0 design4--,circa #agfj4 ,bold #g #d #ad #ab ,oak2 heavy case with ,warrington oak back1 mahogany band to doors with rounded mahogany pilasters1 deeply cut well engraved dial2 no 8fret40--,circa #agfj4 ,brown #g #aj #ae #ac ,mahogany2 8,chippendale10 ,liverpool fitted with side lights to hood1 rounded pilasters4--,circa #aggj4 ,monks #g #aj #af #ad ,mahogany2 8,chippendale10 ,prescott fluted pillars and pilasters4--,circa #aghj4 ,dial bears the legend3 8,as the time goes swift away1 ,so does human life decay40 ,no name #g #aa #ah #ad ,mahogany2 8,sheraton10 ,enamelled fluted pillars and dial pilasters1 satinwood inlay4--,circa #agij4 ,illustration3 ,pennington1 ,t4 ,helm1 ,bold1 ,ince1 ,ormskirk1 ,warrington1 #agbj4 #agfj4 #agfj4 ,,plate ,,iv4 ,illustration3 ,brown1 ,monks1 ,no name4 7,enamelled ,dial7 ,liverpool1 ,prescott1 #agij4 #aggj4 #aghj4 ,,plate ,v4 ,so far as ,i know the nine clocks are genuine4 ,i could find no trace of any material repair before ,i got them1 and ,i have been most careful in the renovating which was necessary with some of them4 ,i ought to explain in regard to 8,phillips0 that ,i fell in love with him in an auctioneer's stock-room because his style seemed just to agree with my oak dresser and ,i bought him1 although he was fitted with a #cj-;hour movement which was quite worn out4 ,having obtained the works of an old eight-days by buying a white dial in a case ,i cared nothing about1 ,i had two holes drilled in 8,phillips'0 face and so converted him4 ,it was a simple thing to do1 as the centre of the dial is matted without engraving and the centres could be made anywhere to correspond with the requirements of the winding arrangements4 ,this is an example of what may happen to old clocks when in the dealer's hands4 ,i have been in places where a number of old grandfathers have been in stock1 and changing a good dial which would suit a better case was considered quite the proper thing to do1 but consequently the grandfather would in future bear a wrong cognomen1 while the case might be quite of a different date from that indicated by the maker's name4 8,former ,clock and ,watch ,makers10 by ,britten1 was my text-book for this department1 and ,i must have given my friends the impression that ,i was an authority on horology1 for on reflecting ,i find ,i purchased1 selected1 or had a hand in the choosing of about thirty grandfather clocks4 ,narrow cases and brass dials were my usual stipulations4 ,,lacquer ,,clocks ,lacquer clocks have increased greatly in value recently on account of their scarcity4 ,about twelve years ago ,i had one offered me for #d #ajs41 but as ,i did not admire it1 and had no idea where ,i could get the needed repairs executed1 ,i left it alone4 ,i have just seen one sold by a dealer to a dealer for #cg4 ,on my last visit to see a collector and dealer1 whom ,i respect for his straightforward dealing1 ,i found he had parted with his lacquer clock1 which ,i had seen in his room for many years1 and was told a dealer had tempted him to sell it for #ej1 and that he now realised he had practically given it away at this price4 ,,barometers ,having provided for reliable time-keeping1 my next requirement seemed to be something experienced in ruling the weather4 ,i found my first antique barometer hanging outside a tall warehouse1 when out cycling with a friend4 ,this emporium was a three-storeyed building1 filled with all kinds of 8rubbish10 valuable and otherwise4 ,while my friend studied the old books ,i poked about and made my first purchase of old china and old pewter1 but these will be dealt with on other pages4 ,i made further visits to this building1 which now forms a portion of the offices of a very large soap works1 and think if ,i had known anything about old engravings ,i might have found something worth while4 ,i feel sure there were many fine works hanging promiscuously on the walls1 for they comprised some of the ugliest and most weird things in pictures ,i have come across4 ,that barometer has been a tried and trusted indicator1 and ,i was so pleased with its usefulness that ,i thought it would be a good idea to get another1 and fix it in the precincts of the kitchen1 so that the laundress might know the right time to hang out the clothes4 ,having bought another of the good old type1 and having found just the place for it1 ,i next gave careful instructions to the female mind which had to cope with the laundry department as to the reading and the adjusting of the indicator1 so that the fine drying days could be intelligently anticipated1 and ,i figured out the saving of coal effected would soon pay the modest cost of the barometer many times over1 but the affairs of men and mice and charladies aft gang agley4 ,i was not long in noticing that barometer ,no4 #b did not work in accord with ,no4 #a1 and ,i worried about it1 in fact at the time of writing ,i am still worrying about it4 ,there is a cause for everything1 and when things go wrong it is necessary to find out the reason before they can be put right1 and when the discovery is made you can fix the blame where any may exist4 ,imagine the shock ,i experienced one day when ,i found that the maid had been in the habit of taking the instrument down1 and laying it flat on the table to give it a good polishing4 ,where the mercury slipped to is a mystery1 but ,i must admit that ,i never gave her warning that an antique barometer when charged must be kept perpendicular4 ,the instrument went to be refilled with mercury soon after the ,war started1 and has not been returned to me yet6 ,,dressers1 ,,chairs1 ,,etc4 ,the next antique furniture ,i desired was an oak dresser to show off the pewter which had been accumulating1 and ,i was fortunate in obtaining one1 which originally had come from ,wales1 without delay4 ,the oak proved to be elm1 but ,i bought it without first seeing it1 and ,i have been pleased that it turned out as it did4 ,the inverted pediments are of holly and the doors work on pins4 ,to get the dresser out of the farm where it had played its part for generations1 the farm door jambs had to be removed1 so ,i was informed1 but it just fitted my hall1 which was all that really mattered4 ,another dresser was reported to me as having come from ,wales1 and ,i bought it from a ,mr4 ,jones1 and although ,i had not seen this until it came to me1 it was good old oak sure enough4 ,i believe the elm-made dates from early in the seventeenth century1 and the oak one about fifty years after4 ,these old dressers were complete1 but one had a portion of the back decayed1 probably through standing for years against damp walls1 so an obliging builder let me have some boards sawn from an oak beam he had taken out of an ancient ,quakers' meeting-house1 and ,i was able to maintain the true character and charm of these time-worn stagers4 ,the ,chinese ,chippendale chair 7,plate ,x7 deserves special notice1 for was it not my initial find in mahogany8 ,its home was in a building the walls of which were feet thick1 and in generations past had formed part of a monastery1 but which to-day is linked up with a more modern dwelling built of the same ,scotch grey stone4 ,it was in this house1 near ,dalkeith1 while we were having a family holiday in the summer of #aijf1 and just when my soul was awakening to the mysteries of antiques1 that ,i came across this relic4 ,it stood in the room we occupied in the ancient part of the building1 and was completely disguised by a covering of chintz1 hiding strong canvas stitched over much padding4 ,after lifting its skirt1 peculiarly shaped legs were revealed1 and my curiosity was aroused4 ,removing the chintz cover1 by ripping off the canvas1 and taking out about a sackful of wool1 ,i was not only struck by the unique back1 but astounded to find the original pig-skin upholstery in good condition4 ,one mahogany arm was missing1 and a very rough hard wood substitute had been fitted in its place4 ,i was presented with the chair on the spot4 ,a handy man from the village fetched 8a wee bit o' auld mahogany bed stock he had just sawed off to mak anither haundle for the chair40 ,i got him to make a case to hold it1 and the 8wee bit bed stock10 together with a spinning-wheel1 and consigned it for home to await my arrival4 ,i learnt 8there was anither chair like it awa doon at ,melville ,castle40 ,the spinning-wheel just mentioned was noticed by my wife when making a purchase of wool in a shop on ,causewayside at ,edinburgh1 and she was told1 8my mon had brocht it wi' him on his last journey from ,yell0 7the most northern of the ,shetland ,isles71 and although it was not for sale she 8didna mind parting wi' it1 as she could aye git anither yen when her mon gaid for mair wool40 ,illustration3 ,oak ,dresser1 ,welsh1 #agth ,century1 with ,pewter4 ,,plate ,,vi4 ,,plate ,,vi ,,oak ,,dresser ,,describing ,,the ,,pewter ,bottom ,shelf4 ,pair of ,tea ,caddies4 ,cake ,stand4 ,oval ,dish with fancy edge4 ,wash ,bowl4 ,first ,shelf4 ,vinegar ,bottle4 ,handle-less half-pint ,measure4 ,lipped half-pint ,measure4 ,flour ,dredger4 ,second ,shelf4 ,two lipped quart ,measures 7one by ,watts and ,harton1 ,london1 #ahjj74 ,strainer4 ,top ,shelf4 ,set of seven ,irish 7haystack7 ,measures1 by ,austin1 ,cork1 from #a gal4 to noggin4 ,set of seven ,english ,measures 7,georgian71 from gal4 to gill4 ,the gallon ,irish haystack ,measure is #ab inches high4 ,the largest plate #ah inches1 and the smaller ones are from #i inches to #aj inches in diameter4 ,illustration3 ,elm ,dresser1 ,welsh1 ,early #agth ,century1 with ,pewter4 ,,plate ,,vii4 ,,plate ,,vii ,,elm ,,dresser ,,describing ,,the ,,pewter ,bottom ,shelf4 ,swiss ,bottle4 ,hot-water ,dish by ,t4 ,compton4 ,ladles by ,ashberry and ,coleman4 ,flask1 #g inches1 with screw-in cap4 ,first ,shelf4 ,barber's ,pot4 ,milk ,mug4 ,quaich4 ,moustache ,mug4 ,hot-water ,jug4 ,second ,shelf4 ,early ,quart4 ,hot-water ,plates by ,john ,home 7#agfj7 and ,henry ,little 7#agee74 ,milk ,jug 7sold as a pilgrim's bottle74 ,mulled ,ale ,jug4 ,third ,shelf4 ,plates #ac inches in diameter4 ,top ,shelf4 ,chinese ,tea ,caddy4 ,jug #g inches high4 ,blue-and-white ,pottery ,tureen by ,burton1 ,hanley4 ,plates #ae inches1 #af inches1 #ah inches in diameter4 ,when wanting more chairs ,i noticed a set of spindle-back rushed seats with pony feet1 and on enquiry was told they had 8one arm and six ordinary40 ,ere learning the price ,i was asked1 8,how many do you want80 ,the idea of splitting a set of chairs over a hundred years old1 and in perfect condition6 ,yet this is an indication of the value placed on this type fifteen years ago1 while to-day dealers are scouring the country-side to make up sets4 ,i gleaned that these were made by the grandfather of our local house furnisher2 he 7the grandfather7 had six sons1 and kept a farm1 also a wheelwright's shop in the country2 that the chairs were made in the dark evenings for a few shillings each1 so ,i got them at about their original price2 that the wood used was oak from an adjoining park1 and after dressing it was stained mahogany in a bath1 that the spindles were driven home with the wheelwright's hammer1 and that 8,uncle ,richard was the finest rusher in ,lancashire40 ,this is undoubtedly true1 for there is not a spindle loose or a rush out of place4 7,plate ,,ix7 ,after buying the spindle-backs1 on the same day and in the same street ,i visited another broker's shop1 but let me direct you in case you wish to call there any time4 ,it is situated either higher up or lower down1 according to which end of the street you enter by1 but if you come out of a by-street you must be careful to turn either to the right or left1 and keep straight on1 for if you cross over and go ahead you will be up another street4 ,should you be walking you will keep to the right1 but in case you drive or motor you must mind and keep to the left4 ,trams pass the door1 and if you take the one going to ,liverpool you will not get anywhere near it4 ,it is situated on the opposite side facing a shop that has been 8,to ,let0 but is now occupied by a tradesman who has done well out of the war4 ,by the by1 if you happen to come in the evening1 and take the ,north ,star as your guide you will no doubt find the place--shut up4 ,readers can take so much more interest in a story when they have been made familiar with the locality1 and especially in a case like this where the actual house has been pointed out4 ,i entered the shop--do you follow me8 ,i examined a birch chair with a broken arm1 an artistic back1 fluted legs1 and a rush seat4 ,while ,i am ruminating1 the broker comes out of his parlour1 leaving the door open1 and ,i see other chairs of the same pattern1 which are evidently in everyday use4 ,i remark on them1 and am invited to inspect4 ,having done so ,i enquire1 8,will you sell them80 and am answered thus--8,will ,i sell 'um1 ,i'll sell you every old thing ,i've got40 ,i did not buy every old thing he'd got1 but ,i secured the set of chairs1 two arm and six ordinary1 and when re-polished the figuring of the birch looked well4 ,i also relieved him of a mahogany pedestal circular mirror1 which ,i 8could have for seven bob1 as he was tired of seeing the thing about40 7,plate ,,ix7 ,illustration3 ,ecclesiastical ,chest4 ,circa #afjj4 ,oak ,dower ,chest1 ,dated #agjb4 ,,plate ,,viii4 ,illustration3 ,oak ,spindle ,back ,chairs1 ,early #aith ,century4 ,birch ,chairs1 ,early #aith ,century4 ,,plate ,,ix4 ,,mahogany ,,gate-,,legged ,,table ,my having over-stocked the house that day has kept me off buying higher class chairs1 but one never knows what may happen4 ,quite recently ,i bought a gate-legged ,spanish mahogany square ended table4 ,i found it most unexpectedly the first day we decided we wanted such a thing1 and it happened to be just the size desired4 ,after a brief examination without going on my knees ,i told them to deliver it1 and when it arrived legs uppermost ,i thought1 8what a lot of worm holes for the money40 ,i said nothing aloud4 ,having 'phoned for a cabinet-maker1 and after he had laid the table top downwards he dropped on his knees1 and looking up with an expression of mingled pity and contempt for my credulity enquired3 8,have you bought it80 8,yes40 8,and paid for it80 8,yes40 8,may ,i ask how much80 8,eight pounds40 8,i've bought tables like this for #ces40 8,yes1 some time ago40 ,at this stage ,i fancy he thought he had put my wind up1 for he hedged by consoling me with the remark 8,i saw a table like this fetch #aa #ajs4 at a sale1 and it had worm holes too40 ,now take warning by this1 and be sure you look out for worm holes1 but don't be over anxious to buy more than you can count1 and if you should1 then do not pay much extra for them4 ,further1 if you find these pests getting busy in any of your furniture procure a solution of corrosive sublimate of suitable strength and saturate the parts affected1 but as the chemical is a deadly poison it is advisable to use a long handled brush and not dab it on with the fingers4 ,i thank you for your sympathy1 but am delighted with my bargain1 as the frame only needed the inside soft wood to be replaced1 and the table with its fine ,spanish wood top supported by well-fluted legs makes a handsome1 convenient1 and useful centrepiece1 for dining purposes1 and can be folded and put aside any time4 ,illustration3 ,chinese ,chippendale ,chair1 ,late #ahth ,century4 ,oak ,lancashire ,chairs 7,faked74 ,,plate ,x4 ,illustration3 ,cromwellian ,gate-leg ,table 7,oak74 ,knife-box 7,shell inlay74 ,salt-box1 #afei4 ,bowl1 by ,copeland4 ,gate-leg ,table1 made of ,foudroyant ,oak4 ,,plate ,,xi4 ,the tables shown on ,plate ,,xiv are very good late eighteenth century examples4 ,the one with drop ends is mahogany1 has a striking shell-like satinwood ornamentation let in the middle1 and inverted crocus inlaid legs4 ,the table with the folding legs was in a very dirty condition when ,i purchased it1 and was called mahogany1 and it was not until it was scraped that ,i became aware it was made of birch1 thickly veneered with rosewood1 and richly inlaid with satinwood4 ,oh1 what a prize surprise4 ,,bureaux ,,and ,,cabinets ,when ,china began to come in1 ,i bought a fine mahogany inlaid bureau and book-case in ,cheshire at about one-third of the cost of such a piece if you could find it to-day4 ,on examining the secret fittings ,i found in pencil in quite old style handwriting on the bottom of one of the drawers some lines headed1 8,over the door of a ,house of ,pleasure at ,w_/,church40 ,unfortunately ,i cannot give the context1 as ,i fear it would not pass the ,press ,censorship4 ,when the bureau was cleaned and re-polished ,i protected this precious indication that a previous possessor was rather a sly old boy1 and so ,i retain this unique evidence of age4 7,plate ,,xii7 ,when ,i commenced to write this book ,i found it quite impossible to get along with a rather modern light oak desk and ,i felt sure an old bureau would be of great assistance in carrying inspirations relating to antiques2 and further that one must be obtained promptly4 ,if you write a few hundred pages and have them typewritten in triplicate it is advisable to have somewhere to keep them1 for it would be poor satisfaction to learn some morning that a few score had served the useful purpose of lighting the kitchen fire4 ,the roomy drawers of a bureau answer admirably and find accommodation for the photographs as well4 7,plate ,,xiii7 ,my first enquiry was made of a dealer ,i will call ,a1 who informed me that bureaux were very scarce1 but as he attended most sales he would be on the look out and do his best4 ,i then went to another dealer and told him of my intention1 and asked him would he sell my flat-top oak desk8 ,certainly he would1 there was a mahogany bureau to be sold at a sale the very next day and he would buy it for me if ,i would give him a commission4 ,i said1 8,very well ,i will slip over in the morning1 look at it and let you know40 ,i disturbed the auctioneer feeding his poultry1 and cajoled him to come to the house1 which ,i had found locked up4 ,the bureau looked very weary1 but ,i knew it could soon be put right1 so ,i posted back to ,b and told him to buy it1 using his own judgment about the price4 ,in the evening ,b called and said he had bought the bureau1 but the price was more than expected as that chap ,a had run him up the last #b4 ,then it dawned on me that ,i had been bidding against myself4 ,i may here mention ,i have never attended sales and that this is the only antique illustrated in this volume which has been bought at a sale on my behalf4 ,illustration3 ,bureau with ,bookcase 7,mahogany74 ,circa #agij4 ,,plate ,,xii4 ,illustration3 ,mahogany ,bureau1 #ahth ,century4 ,chest of ,drawers with ,bureau ,fitment4 ,,plate ,,xiii4 8,there was an old woman who lived in a shoe0 who was greatly perplexed as to how to accommodate so many children4 ,i can sympathise with her1 for having so much pewter and being anxious to show it off ,i was much worried 8and didn't know what to do40 ,i hunted about and advertised for an oak cupboard with glass doors but could find nothing suitable so ,i bought the chest shown4 ,then ,i had the cupboard made from oak taken out of a farm built in #afcc near ,st4 ,helens which had been pulled down1 while the top decoration is some of the original wainscoting from ,argoed ,hall1 ,oswestry1 which ,i had by me1 and it came in suitably for the frieze4 ,the top of the chest being in two pieces the cupboard just fits on the hind portion while the front half lifts off1 and so ,i am enabled to stow a lot of extra pewter in the chest4 7,plate ,,xvii7 ,pewter plates and blue and white dishes needing to be displayed1 ,i had shelves fitted in my morning and dining rooms4 ,to provide for the china ,i purchased the cabinet shown in ,plate ,,xxxviii1 and in a short time found four corner cupboards4 ,it might take as many years to find a lot to equal these1 which are mahogany made and all nicely inlaid4 ,i bought them from the same broker who astonished me by saying1 8,i am a collector too--of sovereigns40 ,,dated ,,furniture ,dated furniture is hard to find4 ,i only have two specimens1 of which photographs are given4 ,the initials on the oak chest will be the initials of the first owner and his wife1 but whether this dating may be evidence of a dower chest on their marriage1 or whatever happened to them in #agjb1 there is no question about the chest being ,queen ,anne period4 7,plate ,,viii7 ,as regards the salt box1 the carved piece of oak which bears the date #afei has a much older appearance than the rest of the box1 although that is ancient timber4 ,probably the seventeenth century article fell to pieces about a hundred years ago1 when the owners would have this one put together4 ,this shows how easy it may be for the amateur to be misled as to the age of a faked article in which an early date has been worked4 ,i found it in a shop on the ,north ,pier at ,blackpool1 and was informed it was bought at an old farm sale near ,preston4 7,plate ,,xi7 ,,mahogany ,,chests ,,of ,,drawers ,when ,i bought the dwarf chest shown on ,plate ,,xvi1 it was fitted with black wooden knobs which could not have been on many years4 ,on examination1 marks were sufficiently clear to enable me to judge to a nicety the design of the brass plates the original handles would drop on to2 so ,i had five cut1 and looked up some old handles and fasteners4 ,then ,i was able to give the chest its original appearance4 ,the large chest shown on ,plate ,,xv really is a beautiful piece of furniture1 complete with its imposing brass ring handles1 original and perfect in every way just as ,i bought it4 ,the workmanship is of high class1 and the long secret drawer at the top has made a good hiding place for a large number of amulets4 ,the drawers are in smooth running condition1 and the oak linings are a fine example of good work1 while the mahogany cannot be beaten4 ,it came from the sign of 8,uncle will oblige40 ,illustration3 ,birch1 ,veneered ,rosewood1 ,folding ,table 7,satinwood ,inlay74 ,tea ,caddy 7,rosewood74 ,mahogany ,table 7,satin-wood ,inlay1 ,drop ,ends74 ,,plate ,,xiv4 ,illustration3 ,mahogany ,chest of ,drawers 7,satinwood ,inlay74 ,dishes3 ,davenport1 ,leeds1 ,copeland4 ,bowls3 ,bow1 ,chelsea1 ,plymouth1 ,bow4 ,,plate ,,xv4 ,the chest with bureau fitment on ,plate ,,xiii is1 ,i believe1 a very rare specimen2 it has one small and three large drawers1 and is provided with a pull-out drawer1 fitted to answer the purpose of a bureau4 ,i was passing along a street in a busy town when ,i saw this standing on the pavement4 ,out of curiosity ,i pulled open the right hand top drawer1 and immediately ,i realised what happened1 enquired the price4 8,five pounds2 ,mr4 ,smith is after it40 ,i paid the money without hesitation1 as the chest was in fine preservation4 ,mr4 ,smith came after it about five minutes after it had been fetched away in the cart which ,i had sent after it about five minutes after ,i had walked back1 it having taken me about five minutes to accomplish this2 and so ,mr4 ,smith was left 8in the cart40 ,moral--,go snap on a bargain4 ,,tea ,,caddy ,i must apologise for having omitted to introduce a dear old friend earlier but ,i cannot let you complete this course without making her acquaintance4 ,her well preserved appearance coated with a rosewood overall1 the rings she carries at her sides and her dainty claw feet must claim your notice4 ,she has no hesitation in allowing you at any time to admire her tight fitting combinations which contain her black and green teas4 ,i have lifted her covering to reveal her velvet lining which has stood the wear1 without a tear1 for more years than you will credit her with4 ,with what tender care she has nurtured her ,waterford ,glass ,sugar bowl now raised with her fittings for your inspection4 ,she has never lost sight of her little ,sheffield ,plate spoon which has caddied for her on every occasion when her numerous admirers needed the cup which soothes4 ,taking all her good qualities into consideration we must pardon her desire to have her photo taken too4 7,plate ,,xiv7 ,i appear to have touched on nearly all the ,furniture objects ,i have found it convenient to photograph indoors1 and as ,i am not stocktaking or compiling a catalogue we will pass on to the second course4 ,illustration3 ,dwarf ,chest of ,drawers with ,hepplewhite ,mirror1 #b ft4 #f in4 high1 #b ft4 #c in4 wide4 ,,plate ,,xvi4 ,illustration3 ,oak ,chest with ,oak ,cupboard 7see p4 #ca74 ,,plate ,,xvii4 ,,second ,,course ,old ,pewter ,the ,first ,pint--,progress--,the ,total--,congratulation--,my ,irish ,friend--,sacks ,full--,mistaken ,identity--,a ,warm ,time--,marks--,excise ,stamping--,first ,act1 #ahbf--;,candlesticks--,church ,pewter--,the ,basin--,faked ,pewter--,plates and ,dishes--,irish and ,scotch--,tappit ,hens--,whisky ,stoups--,britannia ,metal ,enquiry--,cleaning--,the ,tinsmith--,the 8,odamifino0--,the ,pewter ,pot--,the ,mystery ,piece4 ,there is an old axiom that 8a man is no good unless he has a hobby10 but some of my friends say ,i have been no use since ,i took up the collection of old pewter4 ,many may wonder what induced a busy man to go to the trouble of getting together a collection like that shown in the photographs4 ,it all arose through my rummaging in a broker's while waiting for a friend who was looking for old books1 and finding a mug which was dirty and black with neglect but inscribed1 8,canteen1 #gjth ,regiment40 ,my curiosity was aroused1 and ,i became the owner4 ,on submitting this to a tinsmith it was pronounced to be old pewter1 and from the time it was polished1 fifteen years ago1 ,i have been on the look out for more4 ,the experience ,i soon gained taught me that the collectors of old pewter mainly belonged to that class with whom money is little object1 and that what they strived to obtain were very old1 unique pieces1 communion vessels and historical specimens1 quite out of the reach of an ordinary householder4 ,this ,i recognised when visiting an exhibition of ,old ,pewter at ,clifford's ,inn ,hall in #aijh4 ,it must be patent to any reader that if those were the only articles of interest that were worth securing for exhibition purposes then the rest of the old stuff occasionally turning up might as well go to the melting pot for solder1 the fate of so many tons in years gone by1 and even now men in ignorance of the antique value of old pewter are daily melting specimens which would be fit to decorate many a shelf4 ,i have given much attention to ,british pewter2 the old associations appeal to my imagination1 and ,i have never been drawn to foreign specimens4 ,if you suffer from a good memory you will recall that ,wolsey said to ,cromwell1 8,take an inventory of all ,i possess40 ,now if he had as many pieces in such variety of any one line as ,i have of old pewter1 then ,wolsey was giving ,cromwell something to do1 and as pewter was knocking about in those days he may have had a fair collection4 ,i cannot pretend to describe many of my pieces1 but ,i present the reader with a selection of photographs1 and ,i hope these will1 to a certain extent1 speak for themselves2 anyway they give a good idea of the effect a large collection of pewter has on the home1 and on the patience of those who attend to the dusting4 ,space has not permitted me actually to show in my rooms or have in the house more than #ejj pieces1 but ,i have1 as opportunity occurred1 kept on improving the specimens on view1 and ,i could best do this by letting the stuff come in whenever ,i heard of any likely lots1 out of which ,i selected what ,i fancied1 getting rid of duplicates1 pieces ,i did not care for1 and sending modern and worthless things to be melted4 ,so far back as #aijh--since when my collection has much improved--,i had the pleasure of exchanging photographs with a great connoisseur of old pewter1 and ,i was very gratified when he wrote to me as follows3 8,there is so much that is worse than valueless in most collections2 so much unnecessary repetition1 that large collections become irritatingly monotonous4 ,although your pieces are often repeated1 the repetition represents always an interesting variation2 and this feature contributes the element of evolution which is always interesting1 and without which no collection is complete or satisfactory4 ,i congratulate you1 therefore1 upon your possessions1 and think you have done remarkably well during the short time4 ,could you let me see the two #8salts' marked on the photo80 ,i sent the two 8salts10 and he remarked1 8,the little one is particularly interesting as it is a reversible one1 the only specimen ,i have seen40 ,that special 8salt0 is the queer looking little thing in the centre of the salt group1 and ,i am giving it more space than its size or appearance seem to warrant4 ,it was first caught sight of in a shop at ,leeds1 where a broker had it filled with black varnish into which he was dipping his brush1 while he was giving an artistic touch-up to some of his stock4 ,the hunter spotted pewter1 and after some little chaff was told he could have it if he would bring something that would do for holding the varnish2 this he bought at a shop not far off1 and the change was soon effected4 ,it is a curious specimen1 for whichever way it stands it will hold the salt1 but in its present position it will hold more than twice as much as when it is placed the other way uppermost4 ,the results of my hunting and advertising not keeping pace with my ambition for more1 ,i secured the assistance of a friend in ,ireland1 who proved to be a friend indeed4 ,he had a dog which was constantly jumping on the sofa and chairs1 so he called him ,zacchus because 8he was everlastingly telling him to come down40 ,have you heard of 8,phil the ,fluter08 ,i had not until ,i heard our friend warble of the wonderful effect the execution of that phenomenal flautist produced upon his hearers1 but ,i imagine the charm attained would be as comparable with that of my ,irish friend as modern is to antique1 while he has a tongue that would 8wile a bird off a tree40 ,like ,father ,o',flynn he'd 8a wonderful way wid him1 the young and ould sinners were wishful to trade wid him40 ,i am not digressing but adorning the tale to point the moral4 ,with his cheery manner he succeeded all the time to such an extent that ,i had to wire him 8,hold6 enough40 ,later when other collectors sought my help to get them ,irish measures he reported 8,too late1 the ,jews have been round and bought up the lot4 ,why did you stop me just when ,i was getting my hand in80 ,explanatory of my reason for cancelling my early instructions1 let me give the following4 ,i was impatient to make a show1 so told him to buy all the pewter plates he came across4 ,a few days after seventy arrived in two filthy dirty sacks1 the state of which corresponded fairly well with the appearance of their contents4 ,he apologised later for the condition of the sacks which 8he had borrowed from a place where they had just skinned a dead horse40 ,some of these plates bore marks and a few others crests1 but as the former owners had a strange custom of polishing the backs with sand1 the marks were mostly rubbed off1 and as they never cleaned the fronts1 my getting that consignment into exhibition form required some trouble and expense1 but as the ,tommy said after getting ,c4,b4 for being absent without leave1 8,it was worth it40 ,referring to this consignment and to the sacks in conversation later he expressed no wonder at my people complaining when they and their contents were dumped in the washhouse1 as he thought they were a trifle high after he found the boots of the hotel1 where he had to spend a night1 had put them in his bedroom6 ,worse than that1 however1 happened the following day4 ,he had left them at one end of the station platform with a porter1 that they might go in the guard's van1 while he went to another part of the train and joined some friends4 ,he had just got seated when the porter who must have followed him with the sacks on a truck1 opened the door and enquired1 8,will your honour have these suit cases in the carriage wid yer80 ,the miscellaneous articles which arrived at frequent intervals were wellnigh confusing1 and it kept me busy finding out what many of them were really for1 but when ,i found a pewter harp with a screw attached ,i was so bewildered ,i wrote and asked him what on earth this harp was out of1 and he settled my mind by replying1 8,i thought it had come down from heaven40 ,on one occasion ,i saw quite a number of pieces in a shop where ,i had now and then found an odd one1 and after making a few purchases enquired the reason for this amazing influx1 when ,i was informed1 8,you see it's this way2 there's a lady who's got a husband who's been collecting pewter until she's got fed up1 so as he's gone off for a few days she asked me to call and take the lot away1 as she is not going to have any more of the dirty stuff about40 ,sequel--they lived happily ever after4 ,for a time ,i adopted the practice of getting men ,i knew to save pewter for me1 and1 as my rambles permitted1 calling on them periodically4 ,on one occasion ,i was looking through the window of a marine store at ---- when ,i noticed something ,i was on the look-out for4 ,i entered1 and enquired1 8,how about the pewter80 ,the old fellow replied3 8,hello1 you've come at last8 ,it must be six months since you asked me to save any bits that came in40 8,oh1 well10 ,i said1 8it's better late than never10 and paid him what he asked4 ,i had never visited the place before4 ,reader1 ,i hope you have never been the victim of mistaken identity4 ,you will recollect the story ,i told of my friend who brought me my first eight-day clock4 ,in talking over reminiscences lately1 ,i asked if he remembered assisting me to get pewter4 ,instantly he replied1 8,remember6 ,i shall remember it to my dying day4 ,i was at ,sneinton 7,nottingham71 and ,i asked a marine store man had he any pewter4 ,he said1 #8,not here1 but ,i have any amount at my ,radford place4' ,now ,radford was out of my way1 but ,i thought ,i would do you a good turn1 so ,i padded there1 about twenty minutes' walk--it was warm4 ,when ,i got there1 ,i was offered about half a hundredweight of zinc that ,i should think had for a few years previously been fastened on a pub counter4 ,of course ,i had to walk back1 and ,i never felt so hot in my life40 ,,marks ,this is an all important subject to some collectors and ,i feel ,i ought to treat it with a consideration bordering on veneration1 but anyone who has had to put up with the queries ,i have been compelled to answer1 which has necessitated my fetching the step-ladder to bring down plates from shelves in order that the marks may be examined1 would have the reverential esteem knocked out of him4 ,on one occasion a lady who had taken a superficial look at my display remarked 8,what a number of pieces you have4 ,do they all bear the ,london mark80 ,i was taken aback as ,i was unaware she was so well up in the subject1 but when she informed me she had begun to collect and had already bought a #es4 half-pint tankard with a cross and crown stamped on the bottom1 which the seller had assured her was the ,london mark1 then ,i understood4 ,when another visitor asked1 8,is it all marked80 ,i replied that ,i collected makes1 not marks1 and that was why ,i had such a variety of pieces1 and that many of my most interesting specimens never bore any4 ,those readers who want solid books of reference on this point will find them among the works issued by authors whose names are well known and to whose remarkable patience in probing into the past ,i am under a debt of gratitude4 ,i must add that from information received a work is coming out which will be quite the last word on old pewter1 its makers1 and marks4 ,i will here repeat a statement which has been printed in almost every book on old pewter since the flood of #affg--viz43 that the early touch plates of makers' marks were destroyed in the ,great ,fire of ,london4 ,with the aid of my old watchmaker's magnifying glass1 #b inches diameter1 cased in horn and hinged on an iron rivet to shut up and carry in the pocket1 ,i have just examined the fine quart tankard stamped 8,js ,dixon0 in three small panels4 ,this was no doubt ,james ,dixon's mark just after he lost his partner ,smith1 who had been with him since #ahji1 and as he took his son into the business in #ahbd1 this mark ,i think1 would only have been used for about twelve months1 and must be very scarce4 ,underneath the maker's name ,i see the first ,excise mark1 8,,wr0 surmounted with a small crown4 ,next ,i find an imperfect impression which looks like 8,,noxo10 but ,i can make no sense out of that2 then ,i discover a stamp 8,crown ,v4,r4 #ajf10 and another with a ,crown between the letters 8,v4,r40 also the figures 8#ej10 these all denoting that at least three inspectors have passed this tankard as up to the standard at different periods of its useful career4 ,now ,i came to the most interesting part to my mind1 of the outward signs visible to the naked eye2 under the word 8,,quart10 which is boldly stamped1 there are the initials 8,t4,b40 and a fine large crown with the date 8#ahbc0 all neatly engraved with some embellishment4 ,the initial letters will no doubt be those of the landlord of a licensed house known as 8,the ,crown10 and the year that in which the tankard was made for him4 ,illustration3 ,mahogany ,corner-,cupboard with ,pewter4 ,,plate ,,xviii4 ,illustration3 ,old ,pewter4 ,,plate ,,xix4 ,,plate ,,xix ,,describing ,,the ,,pewter ,first and ,second ,shelves4 ,note the two ,tea ,infusers in which the tea used to be brewed to replenish the small teapots4 ,the ,teapot on the right of the large ,queen ,anne is stamped 8half-pint10 so will no doubt have been in a refreshment house when tea was scarce4 ,the only makers' names on the ten are ,vickers and ,dixon4 ,third ,shelf4 ,see notes on ,church ,pewter 7page #de74 ,the ,dish by ,allen ,bright in centre is #aa inches across1 the ,flagon is #i inches high4 ,fourth ,shelf4 ,hot-water ,jug4 ,jersey ,cider or ,wine ,measure4 ,two ,wine ,flagons4 ,top ,shelf4 ,see notes on ,tappit ,hens and ,whisky ,stoups 7page #ed74 ,i have several other tankards bearing makers' initials and touch marks1 and ,i know they were made prior to #ahbf1 which ,i notice did not come into the ,inspector's mutilating hand until ,queen ,victoria was on the throne4 ,i have just taken down two small measures of an uncommon shape1 a gill and half-gill4 ,they have had a small raised plate soldered on with raised lettering1 8,imperial ,g4 ,crown ,r4 ,,iv10 under4 ,they were excised once 8,w4,r410 and six times 8,v4,r40 ,i have gone to this trouble to make it clear that the ,excise marks are a lame guide to the age of early pewter1 as the ,weights and ,measures ,act which compelled inspection was passed only in #ahbf4 ,these ,excise marks have been fair game for the antique dealers1 one of whom1 when recommending me to buy some of his tankards and measures1 which bore a 8,liver0 bird as an ,excise stamp told me that ,lady ---- was collecting only pewter which bore the ,liverpool mark4 ,he seemed surprised at my ignorance when ,i told him this was the first time ,i had heard ,liverpool was celebrated for the manufacture of pewter4 ,,pewter ,,candlesticks ,before going to bed ,i will just tell you how ,i got these tall fellows shown on ,plate ,,xx4 ,they were in a greengrocer's shop window1 so ,i thought ,i would buy some apples4 ,i came out with these #aj inch candlesticks as well4 ,no1 ,i did not steal them1 and they were not actually given away1 but that is not what ,i wanted to tell you4 ,they have loose tops and in consequence are extra special4 ,be sure you blow out the light4 ,nearly all pewter tops get melted through the candles being left burning until they get down to the sockets4 ,of the candlesticks in the group ,i wonder which you will like the best4 ,i prefer the #g inch1 as they are oblong shape1 base pillar and top2 the bottoms have the original wood filling and the very old baize to stand on4 ,i found these suddenly in the office of a gentleman who perchance made a lot of money out of me2 anyway1 shortly after this final transaction he retired from business1 and built and endowed a--cinema4 ,one candlestick was broken and the other needed repair1 and as ,i could not clean them in the usual way ,i sent them to a manufacturer who made a good job and gave them a polish without injury to the priceless bottoms4 ,the #d inch pair were kindly sent to me by a lady in ,norway4 ,i bought the #h inch straight pillar pair from a ,jew1 who later wished to buy them back as he had found a new customer who would give #cjs4 for them4 ,as ,i have given you these sizes you can easily guess the heights of the remainder4 ,,church ,,pewter ,church pewter which has been associated with ,church worship now gets more worship than it did in its ,church days4 ,firstly from the dealers1 who seem to be able to get any money they like to ask from some collectors1 who in their turn worship their expensive idols mainly on account of the satisfaction they experience in the knowledge that no other collector can worship at the same shrine4 ,the flagon shown on ,plate ,,xix originally came from ,bearley ,church1 near ,stratford-on-,avon4 ,i was assured by the dealer that 8,shakespeare attended ,bearley ,church40 ,illustration3 ,old ,pewter4 ,,plate ,,xx4 ,,plate ,,xx ,,describing ,,the ,,pewter ,bottom ,shelf4 ,pair ,bedroom ,candlesticks with loose tops and extinguishers4 ,quaint ,teapot4 ,tea ,caddy4 ,chocolate ,pot4 ,two-handled and one-handled ,caudle ,cups4 ,first ,shelf4 ,spill ,bowl inscribed 8#dc0 with crown and bugle1 showing it belonged to the ,leinster ,regiment4 ,seven ,beakers4 ,funnel dated #afih4 ,second ,shelf4 ,tobacco ,jars4 ,the two end ones are of lead1 the one on the left being made by hand4 ,the other is cast1 and has on each side a reproduction of 8,the ,last ,supper0 by ,leonardo ,da ,vinci1 very clearly moulded1 while it is fitted with the old oak bottom fastened with iron studs4 ,third ,shelf4 ,three ,baluster-shaped ,wine ,measures4 ,four ,irish ,measures4 ,five ,measures4 ,fourth and ,top ,shelves4 ,see notes on ,candlesticks 7page #dd74 ,illustration3 ,old ,pewter4 ,,plate ,,xxi4 ,,plate ,,xxi ,,describing ,,the ,,pewter ,bottom ,shelf4 ,spice ,box4 ,spice ,dredger4 ,box ,inkstand4 ,sand ,sprinkler for drying the ink4 ,tray with ,sheffield ,plate ,snuffers4 ,snuff ,holder4 ,scotch ,token ,box4 ,first ,shelf4 ,at either end three ,measures4 ,four ,wine ,cups4 ,three ,measures in centre4 ,second ,shelf4 ,flask2 top screws in and not on--a peculiarity of early ,flasks4 ,wine ,bottle ,stand4 ,pap ,boat and two ,castor ,oil ,spoons 7see notes74 ,rat-tail ,toddy ,ladles4 ,mould for ,clay ,eggs4 ,small ,tea ,caddy4 ,odd-shaped ,flask4 ,third ,shelf4 ,tinder ,box4 ,sandwich ,case4 ,combined ,sandwich ,case and ,flask4 ,saddle ,flask and ,cup4 ,tea ,caddy4 ,snuff ,box4 ,cigar ,case4 ,fourth ,shelf4 ,peppers1 except centre1 which is probably for sugar4 ,fifth ,shelf4 ,double-ended ,egg-cup4 ,egg-cup from ,st4 ,bees ,lighthouse4 ,salts--three-legged1 dated #ahja4 ,glass-lined4 ,reversible4 ,french4 ,three-legged ,sphinx4 ,swan4 ,plain4 ,three-legged early ,elkington4 ,two ,egg-cups4 ,sixth ,shelf4 ,mustards4 ,the three largest have fixed glass lining4 ,top ,shelf4 ,queen ,victoria and ,prince ,albert with date #ahdj4 ,irish ,harp4 ,cream ,jugs and ,sugar ,basin 7,j4 ,vickers74 ,centre ,cream and one adjoining are blue glass lined1 and the fitting of the ,pewter cover denotes careful workmanship4 8,did he read the lessons80 8,of course1 that's why he went40 ,after this ,i felt compelled to buy it4 ,i have some alms-dishes which may have done serious duty and ,i have one which ,i feel sure has never been inside any sacred building4 ,i have also an old two-handled cup and a pair of collecting plates from the old ,runcorn ,baptist ,chapel1 which was erected soon after #ahjj and closed about #ahhj2 a small private set1 paten and chalice and an engraved ,scotch chalice1 and ,i will embellish these notes by relating the extraordinary circumstance which brought the latter into my fold at a time when ,i was yearning for something sacramental4 ,i was in my office and had just put down a pewter snuffers-tray when a traveller for a ,scottish firm was announced4 ,as soon as the interview commenced he opened his bag to get out his samples1 when my eye chanced to catch a glimpse of something almost hidden by a sleeping garment and my instinct spotted pewter4 ,he told his tale and waited for an indication of the impression he had created1 which was conveyed to him in this form4 8,excuse me1 but was that a piece of old pewter ,i caught sight of in your bag80 8,yes1 sir2 are you interested in old pewter8 ,i slept the night in ,warrington and ,i saw this in a shop as ,i was going to the station2 ,i think it is an old rose-bowl1 and ,i shall be pleased to give it to you if you will have it40 ,of course1 ,i couldn't think of such a thing1 but ,i should be glad to exchange with him for a snuffers-tray ,i had on my desk4 ,he assured me that he would be delighted1 and as ,i always endeavour to give pleasure to others ,i fetched the tray4 ,that gentleman secured a contract and a tray and left me with thanks and a seventeenth-century ,scotch chalice4 ,you never know your luck when collecting4 ,but for my awkward conscience ,i should include the basin shown on ,plate ,,vi1 this being sold as 8a vestry piece40 ,it may have been used by the parson1 or for washing the ,communion vessels1 anyway ,i preferred to believe the dealer1 and gave it a conspicuous position1 which the ladies objected to1 and ,i found it relegated to the rear4 ,on seeking an explanation1 and calling it 8a vestry piece10 ,i retired hurt1 so to speak1 by the remark 8,vestry6 ,why my aunt had a thing like that1 in which she made us children wash our hands10 and then1 still so gently o'er me stealing1 memory would bring back the feeling of us youngsters having been caused to do the same very necessary performance in a similar utensil1 with cold water from the pump at the old house at home fifty to sixty years ago4 ,,faked ,,pewter ,i had not been many years a collector before ,i found spurious ,communion cups and ,communion sets were on the market and ,i obtained some very enlightening information1 much of which ,i cannot publish4 ,it was the practice to blacken the new pieces with acid to give them an appearance of age1 and ,i heard of an instance relating to hundredweights of faked pewter1 but ,i am coming straight to the point and the photographs on ,plates ,,xxv and ,,xxvi will corroborate my statement4 ,i was further informed that they were making deep dishes out of old bedpans1 preserving the maker's mark on the bottom4 ,i had had a bedpan hidden away in the stable loft for some time1 and ,i decided to prove how far this information was correct4 ,the pan had come from ,ireland with a box full of 8gatherings10 and ,i had almost decided to sell it to be melted4 ,i eventually wrote to a firm of pewter manufacturers explaining the conversion ,i wished to have effected1 and they informed me they would do the job if ,i would say whether ,i wanted a deep dish or a shallow one and what width of rim ,i desired4 ,in about three weeks after ,i had sent them the bedpan ,i received the fine deep 7alms7 dish bearing the maker's name and mark--,joseph ,austen--well preserved1 proving the article was made in ,cork over #ajj years ago4 ,it looks very well indeed and ,i have never had its virtue questioned2 in fact when ,i have told visitors they have been greatly astonished1 while a few have been hard to convince4 ,now you understand my remark that ,i had one 8alms dish0 that had never been inside a sacred edifice4 ,when the ,pewterer's done his pewtering1 ,and his work is quite au fait3 ,when his making's turned to faking1 ,and the marks are left ,o4,k42 ,the collector sees1 and then agrees1 ,the pewter must be old4 ,now doubts arise1 before his eyes1 ,he fears that he's been sold4 ,,plates ,,and ,,dishes ,these under the eye of the camera are more or less alike1 especially more--then let it suffice the reader to learn that ,i have forty small and thirty large of various sizes displayed wherever a likely space is available without giving a too crowded appearance4 ,they nearly all bear makers' marks or owners' crests or initials1 or evidence that they have been put to good use at some time or other4 ,i have been told that when these big chaps were in vogue the various conglomerations forming the meal were heaped together and formed a goodly pile1 so there is no doubt of the authenticity of the story of the ,scottish farmer with a prodigious appetite at a ,rent ,dinner who when they wanted to take away his plate said 8,bide awee for ,i hae just found a doo 7pigeon7 in the reddin o' ma plate40 ,as regards the rims1 while ,i know some enthusiastic collectors could talk for a week on this feature1 which to the uneducated suggests distinction without a difference1 ,i will not labour the point4 ,i saw some very bright #i inch plates in ,london recently with ornamental rims1 and out of curiosity enquired the price4 ,i was told #bes4 each1 but the information that they were ,dutch was not vouchsafed4 ,probably my 8pride of the paddock0 plate is one on ,plate ,,xix 7facing p4 #dc74 ,it has a raised bead running round the centre of the rim1 is thought to be early eighteenth century1 and was made by ,allen ,bright1 who has since retired from business4 ,judging by its shape it should pass muster as a genuine alms dish2 though it may have been constructed to hold pennies in the kirk1 ,i think it just as likely it held puddings in the kitchen--a thought inspired by the old knife-cuts on the bottom4 ,i have referred to the ,irish plates being scoured on the back1 and wiped on the front4 ,apropos of this remark ,i have a set of eight with the crest of a sea-horse on the rim2 the marks are all obliterated1 with the exception of the word 8,jonas10 and by the lettering ,i was able to identify it as made by ,jonas ,durand about #affj4 ,i also have three plates with the crest which represents the red hand of ,ulster1 and ,i believe they would originally be the property of an old ,derbyshire family that has an estate in ,ireland4 ,i have one very rare plate inasmuch as it bears on its surface ten rows of tap marks made with a round-headed hammer4 ,the number in each circle lessens until they get down to seven1 which surround the centre tap4 ,this plate bears the initials and touch impression of the maker1 which are undecipherable1 but that does not worry me4 ,i would far rather have the uncommon surface and indistinct marks than plain marks and a smooth surface4 ,the strange thing is that if anyone wants a plate to1 perhaps1 stand a pot on1 and there is no pottery one handy1 or the artistic eye thinks a certain pot or flower would go better with a pewter than with a coloured pottery plate1 they invariably lift this one off the dresser shelf1 when any of the others would do equally well4 ,this must stop1 as ,i find the treatment does not improve its peculiar appearance4 ,on the first shelf of the oak dresser 7,plate ,,vi7 there are four ,scotch plates made by ,william ,hunter1 of ,edinburgh1 #agdi-aggc4 ,the fronts must always have been well polished1 for they shine like silver now4 ,the backs have been kept clean1 though not scoured1 as the maker's name and touchmarks are quite distinct4 ,one pair were called 8meatplates0 and the other 8pudding0 or 8porridge plates40 ,the latter are deep and would pass for collecting-plates among church pewter in some hands4 ,my obtaining possession of these from the shelves of a farm kitchen in ,scotland is an illustration of the proverb that kissing goes by favour4 ,i wish ,i could obtain more in the same very agreeable manner4 ,as evidence of the age of the plates and dishes ,i give the following list of makers' names1 and the approximate dates when they were making these things hum4 ,for most of my records ,i have searched my books of reference1 and when these have failed me ,i have appealed to ,mr4 ,h4 ,h4 ,cotterell1 a great authority on marks1 who has very kindly furnished me with the information required whenever possible4 ,allen ,bright #agej ,j4 ,baskervile #afie ,r4 ,chambers ,tudor ,rose ,early #agth century ,t4 ,compton #ahjg ,thorne1 ,london ,george ,seymour #agfh ,brown #agth century ,g4 ,smith #afgf ,g4 ,smith #agij ,jonas ,durand #afeh ,william ,hunter #agej ,john ,french #afhg ,charles ,clarke 7,irish7 #agij ,john ,duncomb #agcj ,i must mention a pair of very rare plates of special shape with tooled borders4 ,two holes are drilled in each1 and it is probably due to the fact that some vandal has scratched the name 8,lizzie0 on them that they have not been put to the use for which they were intended1 namely1 to embellish the drop handles of an old-time coffin4 ,when an obliging broker told me he had a couple of plates he had saved for me1 and then produced these ghastly things1 ,i was rendered mute4 ,,tappit ,,hens 7,plate ,,xix1 facing p4 #dc74 8,paint ,scotland greetin owre her thrissle2 ,her mutchkin-stoup as toom's a whissle40 ,,burns4 ,well she may with whisky at half a guinea a bottle6 ,when we were in ,barmouth we stayed at the ,cors-y-gedll ,hotel1 and when ,i asked the landlord1 who up to that point had been the personification of geniality1 8,what is the meaning of ,cors-y-gedll80 he blurted out1 8,nobody knows2 everybody asks me that question10 and left me abruptly4 ,i was not a collector of old pewter in those days1 but ,i can now fully appreciate the cause of his irritability1 for the number of times ,i have been asked1 8,what is the meaning of #8,tappit ,hens'80 leaves me tired4 ,i once suggested that the name may have originated because they tappited to see if it was empty or not1 only to be further puzzled by the query 8,but why hen80 and ,i could only suggest that 8,it cackled whenever it laid an egg10 which was condemned as an inane joke1 which if ,i had any conceit of myself as a humorist ,i should never repeat4 ,having read so much about ,tappit ,hens1 ,i have known all about the history a long time ago1 and ,i have forgotten most of it4 ,the name for a ,scottish pint measure of a certain shape was 8,tappit ,hen10 which held two quarts 7,imperial74 ,a 8,chopin0 held a quart and a 8,mutchkin0 an ,imperial pint4 ,my photograph shows a pair of ,tappit ,hens and a ,chopin4 ,after ,tappit ,hens came the lidded whisky stoups which were in use in ,scotland from #ahbf to about #ahgj1 when an ,act was passed to do away with profiteering by short measure1 and so the use of lids was prohibited4 ,as inspired individuals began to buy up the original ,tappit ,hens the supply gave out1 so the dealers elevated the whisky stoups to the designation of the former4 ,i do not exaggerate1 for ,i have seen ,tappit ,hens advertised1 and had them sent on approval1 only to find the much less valued stoup1 or pot-bellied measures as they were often called4 ,now ,i suppose they are getting done up1 and that any old thing with a lid on is a ,tappit ,hen4 ,anyway1 ,i was told by a gentleman1 whose knowledge and experience of his profession are much greater than they can be of ,scottish pewter1 that he had just bought a ,french ,tappit ,hen6 ,in all my travels ,i have only been offered the genuine article once1 and that was in ,glasgow some years back1 and as ,i already had two of the same size ,i did not buy1 although it would have been a good investment at the price at which ,i could then have purchased it4 ,the three imposing ,tappit ,hen shaped measures ,i have bear on the lids the imprints of the initials of a fine family1 whose old grey stone hall still stands in its lonely but grand surroundings on the ,pentland ,hills1 of which ,i am constantly reminded by the kindness of a descendant1 who placed these treasures in my hands4 ,i am not a statistician1 but ,i dare hazard an opinion that there are ten or may be twenty times more 8,tappit ,hens0 in existence to-day than ever were made4 ,it is now time ,i tapped ,burns again3 8,come1 bring the tither mutchkin in1 ,and here's1 for a conclusion40 ,,britannia ,,metal ,this name puts me on my mettle1 and as the uncertainty of what is the difference between pewter and ,britannia metal has not to my knowledge been clearly explained ,i intend to deal with this question somewhat didactically4 ,i was so struck with the effect of turning my #gjth ,regiment pint pot from a dirty disused mug into a pleasurable thing that ,i visited all likely shops for some few miles round and bought up everything ,i thought and was told was old pewter1 and ,i soon had more than would fill a corner cupboard1 which ,i had lined with blue velvet to show it off4 ,then ,i bought 8,marks on ,old ,pewter10 by ,w4 ,redman1 which was the only book bearing on the subject ,i could hear of1 and in it ,i read3 8,the manufacture of goods in ,britannia 7white metal7 was an important #ahth century addition to the ,sheffield industries4 ,whether ,james ,dixon or ,james ,vickers commenced first to make this kind of ware we are not able to say4 ,it is said that ,james ,vickers bought for five shillings from a sick man whom he happened to be visiting a recipe for making white metal4 ,the experiment turned out a great success1 and for years both these firms were kept busy making all kinds of articles of what was called ,britannia metal4 ,now these old articles are often called pewter1 which is a mistake2 neither of these firms made any pewter ware4 ,alloy3 #hj per cent4 tin1 #aj per cent4 antimony1 and a little copper40 ,this was rather a blow1 as some of my purchases were stamped 8,britannia ,metal0 and a few others 8,b4,m4,e4,p410 although the electro-plate was mostly worn off1 giving the things a pewter-like look4 ,next ,i obtained a short history of the firm of ,james ,dixon and ,sons1 and found they did make pewter in their early days4 ,i also learned from a history of ,sheffield in the #ahth ,century that ,vickers started making money and ,britannia metal at the end of that period1 so this stuff seemed ancient enough4 ,i now had the pleasure of obtaining 8,old ,pewter10 by ,malcolm ,bell1 and found among the illustrations articles of which ,i had duplicates1 one of which was a pepper-pot1 and this reminds me that when ,i went in for this and inquired the price1 and was told fourpence1 ,i repeated the word 8fourpence60 which immediately drew the rejoinder 8,yes1 fourpence1 it's half full of pepper40 ,from the trouble ,i had in getting out that solid pepper1 ,i rather think the pewter must have been built round it4 ,i opened a correspondence with ,mr4 ,bell1 and he most courteously and kindly gave me every assistance4 ,in one of his letters he wrote3 8,i must confess that for my own part ,i could not pretend to draw any hard and fast line between pewter and ,britannia metal1 for though one can tell the difference between the extreme types by the eye the varieties merge so gradually into each other that the boundary is indefinable4 ,in fact1 hard metal pewter with #if parts tin1 #h of antimony1 and #b of copper is practically identical with the ,britannia metal containing #ib parts of tin1 #h of antimony1 and #b of copper10 which was what ,i expected4 ,consequently ,i have among my lot many pieces which may have been sold as ,britannia metal in the old days1 but ,i would defy anyone to pick them out and prove them not to be pewter4 ,i asked ,mr4 ,redman to come over and see me1 and he readily did so4 ,after he had gone1 and from remarks he had made1 ,i gathered he had been more impressed by the kindness of my partner than with the quality of some of my pewter4 ,the result of this interview was that ,i never refused anything in the pewter line of mature age1 and came to the conclusion that the difference in the names was a clever move of cute business men to enable them to charge something extra for their wares which were made of somewhat harder metal than was being generally used at the time4 ,i have frequently come across early plates and tankards that differed materially in their hardness4 ,,miscellaneous ,,pieces ,,pap-,,boat4 ,on shelf #c1 ,plate ,,xxi 7facing p4 #dg71 ,i show a specimen of rarity4 ,pap-boats would be as common as babies at one time4 ,this one was bought at ,lytham1 and was introduced to me as a pig feeder4 ,it is #d inches long4 ,,castor-,,oil ,,spoons4 ,what a fuss they made about taking a dose of castor oil1 or had they not conceived the idea of disguising it between other liquids8 ,the manipulation of such a spoon was a tricky job1 for after getting it into the mouth a twist would be needed to bring the lid on to the tongue1 the lid would partly drop open and the castor-oil would then flow gently down the patient's throat1 provided of course there was no resistance4 ,this forcible feeding was of everyday occurrence4 ,the larger of the spoons is about seventy years old1 and the smaller about ninety years4 ,there are eighty-five specimens on ,plate ,,xxi1 and ,i believe that the reader1 with the aid of a magnifying glass1 will be able to form a very good idea of each piece4 ,the photographing of the groups generally entailed quite a lot of work1 and some anxiety1 for as ,i do not develop myself1 or1 rather1 as ,i do not do my own developing1 ,i had put all the things back in their places before ,i knew if the negatives were right4 ,fortunately it turned out all the exposures had been correctly timed1 which was more than ,i anticipated with the varying and often poor ,december light4 ,,the 8,,odamifino0 7,plate ,,xxvi1 facing p4 #gd474 ,this was picked up quite recently by a keen collector of rags and bones and other relics whose glory has departed4 ,it was snapped out of his day's doings by a flourishing dealer in anything that blew into his yard1 and it was only by my going over the top of about #aj1jjj rabbit skins1 the age of which could be more accurately guessed by their odour than by their sealskin-like appearance1 that ,i caught sight of it4 ,then ensued a discussion as to the part this pewter had played in the past4 ,the ,r and ,b collector called it a 8,funniosity10 the skin specialist diagnosed it as a 8,cream jug10 while a third gentleman 7who dare not take on any other job than spirit testing while he is drawing out-of-work pay7 said without hesitation1 but not very distinctly1 8,odamifino10 with a pronounced emphasis on the second syllable4 ,when ,i suggested it might be a barber's shaving-pot ,i was immediately ruled out of that court1 as 8,barbers never used anything made of pewter40 ,now if any collector can inform me when 8,odamifinos0 were in vogue1 and why they came into existence1 ,i shall be obliged1 and in the meantime ,i will consider the cleaning1 for is not cleanliness akin to collectingness8 ,at present it has hardly an appearance suitable to my cabinet of rarities1 while its high-sounding designation suggests that as its proper environment1 and yet ,i have in mind the quip of that inveterate humorist ,froude1 8,a thing of beauty is a joy for ever10 muttered at the ,annual ,meeting of the ,peace ,congress1 when ,carlyle chipped in with a chuckle1 8,rough hew them as we will10 to be capped by that infernal joker ,dante with the remark1 8,you cannot paint the lily whiter40 ,at this point ,mr4 ,chairman ,darwin brought back the members to their customary somnolence with the admonition3 8,come1 gentlemen1 please1 don't ape the silly goat4 ,the next subject for consideration is #8,shaving--should each customer have fresh water8'0 ,,cleaning ,this was a great source of trouble to me and to those associated with my home life1 and it was not until ,i had strained their patience almost to the separation point that ,i was informed3 8,you really must make some arrangement for getting the pewter cleaned elsewhere1 as the maids have given warning they cannot put up with the master messing up the kitchen any longer4 ,half the saucepans are ruined1 as of course they could not be used after having that filthy stuff in them40 ,i started boiling corroded pieces and letting them soak in washing soda all night1 but found this made no impression on those which had been most neglected1 while some came bright after a good scouring with hot water and ,brookes's soap1 being later polished with methylated spirit and plate powder4 ,i may here advise the reader that the latter treatment is all ,i now find necessary to furbish up my stock and keep it presentable4 ,i will not dwell further on my early difficulties1 but relate how they were overcome4 ,at the time ,i was almost overwhelmed with putrid plates1 dishes1 and other things ,i had received ,mr4 ,redman came to my rescue with the following recipe3 8#b oz4 rock lime1 #b oz4 caustic soda1 #f oz4 common salt1 #h oz4 common soda1 dissolve in #c quarts of water in a saucepan on the fire4 ,when dissolved pour into a bowl1 and when cold add eight quarts of cold water4 ,steep as long as necessary as much pewter as the liquid will cover1 and the bath can be used until the liquor has lost its nature40 ,i had a mixture made in a bath and let the things lie in this until the corrosion was easily wiped off1 and ,i entrusted this job to a man who had been used to cleaning machinery and whose practical knowledge and serviceable hands made him far more competent than his employer4 ,i never had the surface of the pewter injured in any way with the strong solution1 and so long as the rubbing with the coarse flannel and ,brookes's soap was done the way of the grain--that is1 circular or round and round--no scratching was apparent4 ,when ,i say ,i have dealt with no fewer than #a1dej pieces the reader may gather that the trouble and expense has not been trifling4 ,i hope this information in regard to cleaning may be of value to many amateurs1 to whom ,i wish good luck4 ,in case some curious minds may wonder how ,i account for the difference between the total given and the #ejj pieces ,i stated ,i now have ,i do not mind disclosing that ,i sent a lot of it to a friend at ,new ,york who was anxious to exhibit his old family plate1 and ,i learnt when he was last over that as the brightness ,i had been at such pains to secure militated1 in his opinion1 against the appearance of antiquity he had abstained from further cleaning1 and that the pewter was now looking quite old4 ,i believe ,i must have earned that friend's undying gratitude1 for did ,i not provide him with his great-great-grandfather's clock1 and further spared him and shipped out an early dated ,broadwood grand piano1 which ,i had previously converted into a dressing-table1 and which he has since discovered is the identical instrument that his great-great-grandmother used for the five-finger exercise8 ,,the ,,tinsmith ,i have mentioned that on some occasions ,i found it necessary to send pewter to the manufacturers1 but ,i have scores of pieces which only required slight repairs--soldering1 straightening and reshaping--such as an accomplished tinsmith could manage4 ,fortunately ,i found the man of the hour1 day1 month1 and year1 and not far off1 and ,i cannot say how much time ,i spent in his workshop4 ,he was always very busy1 and if ,i sent him anything to do ,i never knew when ,i should see it again1 so ,i had to resort to taking it myself and waiting until it was finished1 otherwise it would be half done and then laid aside while he went out to pick a lock1 or put down while he mended a kettle or something that was most urgently required4 ,really the way he handled my pewter was terribly fascinating1 making pieces so hot at times and putting them so close to his fire that ,i positively trembled for fear they would be ruined altogether1 but he never made a mistake4 ,his favourite expression was1 8,you understand me10 so the reader will appreciate that these three words kept coming into his conversation in the most unexpected places4 8,it was a good job--you understand me--that church was burnt out4 ,i got all the organ pipes2 ,i'm using some of them in this solder--you understand me--about #ah cwt4 of them altogether40 ,i took him a big jug to have the handle soldered not long ago4 ,i saw him start it and said ,i would call on my way back from the bank4 ,i did so and found the job only partly done4 ,by way of explanation he said3 8,mr4 ,a4 has been in about a freeze--you understand me40 8,no1 ,i'm afraid ,i don't4 ,what is a freeze80 8,a refrigerator for milk40 8,oh1 will you be much longer80 ,in the course of my many entertaining interviews ,i learnt that he first went into a shop when he was aged #h1 in the year #ahdg4 ,tinsmiths then used to fix all gaspipes1 and ,i have found out since that ,westminster ,bridge was first illuminated with gas in #ahac4 ,but to go back to my confrre4 ,he did not stop in the shop long1 as he was sent to school for about twelve months4 ,the school was in a cellar1 with forms round1 on which there was always a birch-rod handy1 and as the schoolmaster had been a soldier he knew how to use it1 and my friend added3 8,you understand me--there were no inspectors in those days40 ,it was on the floor of this workshop that ,i literally 8picked up0 the ,james ,dixon quart tankard which ,i described under ,marks4 ,it lay amongst other scrap pewter in a dark corner1 ready for going into the melting-pot1 when ,i kicked against it and so prolonged its life4 ,it is now #if4 ,i am afraid my tinsmith is no respecter of old age1 for he is at the time ,i write this only eighty1 and when ,i congratulated him upon his steady hand and wonderful eyesight he smiled and said3 8,my mother was ninety-one1 and she didn't know what spectacles meant40 ,more power to his elbow4 ,illustration3 ,pewter ,snuff ,boxes4 ,,plate ,,xxii4 ,illustration3 ,pewter ,pots 7,all inscribed except the top row74 ,,plate ,,xxiii4 ,,conclusion ,i have little more to say on the subject of old pewter generally1 as the ,tavern ,measures are given an article on their own4 ,of course1 ,i have left the photographs to do most of the talking1 and ,i hope they have risen equal to the occasion4 ,next to the fascination of collecting comes the pleasure of exhibiting to an appreciative audience1 and this brings to mind a delightful evening when a young witty ,canadian went through my show1 and at the conclusion1 in the navest manner possible1 said3 8,i have asked you a great many questions1 sir1 but as ,i am undecided in my mind ,i thought before ,i left ,i had better enquire1 #8does the pewter go with your daughter8'0 ,,the ,,pewter ,,pot ,half a century ago ,winchester ,cathedral in the winter was decidedly cold1 and on occasions some of those small choir boys1 who found little warmth and comfort from their white linen surplices1 now and then collapsed during the services4 ,candles may have answered the purpose of providing all the illumination required1 but they were hardly a flaming success for heating purposes4 ,in the records of the deliberation of the ,dean and ,chapter at that time there would be a resolution to pay ,mr4 ,edward ,sheppard1 of the ,bishop's ,palace1 a certain sum to provide each of the youthful songsters entrusted to his care with a pot of porter each day with their dinners4 ,which denotes there was no ,pussyfoot in that ,chapter4 ,mr4 ,sheppard1 whose name ,i use with all respect1 was most particular as to his pupils' cleanliness1 and every morning held a hand and neck inspection in the long hall by the entrance door4 ,to illustrate that he had a mind for the internal as well as the external frames which filed past him he once a week1 being provided with a bowl of brimstone and treacle1 administered a tablespoonful to each boy4 ,if ,mr4 ,sheppard had given the same scrutiny to the big can in which the porter was drawn from the barrel there would have been no heel taps in our pewter pots1 but as the can was rarely washed out1 and the porter left from one day was frothed up when being filled the next1 the result1 so far as benefit to the boys was concerned1 must have been flat1 stale1 and unprofitable4 ,no writer refers oftener to the pewter pot than does ,charles ,dickens1 and he might have said of me1 as he did of ,master ,micawber1 8,he was brought up to the ,church40 ,in the book of the chronicles of ,pickwick the reader can easily find the text suitable for my discourse4 ,that great and good man with his host of friends used the pewter pot with such effect that it would be a national scandal to allow it to be relegated to the lumber shop4 ,old ,pickwick and old pewter are synonymous1 and so let us keep his memory alive by preserving the main medium of his hospitable and generous nature4 ,time is changing everything so ruthlessly that unless some of us have a care the passing of the pewter pot will become an absolute fact4 ,to guard against such a calamity1 and to preserve models of a commodity which played so important a part in the episodes that made life in ,england all the brighter for its presence in past centuries1 ,i have gathered together a representative array of old pewter pots1 many bearing quaint inscriptions1 which1 if they could speak for themselves1 would enable me to treat you to a chapter replete with true stories of adventure1 love1 crime1 deeds of chivalry1 and scenes of woe which no imagination could evolve4 ,what of the 8#gjth ,regiment0 cup8 ,what stirring episodes has that been through8--among others1 probably the ,afghan ,war of #ahdj4 ,i do know that the 8,shipwrights' ,arms'1 ,limehouse ,hole10 pint took part in1 and survived1 the ,indian ,mutiny bivouacs and battlefields1 as it was given by the then landlord to a soldier just before leaving home4 ,i specially prize this2 it has written on the front before the address the name1 8,d4 ,saul10 alongside which is the toper's big initial1 8,k10 and the number of his peg or hook on which it hung1 8#ee10 on the bottom4 ,this number would be seen when looked up at from the floor4 ,if ,pickwick has us in hand1 we shun the battle and resort to the bottle1 so let us look in at the 8,windmill1 ,dartford10 and see what manner of men were there4 ,surely not smugglers on the banks of the ,thames8 ,of about the same period1 what was the 8,wellington1 ,shepherd's ,bush10 like8 ,rather a swagger inn1 probably1 judging by the beaded pattern of the mug1 which was supplied or made by 8,w4 ,r4 ,loftus1 #adf1 ,oxford ,street10 who has been1 and will be1 a long time dead4 ,at the 8,feathers0 at ,chiswick1 and 8,hope10 ,islington1 they must have had quite high-class callers1 or why the lip on the tankards unless it were to pour the contents into beakers8 ,the customers at all inns were so diversified in character that ,i see no reason why the same measure should not have done for the post-boy on his frequent calls1 for the parish priest on duty bent1 or later by the highwayman in a hurry1 if they held it in the left hand and turned the lip of the pot skywards4 ,from ,london to the 8,blackburn ,arms10 ,hale1 situated on the ,mersey1 an old-time village1 and home of the ,ireland ,blackburne family1 was a long journey by road in those days1 and the pewter pot would be in great request4 ,i warrant this particular one was handed back many a time with a determination to 8,have another1 and dom the expense40 ,when ,i came across the pint inscribed 8,post ,office ,hotel1 ,church ,street1 ,soho10 ,i wrote to a ,fleet ,street friend asking him to find out a likely date for it1 and after making enquiries he reported he could find neither the hotel nor ,church ,street1 and that the oldest man he had seen in ,soho 7a sexton1 ,i think7 could tell him nothing about either4 ,the same friend was here one night1 and ,i left him looking at these pewter pots4 ,i heard a ,fleet ,street exclamation of surprise1 and when ,i enquired the reason he held up the 8,baker's ,arms'1 ,waltham ,abbey10 pint1 saying1 8,why1 ,i was born close to the ,baker's ,arms40 ,the 8,post ,office ,hotel0 brings the post-boy of old to my mind1 and ,i turn to the oldest book ,i possess1 given to me by my father1 in which he wrote my name in #ahfa4 8,the ,sporting ,scrap ,book10 by ,henry ,alken1 containing fifty plates1 designed and engraved by himself1 published by ,thomas ,mc,lean1 #bf1 ,haymarket1 #ahbd4 ,i have always treasured this book1 and the coloured prints are as good to-day as ever4 ,i was wondering how often the pewter pot appeared in ,alken's drawings1 and ,i find twice4 ,the first is entitled 8,the ,post-,boy10 who with a pair of harnessed horses has just called for drinks for himself and his horses1 and no sooner has he got his than he has the pot to his lips4 ,the shape is similar to the 8,post ,office ,hotel0 pint1 but probably the 8,post-,boy0 needed a quart1 for the pewter pot is as tall as his pot hat4 ,in the second picture ,alken shows a pewter pot with almost as much 8frill0 on the top as there is round the cap of the woman who holds it1 and this one is also the same shape1 which confirms my impression that the 8,post ,office ,hotel0 pint pot is about #ajj years old4 ,i now turn my attention from the handy pints to the capacious quart pots1 just the things to wash down a breakfast with2 pause and conjecture what 8lovely0 thirsts they must have had6 ,it was quite the custom to put the landlord's monogram on the front1 and the name of the tavern on the bottom of the mugs2 there again is a theme for reflection4 ,as a reason1 ,i think we may assume there were kleptomaniacs1 souvenir hunters1 and sneak thieves in the far gone times1 just as there are to-day1 and by marking in this way it would limit the loss to the latter class1 who would sell the things for old metal4 ,these big mugs would well set off a table on which were pewter plates anything from nine to twenty inches in diameter4 ,although ,i have studied all the books written on old pewter1 ,i have failed to find that it was always a case of 8,one man1 one quart10 and am forced to the conclusion that there may have been odd occasions when more than one shared4 ,to get back to the pots illustrated1 does any living man know where the 8,baptist ,head10 ,high ,holborn1 stood8 ,it is perhaps typical of the country that the largest and heaviest quart comes from ,ireland1 and from the battered condition it was in when ,i got it1 ,i surmised it had often been used to add weight to an argument4 ,my eye now wanders to the fine old loving cup made by ,john ,edwards about #agej4 ,this has a glass bottom to prove to all users how clear were its contents1 and ,i wonder to what extent it has been used at family gatherings for weddings1 christenings1 and buryings1 and the very important part it has played in making them all enjoyable4 ,glance at that copious lidded jug1 and mulled ale at once suggests itself2 can you not hear the horn that gives warning of the stage coach1 the bustle at the 8,queen's ,hotel0 7called after ,mary1 ,elizabeth1 or ,anne1 probably71 or imagine the anxiety of the passengers to test the brew1 and how quickly the jug would be emptied on a cold journey1 while on warmer days the flat-bottomed jug1 full to the brim with foaming beer1 would be equally welcome8 ,some of the pots are fitted with a strainer at the lip1 and this would be most useful in the period of poor lighting and typical practical joking by keeping hops1 flies1 wasps1 cockroaches1 or perhaps an odd mouse1 out of the mouth of the customer using the mug4 ,it would also be requisite to use the funnel when filling passengers' flasks1 most travellers were no doubt provided with the latter of no mean size4 ,the funnel shown is dated #afih1 while a particular flask ,i illustrate is a fine specimen2 probably its original owner was a man of grit1 for roughly engraved on one end is 8,,pro ,,daos ,,et ,,rege10 a fitting toast when the custom was 8,the ,passing of the ,pewter ,pot40 ,illustration3 ,pewter ,pots4 ,lidded ,tankards with makers' initials 8,j4 ,c40 7#aghj71 8,y4 ,b410 8,j4 ,m40 7#ahbe71 8,t4 ,p40 7#agaj71 8,h4 ,i40 7#afij71 8,t4 ,l410 8,t ,c40 7#agge7 ,,plate ,,xxiv4 ,illustration3 ,front and ,back of ,faked 8,alms-,dish40 ,,plate ,,xxv4 ,you will1 ,i hope1 be interested in a study of the variety of shapes and handles on the photographs1 but you need to handle these old things to realise their fascination2 even if they bear no inscription or maker's mark1 some of the early ,excise marks1 8,g4,r40 or 8,w4,r40 with various town crests1 are worth looking at4 ,could you examine the bottoms you would find red cut glass1 plain glass 7,waterford possibly71 wood and pewter1 double and single pewter bottoms1 some with holes in their bottoms through age and ill usage1 while one has no bottom at all1 so you can't knock the bottoms out of that4 ,one of the quart measures bears the initials and touch mark of ,george ,bagshaw1 who was enrolled on the list of the ,freemen of the ,pewterers ,company in #ahbf2 it is boldly stamped with a crown1 and the words 8,imperial ,standard0 with a small stamp 8,crown ,w4,r40 with 8,w4,w40 under4 ,i am not sure what 8,w4,w40 stands for1 but believe it will be the initials of the ,excise ,inspector1 and that this measure would be the ,imperial standard whereby the quart measures in a certain locality were tested4 ,the list of inscriptions given should not fail to entertain2 some are quaint and there may be one or two that a reader will recall1 but ,i imagine that most of the addresses have ceased to exist4 ,this remark does not apply to the ,old ,whyte ,harte ,hotel at ,wisbeach 7now spelt ,wisbech71 for that is the present day ,izaac ,walton ,association ,house4 ,my set of measures was made by ,grimes1 of ,london1 for ,j4 ,hill1 the landlord in #ahhj4 ,,inscriptions4 ,quart ,t4 ,b41 ,crown4 ,lidded ,jug ,w4 ,t4 ,s41 ,queen's ,hotel4 ,quart1 ,lipped ,g4 ,bamden4 ,wenlock ,brewery ,tap4 ,pint 0 ,sportsman4 ,beaker ,h4 ,mattock1 ,malt ,shovel1 ,dartford4 ,pint ,e4 ,h4 ,bakers' ,arms1 ,waltham ,abbey4 0 ,w4 ,bullin1 ,bears ,paw ,inn4 ,quart ,a4 ,johnston1 ,baptist ,head1 ,high ,holborn4 ,pint ,g4 ,c4 ,collier1 ,catherine ,wheel1 near ,brentford4 0 ,d4 ,saul1 ,shipwrights ,arms1 ,limehouse ,hole4 ,lipped ,pint ,hope1 ,islington4 ,pint ,canteen1 #gjth ,regt4 0 ,j4 ,e4 ,b41 ,the ,feathers1 ,chiswick4 ,quart1 ,lipped ,g4 ,thompson1 ,tipperary4 0 ,j4 ,c4 ,d41 ,montague ,arms1 ,peckham4 ,pint ,c4 ,m4--,c4 ,mannerson1 ,windmill1 ,dartford4 0 ,lipped ,j4 ,t4 ,r41 ,duke's ,head1 ,leman ,st41 ,southwark4 ,pint ,post ,office ,hotel1 ,church ,st41 ,soho4 0 ,blackburn ,arms4 0 ,g4 ,m4 ,wellington1 ,shepherds ,bush4 0 ,g4 ,a4 ,y41 ,king's ,arms1 ,woolwich4 0 ,john ,machin1 ,bimm4 ,tavern4 0 ,a4 ,b41 ,black ,lion1 ,kingston4 0 ,w4 ,e41 ,flying ,scud1 ,sutton ,st41 ,comml4 ,rd4 0 ,nichols1 ,court ,sampson1 ,thomas ,st4 0 ,robt4 ,moor1 ,cockermouth in ,cumberland4 0 ,t4 ,forman1 #ce1 ,brompton ,rd4 ,quart1 ,lipped ,courtenay ,arms1 ,starcross4 ,pint ,barclay ,perkins ,co4 ,j4 ,nolan4 ,quart ,j4 ,hill1 ,white ,hart ,hotel ,wisbeach4 ,the collection continues to increase1 and ,i have recently acquired a quart1 mark 8,s4,c40 inscribed 8,longden ,white1 ,ewell1 #ahbj40 ,another1 which belonged to ,w4 ,james1 ,welney1 marked four lions--a lipped quart by ,geradin ,watson1 stamped 8,g4,r40 #ahbf1 and lastly a quart pot-bellied measure by ,w4 ,nettleford1 early #aith century1 being the only measure of this shape which ,i have seen fitted with a lip4 ,i must now end this potty discourse1 and on pondering for a fitting quotation wherewith to conclude1 ,i can think of none more suitable than one which ,i trow good ,king ,hal is not likely to have used when ruminating on his bunch of wives--8,let 'em all come40 ,,the ,,mystery ,,piece 7,see ,plate ,,xxvii1 facing p4 #ge74 ,i have given this title to the photograph ,i recently had taken for various reasons which ,i will now particularise4 ,most books contain a mystery of some kind and the creation in many instances must cause the author much anxious thought1 but in my case the mystery is real up to the time of writing2 possibly soon after this appears in print the mystery will be explained by some kind correspondent who possesses a similar piece4 ,in the first place1 ,i know not its proper name1 so must call it for the time being 8the piece40 ,where ,i obtained it will remain a mystery to the reader1 but how ,i happened to become its possessor ,i will readily relate1 and in doing so ,i confirm my previous statement that you never know your luck when collecting4 ,in the early part of #aiai business called me to ,london on several occasions1 and as many readers will have had unpleasant experiences of the hotel accommodation there at that time they will not be surprised to hear that ,i made arrangements with friends who live in a fine old town umpteen miles from the ,city to take me in4 ,on a visit in ,june ,i was walking to the station to catch the morning train to take me to ,london when ,i passed a broker's shop and of course stopped4 ,among a lot of furniture and odds and ends ,i noticed 8the piece10 and ,i thought at first it was a brass water bottle from ,india1 but on further consideration ,i felt sure it was pewter1 so ,i essayed to walk in1 but locks1 bolts and bars defied resistance1 while no one took heed of the noise ,i was making4 ,in the end ,i had to rush for the train4 ,business over ,i returned and was met at the station by a lady friend4 ,i am afraid ,i hurried her along to the shop where ,i saw 8the piece0 still perched4 ,i tried the door again1 but it was still fastened1 so ,i started knocking4 ,my friend then informed me it was no use as it was the half holiday1 but ,i was determined to get in if ,i rattled all night4 ,at length ,i was admitted1 found 8the piece0 was real old pewter1 was informed they had had it a fortnight1 and that it was a ,,rose ,,vase1 but they didn't know where it came from4 ,there are antique shops in that town1 and this was just the sort of thing they could have done with1 so my picking it up when on a flying visit was most fortunate4 ,illustration3 ,the 8,odamifino40 ,bed ,pan which has been converted into the ,faked 8,alms-,dish40 ,,plate ,,xxvi4 ,illustration3 ,the ,mystery ,piece4 ,,plate ,,xxvii4 ,on returning to my real home 8the piece0 was much admired for its antique appearance and ,i was told ,i should spoil it if ,i had anything done to it1 so ,i had it photographed in the state ,i found it4 ,it bore no maker's marks and the shape was quite unknown to me1 so ,i wrote to three pewter connoisseurs sending them each a photograph giving dimensions and weight and asking them to give me its name and age4 ,these are the opinions ,i received3 ,no4 #a3 8,your ,,vessel seems to be a ,,vase and latish4 ,i have never seen one like it40 ,and later he kindly wrote3 8,the more ,i think of your pewter ,,jar the more convinced ,i am that it dates about #agej40 ,no4 #b said3 8,i thank you for the photograph of the interesting ,,vase or ,,bottle1 for those are the only possible names one can give to the piece40 ,no4 #c4 wrote3 8,i have seen two or three of the pieces your photograph shows but have never found out their purpose4 ,i have heard them described as #a4 ,,lavers for the water in ,baptism4 #b4 ,,water ,,bottle used in ,tavern parlours1 and ,i think the latter is more probable40 ,so you see ,i had then six names for it1 and lately when my ,irish friend was here ,i asked him his opinion and he said1 8,it reminds me of #8,rebecca at the ,well4'0 ,this set me longing to see what it looked like when ,rebecca used it1 so ,i got a painter to remove the corrosion with caustic and lime1 as ,i had no bath mixture on tap1 then ,i took it to my tinsmith and spent some time quaking--you understand me--for fear he should hole it or do something awful1 but he straightened it1 tapped out the dinges1 and soon got it into its original shape4 ,strange to say it is the only piece of pewter in my collection which ,i prefer to see looking dull1 the reason why is another mystery1 but ,i have stopped having it polished up brightly like the rest4 ,i really believe it is the oldest specimen in my collection1 certainly it is the most antique in shape4 ,it is nine inches high and its weight 7#b lbs47 denotes it was made when thick metal was worked with1 and that is a sure sign of old times4 ,it will not go with any pewter ,i possess1 it makes it all appear comparatively modern1 and so we have to allot it a position by itself on an old oak chest1 and here ,i will leave 8,the ,mystery ,piece10 with this poser--is it early ,georgian or ogygian8 ,,third ,,course ,old ,brass and ,copper ,modern ,antique--,the ,turling ,pin--,the ,duck ,carver--,scotch ,measures--,when ,matches were ,scarce--,wexford in ,wales--,snuff-boxes and ,other ,things4 ,i have only small collections of brass and copper to exhibit1 and my reasons for buying these you see were mainly that often ,i had been poking about for pewter1 and finding none1 rather than waste the shopkeeper's time for nothing ,i would purchase a bit of old brass or copper1 if ,i happened to notice any piece ,i judged worth having4 ,it is often difficult to identify old brass1 and the quantity of 8antique0 that was manufactured in ,birmingham alone1 some years before the war1 must have been very extensive4 ,i found it nearly everywhere ,i went1 and still see much of it about4 ,to instance the worth of my statement ,i remember1 when in ,scotland1 ,i mentioned to a collector friend that ,i should like to have a turling pin1 which is a combined knocker and latch1 for ,i had seen such a thing spoken of in a book ,i had just been reading4 ,not long afterwards ,i received a parcel containing a turling pin1 which ,i found at once was new brass that had been in an acid bath for discoloration1 and to give it the necessary old appearance4 ,my friend wrote that he had been fortunate in getting this for #afs4 and the antique dealer had assured him it had come out of an old house at1 ,i think1 ,inverness4 ,i returned the find1 with thanks1 and ,i do not know my ,scotsman if he failed to get his money back4 ,i am still without a turling pin1 though ,i have one genuine old knocker from ,ripon1 which is on a door where it ought to be1 so you will not find it on the photograph4 ,in the summer of #aiaa ,i had a fine specimen of a corn which ,i carried in my boot1 and while in an antique shop ,i knocked it against something black that had been put on the floor to keep a door open4 ,i looked down to see what had caused the pain and my regrettable exclamation1 and was informed1 8it was a lead ink-stand1 and did it hurt80 ,i knew it was decidedly hard metal from my experience1 so ,i gave half-a-crown for it1 with the idea of having my revenge by cleaning the clumsy brute1 for he had no right to be carving a duck in the beastly black state he was in4 ,this class of ink-stand was made in ,birmingham about eighty years ago4 ,brass and copper as antiques have much to recommend them1 as no matter what state they may be in when found1 they can very soon be made presentable by a good rubbing with metal polish4 ,these metals preserve themselves remarkably well for centuries1 hence it is that occasionally rare old specimens can be found by anyone with their eyes skinned4 ,the fine #ab in4 brass pot1 with lion head ring handles and claw feet1 ,i saw in a second-hand shop at ,buxton1 and bought for seven shillings1 but ,i had to get a hamper to bring it home in4 ,i have other large things1 such as warming-pans1 chestnut roaster1 churchwarden pipe rack1 gong1 etc41 but the inclusion of these would have spoiled the effect of the photograph1 and the mortars get a 8,course0 on their own4 ,you will notice some ,scotch thistle-shaped measures2 for these ,i am indebted to a young friend who travelled a good deal1 and often came back from ,scotland with pewter1 brass1 or copper4 ,the measures are stamped 8,four gills10 8,pint10 8,gill10 8,half-,gill40 ,illustration3 ,old ,brass4 ,,plate ,,xxviii4 ,illustration3 ,old ,copper4 ,,plate ,,xxix4 ,among the brass ,i hope you will be able to distinguish two uncommon snuff-boxes4 ,one is called 8the ,horn of ,plenty10 and is very old1 while the other is hexagonal in shape1 is made of cherry wood and brass1 and was originally owned and used by ,sir ,ernest ,shackleton's grandfather4 ,the brass lamp with two snake handles must have special mention4 ,inside1 fitted on a thin wooden circle1 there are ten small metal cells1 each fitted with a match-head1 also a piece of wick and tallow2 by pressing the handles together the disc makes a slight turn1 striking the match against a jagged fitting1 and stopping under the hole1 through which the light would 7,i suppose7 burn1 until the cell was empty4 ,this was patented about eighty years ago when matches were first invented1 but ,i do not anticipate many were sold1 as when all the lights had been burnt a fresh fitment would have to replace the one exhausted1 a rather expensive affair4 ,tacking brass and copper on to the many other specialities ,i have gone in for may cause the remark that had ,i confined myself to a more limited sphere ,i might have had a finer result in fewer classes1 but that would have curtailed the pleasurable excitement of my rambles4 ,then again1 when once you get the collecting fever you are not likely to get the better of it2 it is far more likely to get the better of you1 and ,i am of opinion it is better so1 provided you do not let it obtain an undue hold on your pocket4 ,it is undoubtedly hard at times to say 8,no10 but it is more difficult to get rid of a bad bargain4 ,it is a singular trait of character1 not altogether limited to collectors1 which impels the individual to tell everyone when he secures anything cheap but constrains him to be as close as an oyster when he is done with a 8dud10 yet the best tales usually most enjoyed by the hearers are those which tell against the teller4 ,as regards the copper ,i am rather afraid of giving a wrong designation to the lipped pan with wood handle4 ,it may have been a posset pot1 or a beer-warmer1 possibly it was used for both purposes1 though not at the same time4 ,the conical shaped warmer would put the pot to bed1 as it would heat the mulled ale much quicker by being pushed down to the bottom of the fire1 and1 what was of more consequence in those days1 it held more4 ,the straight measure with a slot cut out at the top bears the inscription 8,standard ,i ,pint of the ,corporation of ,wexford ,anno #ahaj0 and is twice stamped 8,g4,r4 ,,iii40 ,when ,i bought it ,i was assured by the broker that he could swear it was genuine as he knew the man who fetched it out of ,wales4 ,i bought this 8eneuch measure10 as a ,french visitor once called it to me1 on ,january #a1 #aiaj1 and ,i remember wondering if this find augured well for the ,new ,year from the collecting point of view1 and it turned out quite a prosperous one4 ,there is a peculiar pewter half-pint ,glasgow measure with copper top fitted with an overflow pipe1 so that not a drop of the precious liquor would be lost4 ,the two-handled measure is stamped 8,one-,pint10 so also is the pedestal-shaped one next to it4 ,i do not know the trade name for the four measures with bell mouthpieces or pouring spouts1 but ,i found them and the fine jug at one shop ,bolton way4 ,the small funnel is provided with a strainer4 ,there are two powder-flasks on the top and two snuff-boxes on the bottom shelf4 ,what sort of spectacles ever fitted into that heavy spectacle case8 ,but one may conjecture everlastingly with these queer old relics of bygone days and ways4 ,,fourth ,,course ,old ,mortars ,i shall only indulge in a short preliminary canter on this course as there are few competitors1 and the chances of gaining a prize in this field are rather remote4 ,i was not long before ,i had bought several bronze mortars1 all plain1 as ,i did not know fancy ones existed4 ,no4 #a4--,when ,i found this and bought it1 ,i sent a photograph to the editor of the ,chemist and ,druggist1 telling him it had been dredged up from the ,liverpool ,docks4 ,he submitted the photograph to an expert1 and reproduced the photograph in his paper in #aijh with the following remarks3 8,here we have the new ,prime ,minister1 ,mr4 ,asquith in effigy1 on a two or three century old mortar4 ,the left projecting wing shows a profile very like that of ,mr4 ,asquith4 ,the firmly sealed lips probably represent the receptive condition of his mind when the suggestions of subjects for new taxation fall upon his ear1 and the features between the profile may1 perhaps1 bear some resemblance to the horrified expression worn by brewery directors1 and those interested in the #8,trade' generally1 on the morning following the introduction of the ,licensing ,bill4 ,the type is ,portuguese or ,spanish1 and probably of the sixteenth or seventeenth century4 ,the projections1 which so resemble a human profile are a feature of this type of ,mortar40 ,size #e in4 diameter1 #c in4 high1 weight #d lbs4 ,this was encouraging1 but put me out of conceit with the plain ones with which ,i had stocked myself4 ,the ,mortars illustrated are mostly of very uncommon types1 and as such specimens are seldom met with ,i hope their inclusion will be found of interest to the reader whose fancies may run in other directions4 ,for after all1 rareness and scarcity are great factors to collectors4 ,no4 #b4--;,bronze4 ,i had great difficulty in deciphering the lettering and figures on this owing to wear4 ,they are in two lines1 and read 8,w4 aged #fi4 #gd years ,mary and ,thomas40 ,no doubt husband and wife1 8,w0 being the initial letter of their surname4 #d in4 across the top1 #d in4 high1 weight #d lbs4 ,no4 #c4--;,bronze4 ,this has upon it a fleur-de-lis1 and mitre ornament and would no doubt be seventeenth century4 #e in4 across the top1 #d in4 high1 weight #c lbs4 ,no4 #d4--;,bronze4 ,is a very unusual type in that it has only one handle1 while the ornament is artistic4 ,i noticed1 soon after ,i bought this1 that an old one-handled metal mortar had been fished up from the ,spanish ,armada wreck1 in ,tobermory ,bay4 #e in4 across top1 height #d in41 weight #c lbs4 #b oz4 ,no4 #e is made of bright yellow metal4 ,it is #e in4 in diameter1 #d in4 high1 weighs #c lb41 and has been well finished4 ,its decoration consists of 8,c4,r40 repeated four times1 crowned ,tudor-rose1 thistle1 trefoil1 and crowned heart1 each divided by a small fleur-de-lis4 ,it was no doubt made by a loyal workman at the restoration of ,charles ,,ii41 and is1 ,i hope1 unique4 ,i had trouble when negotiating the purchase1 as through a side-slip ,i divulged that the initials of ,charles ,rex were the same as my own4 ,further1 the holder was convinced that this mortar had belonged to 8the ,royal ,culinary ,department1 and was almost worth its weight in gold40 ,in the end he was converted and evidently satisfied1 for he foraged around and gave me an old pestle after ,i had paid the money4 ,no4 #f is bronze1 #e in4 in diameter at the top1 #d in4 high1 and weighs #d lb4 ,when roaming about ,kendal on an ,easter ,sunday ,i found this standing among 8,roman0 antiquities in a shop4 ,i bought it on ,easter ,monday1 and am still wondering how old it really is1 and how many centuries the antiquary was out in his reckoning4 ,its appearance in every way indicates great age4 ,no4 #g is a bronze mortar #f in4 in diameter1 #d in4 high1 ,h weighs #f lb41 bears the letters ,w ,s also #agce1 and is the only dated mortar ,i possess4 ,it belonged to an old ,lancashire family named ,hartley4 ,w and ,s 8rang off0 some time since1 and their ,christian names were not ascertained4 ,no4 #h is the largest and heaviest bronze mortar ,i have4 ,it is #g in4 in diameter1 #e in4 high1 and weighs #ac lb4 ,the decoration is very crude1 and ,i was puzzled as to the meaning until ,i turned it upside down1 when a ram's head and a shell were evident4 ,in this position the shape takes the form of a bell1 and indicates that the makers would use the same mould for bells as for mortars at the period about #afej4 ,i found this just across the ,welsh border in ,flintshire and had a hard time4 ,illustration3 ,old ,mortars4 ,,plate ,,xxx4 ,illustration3 ,old ,mortars4 ,,plate ,,xxxi4 ,no4 #i4--,this 8,goblet0 is a most unusual shape for a brass mortar1 and the metal is quite yellow4 ,i was pleased when ,i found it1 and more so when the owner gladly gave it me in exchange for three plain ones of the usual pattern4 #d in4 across top1 #e in4 high1 weight #d lbs4 #d ozs4 ,no4 #aj4 is #g in4 in diameter by #d in4 high4 ,after acquiring this ,i ascertained that the difference between alabaster and marble is that the former is of a softer nature1 which accounts for the head of the old pestle being worn to #a in4 ,one of the four lugs is grooved for convenience when pouring out fluid mixtures--no doubt the innovation of an up-to-date cash chemist of that go-ahead period4 ,i have another of an exactly similar character1 but #ab inches in diameter1 while it has no groove1 and an old ,waterford glass pestle is with it4 ,the pestles belonging to the metal mortars are all of different patterns4 ,,fifth ,,course ,old ,pottery ,a ,contrast in ,prices--,bethel1 ,wesley1 and ,whitfield--,blue and ,white ,plates--,salt ,glaze--,the ,cobbler's ,wife ,upstairs--,toby ,jugs--,doubts and ,uncertainties--,liverpool--,the ,letter 8,p0--,vanishing ,transfer ,printing--,sunderland--,don ,pottery--,the ,useful ,mark--,a ,tuppenny ,don--,turner 7,lane ,ends7--,the ,worth of a ,ladle--,wedgwood--,jasper ,ware--,tortoiseshell--,evolution--,puzz le ,jugs--,experiments and ,remarks--,brown and ,buff ,stoneware--,nelson ,jugs--,contrast and a ,caution--,mask ,jugs--,advice and an ,explanation--,delft--,plates--,a ,candlestick 8,sauce-boat0--,rockingham--,the ,cadogan ,pot--,the ,snufftaker--,lustre--8,all is not gold that glisters0--,dating--,wood1 ,enoch1 and ,ralph--,a ,bust1 a ,mould1 a ,word--,notes on the ,groups-,pretty ,poetry ,printed on ,pottery--,the ,willow ,pattern--,solving a ,problem4 ,pottery opens a wide course1 gives much chance of success1 finds scope for research and discrimination1 and has also the advantage of not taking up much room1 so the collector can usually hang on to anything he may fancy4 ,in hunting for antiques you get exercise1 a certain amount of excitement1 and a great deal of uncertainty4 ,it is a fine school for cultivating patience which repays you in the long run4 ,i have times innumerable gone out of my way to pass a certain shop1 to be rewarded1 quite recently1 by finding half a dozen blue and white pottery plates of a pattern ,i have wanted for years4 ,this was doubly consoling1 for my previous purchase there was broken in my pocket4 ,in doing my own collecting of pottery ,i have had many strange experiences1 and several of the pieces have some interesting incident associated with their coming into my possession4 ,as they total over #bej specimens the reminiscences make good reflections1 while the finding1 tracing1 naming and arranging for show on shelves or whatnots to the best advantage has enabled me to pass many and many an hour pleasantly1 and the result is always gratifying4 ,whenever ,i chance to be from home ,i make it a part of my programme to do the old shops2 sometimes the old shops do me1 but not often4 ,i recently went round the shops of a seaside town and drew a blank1 but ,i saw a jug dated #ahjf which ,i liked4 ,on handling it ,i was informed it was an old ,staffordshire farmer's jug1 with farm implements painted on4 ,the price was #aj1 and they had already refused #f4 ,i felt uneasy until ,i had put the jug back on the shelf4 ,in contrast to that1 in almost the last inland town ,i visited by road we pulled up near a second-hand place and the first thing ,i noticed was a quaint-shaped1 very early ,staffordshire jug1 hand painted1 with blue band and some floral decoration1 and so ,i went in4 ,blowing off the dust which other collectors had failed to disturb1 although the town is their hunting-ground1 ,i was told ,i could have it for a shilling as it was a bit snipped at the bottom4 ,i bought that jug1 and ,i should have been quite ready and pleased to buy the other at a reasonable price4 ,my plough jug cost me five shillings in #aiaa2 it is not dated1 but may possibly be prior to #ahjf4 ,illustration3 ,old ,pottery4 ,,plate ,,xxxii4 ,,plate ,,xxxii ,,describing ,,the ,,pottery ,shelf #f4 ,wesley4 ,whitfield by ,enoch ,wood1 ,loving ,cup4 ,shelf #e4 ,light blue enamelled ,jug by ,ralph ,wood in centre1 other four ,jugs early ,staffordshire4 ,shelf #d4 ,see notes on ,wedgwood 7page #ajc74 ,shelf #c4 ,wood 8,ivory0 plate4 ,two ,nelson ,jugs 7see page #ajf74 ,two blue printed ,staffordshire4 ,shelf #b4 ,railway ,mug1 ,sunderland ,frog ,mug1 ,loving ,cup1 ,staffordshire ,tam-o'-,shanter ,frog ,mug1 ,cock-fighting ,mug4 ,shelf #a4 ,black printed 8,prodigal ,son0 ,mug1 ,milk ,bowl1 ,jugs3 ,george ,,iv41 ,grace ,darling1 ,disraeli and ,earl of ,derby1 ,gladstone and ,john ,bright4 ,princess ,royal ,mug4 ,illustration3 ,old ,pottery4 ,,plate ,,xxxiii4 ,,plate ,,xxxiii ,,describing ,,the ,,pottery ,shelf #e4 ,toby 7,davenport74 ,the ,brewer4 ,the ,cobbler's ,wife4 ,the ,squire4 ,hearty ,good ,fellow 7see page #ie74 ,shelf #d4 ,toby ,pepper ,pots4 ,judy ,jug4 ,toby 7,davenport74 ,uncle ,toby 7early74 ,brewer4 ,tobacco ,jar4 ,toby and ,clown ,pepper ,pots4 ,shelf #c4 ,brown ,glazed ,rockingham4 ,cottage ,pastille ,burner4 ,cadogan ,pot4 ,snuff ,taker4 ,lizard ,mug4 ,boot ,bottle 7see page #ajg74 ,harvester's ,bottle 7,davenport74 ,plates--,brameld1 ,rockingham4 ,mason's ,ironstone ,china4 ,shelf #b4 ,lustre 7see notes on page #ajg74 ,shelf #a4 ,lustre 7see notes74 ,plates3 ,wedgwood1 ,queen's ,ware1 ,lug and ,feather border 7#agij71 ,minton 7early71 ,minton 7circa #ahaj7 7see page #acb74 ,parian ,ware 7green74 ,soon after ,i set up in the pottery line ,i espied an old two-handled ,wesleyan loving cup1 with 8,,bethel0 painted on the sides in black4 ,while ,i was examining the mug an elderly gentleman came in from the back room and the following enlightening conversation ensued3 ,moderato3 ,good afternoon4 ,eh8 ,crescendo3 ,how much for the mug8 ,thruppence4 ,forte3 ,where did it come from8 ,thruppence4 ,fortissimo3 ,how old do you consider it8 ,thruppence4 ,piano3 ,oh1 help6 ,i saw the figure of 8,wesley over the ,clock0 in a small grocery window1 and on asking if it was for sale was told 8,yes6 ,we are sick to death of seeing him on the mantel0--and then bang went saxpence4 ,after these reckless purchases it is consoling to remember that the bust of ,whitfield by ,enoch ,wood was given me by a neighbour who fished it out of his lumber room4 7,see ,plate ,,xxxii74 ,i purchased several pieces at odd times from a man who spoke ,yiddish to his wife and broken ,english to me1 and no matter whether the article was ,wheildon1 ,wedgwood1 or ,worcester1 he invariably assured me 8,it was a fine bit of old ,zwanzee40 ,on the shelves round two of my rooms ,i have some quite uncommon dark blue printed plates and dishes1 some unmarked1 others by ,rogers1 ,challenor1 ,adams1 ,spode1 ,davenport1 ,turner1 also part set of a dinner service with fine illustrations of ,pera1 ,mosque in ,latachia1 ,triumphal ,arch1 ,latachia1 ,pillar of ,absalom4 ,i also have the tureen1 which illustrates ,eski-,estamboul4 ,one of the dishes is marked 8,b0 and they can with safety be attributed to the ,burtons of ,hanley1 #ahbj4 ,a dish in rich blue1 illustrating ,little ,boy ,blue blowing his horn for the cows in the meadow and the sheep in the corn2 ,i fail to identify the cow and surmise that on this particular farm these animals must have been very much alike4 ,i espied the rim of this dish nearly hidden on the shelf of a broker and ,i enquired1 8,is that a blue and white dish80 and was answered1 8,yes1 but it's more than you'll pay1 we are saving that for a swell who comes in a motor-car40 ,after this1 of course ,i had to see it1 and ascertaining the price paid up at once4 ,i left my name and address and they promised to let me know if they got anything more like it4 ,a few weeks later ,i received a postcard and caught the earliest train in great expectancy1 to find on my arrival a few ,willow ,pattern dishes4 ,i left these to swell the swell motorist's collection4 ,never mind the absence of marks on the back1 for if you desire to decorate you want good illustrations1 and these are the main consideration4 ,when a visitor1 after contemplating these plates for a time1 remarks1 8,i like your ,willow ,pattern0 when there is no ,willow ,pattern on view1 ,i usually change the subject and switch on to domestics1 as ,i find so many people are on the look out for these1 and ,i gather from the conversation that in collecting them they have the greatest difficulty in finding good specimens to add lustre and charm to the home4 ,illustration3 ,old ,pottery4 ,,plate ,,xxxiv4 ,,plate ,,xxxiv ,,describing ,,the ,,pottery ,shelf #f4 ,puzzle ,jugs1 ,staffordshire4 ,pantomime and ,harlequin4 ,leeds black-printed4 ,white1 apprentice 8,g4 ,b40 7see page #aje74 ,shelf #e4 ,fulham4 ,doulton ,jubilee4 ,two ,brownstone ,ware ,puzzle ,jugs4 ,copeland ,jug4 ,briddon ,salt 7see page #ajh74 ,shelf #d4 ,staffordshire3 ,mask ,spout4 ,barrel ,jug4 ,harlequin4 ,early ,mason4 ,swansea ,mask ,spout4 ,bacchus ,mask ,jug4 ,black face ,mask ,jug4 ,shelf #c4 ,early ,staffordshire3 ,wellington and ,hill4 ,whieldon ,cottage4 ,nelson and ,hardy4 ,relief pattern two ,jugs4 ,shelf #b4 ,staffordshire4 8,sportive ,innocence40 8,freemason's ,arms40 ,blue decoration in the centre4 ,two ,coloured ,jug4 ,wood and ,cauldwell4 ,shelf #a4 ,sunderland4 ,wear ,bridge1 pink4 ,ship1 yellow4 ,staffordshire4 ,lodge of ,orangemen ,jug4 8,jovial ,boatman40 ,queen ,caroline ,jug4 ,illustration3 ,old ,pottery4 ,,plate ,,xxxv4 ,,plate ,,xxxv ,,describing ,,the ,,pottery ,shelf #f4 ,liverpool 7see page #ii74 ,shelf #e4 ,early hand-painted ,mug4 ,charity4 ,washington ,cup and ,saucer4 ,herculaneum4 ,pennington4 ,stage ,coach4 ,early ,painted 7see page #ii74 ,shelf #d4 ,leeds ,plate in ,delft colours4 ,staffordshire ,jug4 ,yellow ,enamelled ,jug4 ,salt glaze3 ,delft ,dish4 ,castor ,oil ,spoon4 ,whieldon 787 ,jug4 ,small lustre painted ,jug4 7see page #id74 ,early ,spode4 ,aynsley's ,stone ,china4 ,don ,pottery ,bowl and ,plate 7see page #ajb74 ,shelf #c4 ,three ,delft ,plates1 one semi-porcelain 7see page #ajg74 ,jackfield ,sugar ,bowl4 ,castleford ,teapot4 ,plough ,jug4 ,french ,candlestick4 ,mazarine ,blue ,jug 8,s40 ,shelf #b4 ,st4 ,peter4 ,lustre painted ,jug4 ,blue printed4 ,mason blue printed4 ,leeds ,mug4 ,fox-head ,cup4 ,plate3 8,poor ,richard's ,maxims40 ,leeds ,spill-holder4 ,davenport ,jug4 ,bristol blue 7marked7 ,jug4 ,swansea ,rabbit4 ,bristol ,toy ,teapot4 ,rat ,catcher's ,daughter4 ,medicine ,measure1 double-ended1 8,two tablespoonsful0 and 8,one tablespoonful40 ,the two end figures are translucent4 ,shelf #a4 ,wedgwood ,centenary1 ,early ,mason4 ,oddfellow's ,jug4 ,t4 ,clare 7#ahje74 ,davenport ,presentation ,jug4 ,davenport chocolate and black4 ,,salt ,,glaze ,readers who are familiar with salt glaze will not be surprised when ,i say that the four pieces shown on ,plate ,,xxxv are all that ,i have fit to be trotted out1 and they will probably not be taken aback when ,i confess to having been absolutely bewildered for some time in distinguishing this class of pottery4 ,i read of #ej being given at1 ,i think1 the ,bemrose ,sale for a little ugly group1 and ,i felt a desire to find something of this sort1 though at a somewhat less fancy price4 ,i poked in many a dusty cupboard1 and messed myself up continuously for a time1 until one day in an auctioneer's stock-room ,i dug out a white coffee pot with a pewter lid which ,i felt sure was salt glaze4 ,when the auctioneer told me ,i could have it for two shillings if it was any good to me1 ,i thought how little he knew of his business4 ,it takes two to make a bargain1 and he was not the fool4 ,i found the coffee pot was salt glaze1 but only about fifty years old1 so it is again hidden away in a cupboard4 ,i had looked at bits of salt glaze in glass cases under lock and key1 so ,i think of presenting this piece to some museum where1 owing to its comparatively small value1 visitors may be allowed to touch and examine it under a magnifying glass1 but ,i should first have it labelled1 8,caution to ,collectors--this is the class of salt glaze to avoid40 ,this dud purchase turned out to be rather fortunate than otherwise1 as after winking at it for a week ,i went carefully through my collection and found three salt glaze pieces which had remained unidentified for two years past4 ,they are1 a jug painted and gilded over the glaze1 and which ,i had bought in my ignorance in ,wakefield2 a little crudely painted lustre ,staffordshire jug1 which ,i caught busy catching the drips from a paraffin tap and secured for a trifle2 and a blue painted castor-oil spoon4 ,later ,i added a salt glaze delft dish with mark showing it was made by ,petit of ,lille1 about #aghh1 which proves that the statement made in more than one book on old pottery that no delft was salt glazed is incorrect4 ,this particular dish came from ,sir ,j4 ,d4 ,forest's collection4 ,anyone with a ,castleford teapot will be struck with its likeness to salt glaze4 ,i happened on one in a town where the manufacture of heavy chemicals is very evident in the atmosphere1 and the brokeress said she had been told that the teapot was 8salt-cake40 ,the same good old lady was once kind enough to invite me to step up to her bedroom1 and a very nice room it was1 its cleanliness1 contents and comfort being greatly at variance with the shop and store-room below4 ,among the ornaments of which she offered me the choice was a fine 8,cobbler's ,wife10 #ab inches high1 probably ,rockingham1 which she had bought at a sale1 and was pleased to part with at a profit4 ,i have searched for years for the 8,cobbler10 but have failed to trace him4 ,if anyone knows his present address1 and will communicate with the author1 they will be suitably rewarded4 ,,toby ,,jugs 7,see ,plate ,,xxxiii7 ,none of these ,toby jugs have any maker's names on them1 but ,i believe the large and small of the same design are by ,davenport4 8,the ,squire0 appears to be the oldest1 but whether it or the 8,hearty ,good ,fellow0 is the most valuable from a collector's point of view ,i cannot say1 and ,i will tell you why4 ,my first impression of 8,the ,squire10 which ,i obtained through a window1 was 8,what a beauty60 ,i had seen a letter in the ,connoisseur just before giving a photograph of one like it1 so ,i was on the alert at once4 ,enquiry elicited the information that the dealer thought it was really old1 that he bought it off a man who looked through the shop door1 then went away and came back when the dealer was disengaged4 8,i didn't know the man2 apparently he was hard up--wouldn't give any name1 but he wanted a sovereign1 so ,i gave it him1 and you can have the jug for twenty-five shillings40 ,i have heard of a dog having a bad name1 though ,toby isn't a bad name for a dog1 but ,i soon came up against a ,toby with a bad name4 ,on mentioning to my late friend the collector-dealer my purchase of 8,the ,squire10 what ,i had given for it1 and where ,i bought it1 he said he was sorry to hear it4 ,he had seen that ,toby and would not touch it1 as he had been warned against it by another dealer1 and if ,i wished for another like it he could give me an address in the ,potteries where ,i might get one for #cs4 #aa;d4 ,the next time he was at my house he was hard to convince that he was mistaken2 but when ,i told him ,i had shown it to a practical potter1 who cautioned me that if ,i filled it with water ,i must not carry it by the handle1 as it was partly perished with age1 he gave in4 ,not long after ,i chanced to meet near home a well-known dealer who had just come from ,harrogate to attend a sale of antiques in our neighbourhood and who enquired of me the way4 ,i asked him to have lunch with us and offered to drive him to the sale later4 ,i am afraid this was rather diluted hospitality1 for ,i was desirous of having his opinion of1 among other things1 8,the ,squire40 ,after careful examination he pronounced it genuine1 but he seemed to fancy the 8,hearty ,good ,fellow0 more4 ,when ,i first saw the 8,hearty ,good ,fellow0 it was in a window mainly given up to the display of modern ironmongery1 and on enquiring the price was disappointed to hear it was sold and that a man was calling for it later4 ,then ,i said1 8,ask him what he will take for his bargain1 and don't you part with it40 ,i am not sure how much ,i slept that night1 but ,i know ,i called on my way to business1 and ,i spent a bright and happy morning with the 8,hearty ,good ,fellow0 on my desk4 ,i had an amusing experience when purchasing 8,uncle ,toby10 for when the dealer asked me #bes4 ,i was able to say 7having had a look at the bottom of the jug7 that it was marked in ink #aes4 ,when ,i showed him this he let himself go1 and if the female assistant--who was not about at the time--had heard one tithe of the forcible expressions of opinion in which he held her business acumen1 she would have gone into service straight away1 for among her qualifications he considered she was more fit for cooking potatoes in their jackets4 ,i refer to this gentleman elsewhere as having some temper1 but on this occasion ,i waited patiently until he had come down to nearly normal1 bought some other things1 and got 8,uncle ,toby0 at the price 7#aes47 on which he still sits4 ,illustration3 ,pictorial ,pottery4 ,,plate ,,xxxvi4 ,,plate ,,xxxvi ,,describing ,,the ,,pottery ,shelf #e4 ,bowl 7,staffs474 ,bristol ,delft ,dish4 ,bowl1 ,early ,transfer 7,staffs474 ,willow ,sauce-boats4 ,shelf #d4 ,dish 7,rogers74 ,tureen 7,turner1 ,lane ,ends74 ,dish1 8,mosque in ,latachia40 ,shelf #c4 ,dish1 8,little ,boy ,blue40 ,dish1 purple 7,challenor74 ,early ,mustard ,pots4 ,shelf #b4 ,fruit-server4 ,vegetable ,dish1 8,pillar of ,absalom0 and ,sauce-boat 7,burton74 ,early ,sauce-boat and ,stand in one piece1 transfer printed over the glaze4 ,turner ,pickle-holder4 ,plates3 8,the ,whatlands40 8,pera40 ,shelf #a4 ,plates4 ,davenport4 ,w4 ,adams4 ,sauce-boat ,stands 8,b0 and 8,arundel ,castle40 ,willow ,leaf ,dishes and ,early ,pickle-holder4 ,illustration3 ,willow ,pattern4 ,,plate ,,xxxvii4 ,toby teapots must be scarce4 ,i have seen none other1 except in #aiae1 when ,i noticed two in a shop window on the ,pantiles at ,tunbridge ,wells4 ,i obtained mine through the death of an old lady who lived in our locality4 ,,liverpool ,,pottery 7,see ,plate ,,xxxv7 ,to identify all the ,liverpool pottery one may come across as being made in ,liverpool is wellnigh impossible2 the various factories seem each to have had some special features1 while many of the jugs are very like those made by old ,staffordshire firms4 ,i say this partly by way of apology1 as it is more than likely ,i have put under this group some jugs made elsewhere1 and the same remark may apply to odd jugs in the ,staffordshire group2 but as ,i am not out to sell the things ,i cannot see that ,i lay myself out to any serious charge of misrepresentation4 ,if you are of a different opinion1 then ,i must plead that ,i have no fraudulent intent4 ,away back in the days beyond recall an authority on this subject very kindly came out here and named my specimens as far as he could1 but ,i notice among the labels ,i had then affixed the word 8probably0 sometimes appears before the name given4 ,i was somewhat disappointed with the result of his visit1 for he pronounced some of the jugs which ,i had hoped were ,liverpool as not coming within that family1 so ,i have decided to be my own judge in future1 as by that means ,i may in time have one of the largest collections of 8,old ,liverpool0 in the country4 ,as those ,i include will be so near in appearance to some of the varieties made1 ,i am hoping no collector will have reason to dispute my classification4 ,only one jug is marked1 and that has a letter 8,p10 which denotes ,pennington1 and ,i spotted this mark without a suspicious dealer--to whose astuteness ,i refer later on--being aware of the fact1 and so ,i got it for #cs41 which is not an excessive price considering it is hand painted with line decoration1 an uncommon design1 and bears a very rare mark4 ,collectors should be careful how they clean ,old ,liverpool which has been printed over the glaze1 for ,i remember on one occasion ,i gave a sovereign for a jug with pictures done in brown which had a smudgy look4 ,the dealer was a straight man1 and said if ,i was not satisfied he would give me my money back4 ,when ,i got home and filled the bathroom hand-basin with hot water and soda and began cleaning1 ,i thought what a dirty condition the jug must be in1 for the water soon began to look like brown ink4 ,i thought it was time to probe deeper1 and to my alarm found the picture still blurred1 but not so dark in colour1 and then ,i thought ,i was 8done in brown06 ,i saw the dealer and told him all about it4 ,when he asked was ,i not satisfied1 ,i admitted ,i was not altogether enamoured with the running thing1 and that it was the pictures by the ,old ,master ,i placed such value on1 so he laughingly returned the money4 ,a collector from the south came along soon after and gave the dealer more than the even sovereign4 ,my only wonder is how many times that jug has been washed since1 and how much of the pictures remain4 ,a jug #h inches high shows 8,king ,william1 ,prince of ,orange10 on horseback1 and on the reverse side a print of ,britannia and ,erin throttling a snake coiled round a broken pillar1 also the words 8,great ,britain and ,ireland ,united ,,mdccc40 ,one #g-;inch jug has an heraldic illustration headed 8,the ,cooper's ,arms10 and on the reverse side a lion and anchor surmounted by 8,great ,britain and ,ireland ,united #ahjj40 ,a specially fine specimen of ,herculaneum pottery is the #g-;inch jug of uncommon pattern which gives the 8,duke of ,york0 and 8,prince ,coburg0 in relief1 and this jug is painted in the old delft colours1 brown1 yellow1 orange and blue4 ,the cups and saucers bear portraits of ,washington and ,lafayette2 they must have missed the ,american boat over a hundred years ago1 or ,i should not have found them in ,wigan1 and they were undoubtedly made for the ,american market4 ,,sunderland 7,see ,plate ,,xxxiv7 ,many of these jugs and mugs are very quaint1 but it is to me impossible always to identify them4 ,one evidently commemorates the opening of the cast-iron bridge over the ,river ,wear on ,august #ith1 #agif4 ,the fact that maritime subjects were often used for illustration assists in deciding sometimes1 so ,i include the frog-mug4 ,lake lustre and yellow lustre were largely used1 the colours being brushed on in a careless way4 ,,don ,,pottery 7,see ,plate ,,xxxv7 ,so much pottery was made without indication of its origin that it is well for a collector when he comes across a marked piece cheap1 even if it is imperfect1 to procure it4 ,in #aiae ,i bought a pedestal oval-shaped bowl which bears the distinction of being the only piece in my collection which did not cost me more than #b;d4 ,it looked as if it had spent half its long life in an oven and most of the remainder in being knocked about1 for both handles were off4 ,i saw it was impressed 8,don ,pottery0 and knew it would be made in ,leeds about #aghj1 that it bore traces of being printed in black transfer at ,liverpool1 that it had been banded black by hand1 and that the colour of the ware was of a dark grey cast4 ,in ,june1 #aiai1 ,i saw the uncommon plate shown in this group bearing many features tallying with the ,don ,pottery bowl but in perfect condition 7unmarked71 having also a silver lustre band1 and on comparing these pieces satisfied myself they both came from the same factory4 ,such finds as these1 trifling though they may be1 help to make collecting a pastime4 ,,turner ,,lane ,,ends 7,see ,plate ,,xxxvi7 ,in #aiaa1 in an old shop at ,prescot1 near the house in which ,kemble lived1 ,i discovered a well-printed blue-and-white dish impressed 8,turner0 and bought it1 finding a place for it on the shelf over the mantel4 ,three years after ,i was in a manufacturing town #be miles away looking about1 and in a sort of a marine store window noticed a tureen 7unmarked7 with ladle complete which matched my ,turner dish4 ,enquiring the price1 the woman said 8she didn't know10 and 8he was out40 ,so ,i asked her to fetch 8him40 ,when 8he0 arrived1 somewhat fuddled1 ,i asked him the price1 and on getting his answer remarked it seemed a bit stiff1 when he huffily and huskily replied1 8,why1 the ---- ladle's worth the money10 and left me straightaway4 ,with an assurance like that from such an authority ,i decided to buy4 ,i knocked1 and my lady friend appeared again and anxiously put the question3 8,did you pay him80 8,no40 8,that's a good thing2 ,i'll have the money40 ,the tureen has since adorned my mantel1 and it might have been a part of the same set as the dish4 ,i recently found at a ,red ,cross sale a little pickle-holder to match4 ,i once priced a larger dish of the same pattern1 but owing to the difficulty of getting it home left it1 and the next time ,i was in that town it had been sold4 ,,wedgwood 7,see ,plate ,,xxxii7 ,josiah ,wedgwood must have been a wonderful man1 and ,i am pleased to have a portrait of him on a jug bearing his name on a scroll with the dates 8#agcj to #agie40 ,i believe this to be a ,centenary piece1 and as his works started in #ageb the jug will be about seventy years old4 ,i have seen so much of ,wedgwood's ,jasper ,ware that ,i have refrained from buying any1 but ,i show two small pieces--a really old pepper-pot and a sugar bowl 7part of a set here7--which ,i did not collect4 ,early on ,i placed the teapot1 sugar bowl1 and cream jug in my china cabinet1 but as so many visitors after running their eyes over my rarer specimens usually remarked1 8,i see you have some ,wedgwood10 ,i put them out of sight4 ,this ,jasper ,ware has had a tremendous sale for years and years1 and is better known than its age4 ,for these three things ,i substituted a ,jasper spill vase1 and many a spill has been caused by the knowing ones calling this ,wedgwood1 when it is not4 ,i have been lucky in finding some early specimens of ,wedgwood--a plate impressed 8,pearl10 printed but touched up by hand1 a pair of tortoise-shell 7back and front7 plates with raised daisy and bead border4 ,one plate1 octagonal shape1 cupids dancing in centre1 with a remarkable light and shade effect1 with oak-leaf relief border1 and having a fine tortoise-shell back4 ,all these are heavy and have 8,wedgwood0 stamped in large type1 so they will date #agfj to #agfe4 ,these are followed by a ,cream-ware plate1 partly hand coloured1 and a little later by a plate of a whiter shade giving a brown printed view of sailing vessels in harbour4 ,these have the impressed mark in smaller type4 ,two little teapots1 one black basalt and the other bisque pattern1 about #aghj1 complete this interesting group4 ,another excellent specimen of ,queen's ,ware will be seen on shelf ,no4 #a1 ,plate ,,xxxiii4 ,this bears the early large type ,wedgwood impressed mark1 and has the lug and feather border carefully painted in brown and red over the glaze4 ,as my ten plates--two of which were given me--have cost me just half the price ,i was once asked for a single cracked tortoise-shell plate1 ,i conclude ,i have been working on right lines4 ,,puzzle ,,jugs 7,see ,plate ,,xxxiv7 ,with the intention of describing to the reader the peculiarities of these jugs and the difference in the puzzles1 ,i have just had the six filled with water to experiment with so that ,i might give lucid explanations of the enigmas1 and ,i have been most successful--in making myself wet4 ,that the investigation should be complete1 ,i obtained the assistance of a young friend who revels in logarithms and abstruse problems1 and as ,i noticed signs of his temper giving way under his many efforts to elucidate the why and the wherefore of these strange devices and their tricky behaviour1 the enquiry is postponed sine die4 ,of the two brown stoneware jugs the one with figures in relief hails from ,brampton1 and the other would have been made in some local pottery4 ,the tall1 fancy shape is a good specimen of those made at ,leeds4 ,the one with the pantomime group would be made in ,staffordshire about eighty years ago1 while the ,harlequin jug was the work of ,elsmore and ,forster1 about #ahej4 ,the white jug is the oldest of the tribe1 and ,i should be surprised to hear of another like it being in existence4 ,i fancy this to be the work of an industrious apprentice to show what a clever hand he was1 and that the letters 8,g4 ,b40 scratched on the bottom under the glaze will be his initials4 ,i wish he had not given in his tally before he had added a date4 ,,nelson ,,jugs 7,see ,plate ,,xxxii7 ,the jug almost covered with blue printing is a fine specimen1 showing ,nelson1 the ,victory1 and a list of his titles and his battles1 together with his famed last signal and some eulogy4 ,the jug with ,nelson in relief bears on the reverse side a likeness of ,hardy1 and it is in such good condition that ,i believe the party ,i bought it from in ,liverpool thought it was a reproduction1 while ,i felt quite satisfied that it was a specially well preserved antique4 ,the black printed jug is a disreputable-looking relic1 and when found it appeared as if it had been in the battle of ,trafalgar instead of commemorating the fight1 for the jug had 8got it in the neck0 and had lost its handle4 ,as the printing was all there ,i decided to salve it1 and after going into dry dock it came out looking quite spick and span4 ,dampness1 followed by a spell of hard frost1 penetrating where it was berthed1 shivered its timbers1 and so you see the paint and enamel coming off4 ,i give this as a warning to any collector who may pay about half a sovereign to get a piece of old pottery overhauled to ever after keep it in a warm1 dry place and not to touch it unless compelled4 ,,mask ,,jugs 7,see ,plate ,,xxxiv7 ,my advice is1 it you can buy old jugs like these two at a reasonable price1 do so4 ,you would not be able to see the handle of the one which faces the audience if it were in profile1 for some 8daft budy0 had knocked it off before ,i came along4 ,,delft 7,see ,plate ,,xxxv7 ,an amateur will find it difficult to get to know this when he finds it1 but he will find it still more difficult to find it before he gets it4 ,i think something of what ,i have1 especially one #i-;inch plate with coloured design1 ,liverpool ,fazakerley pattern1 and someone must have thought quite a lot of it before ,i gave a shilling for it1 as they went to the trouble of breaking it and to the expense of having the pieces fastened together again with seventeen rivets4 ,the two other coloured plates are not yet identified1 while the hand-painted blue plate is semi-porcelain4 ,the ,french candlestick1 richly decorated by hand1 bears the mark of ,widow ,perrin1 of ,marseilles1 #aggj4 ,it was sold to me as a sauce-boat1 and when ,i enquired the meaning of the chimney in the centre was answered1 8,how should ,i know80 ,a large ,bristol ,delft dish1 blue painted1 figures at the top of the pictorial pottery on ,plate ,,xxxvi4 ,twentieth-century ,dutch delft is not antique2 ,i have been where it was in the making in ,holland and seen it on sale in old shops in ,england4 ,,rockingham 7,,brown7 7,see ,plate ,,xxxiii7 ,i am fortunate in having a ,cadogan pot impressed 8,rockingham10 as by comparing ,i believe ,i have only included brown ware made at this factory4 ,brown 8,rockingham0 snuff-taker jugs have been made elsewhere by the thousand4 ,,lustre 7,see ,plate ,,xxxiii7 ,i have chosen for this group what ,i consider the best of my bunch1 which consists of gilt1 copper1 silver1 lake1 brown1 and yellow lustres4 ,the only marked one shows that ,j4 ,aynsley was using lustre about #ahjj4 ,my largest copper lustre jug bears the first owner's initials1 8,w4,p41 #ahbc10 while the silver lustre cannon is lettered 8,battle of ,wagram1 #ahjf10 so ,i can only surmise that most of these exhibits were made in the first half of the nineteenth century4 ,the main difference between the modern and old lustre ware is usually noticeable on the bottom of the pieces1 the finish of the old being more carefully executed4 ,,wood1 ,,enoch ,,and ,,ralph 7,see ,plate ,,xxxii7 ,all students or collectors of old pottery will be anxious to have authentic representations of the work of these early potters4 ,i was lucky in having the bust of ,whitfield given to me1 and ,i am convinced this is genuine4 ,i have tried to procure ,enoch ,wood's companion bust of ,wesley1 but the two ,i have had offered were reproductions1 the features not being so sharp and the impress mark blurred and indistinct4 ,ralph ,wood had a great reputation as an engraver of moulds1 and this is certainly justified by my large light blue enamelled jug1 impressed 8,wood40 ,i also show an early brown printed plate impressed 8,wood0 beside the word 8,ivory10 which plate will probably be contemporary with the ,wedgwood 8,pearl40 ,,brown ,,and ,,buff ,,stoneware 7,see ,plate ,,xxxiv7 ,the ,doulton ,jubilee ,jug dated #ahhg is probably the most modern of the pieces photographed1 but the small jug next it will make up for the matter of age if it is ,old ,fulham1 as ,i believe it to be4 ,the jug with hunting scenes in relief is stamped ,copeland1 while the small 8salt0 with lion-head ends is by ,w4 ,briddon1 and would be made in ,chesterfield about #aggj4 ,this and the ,fulham jug are salt glaze4 ,i have omitted to include a ,spode buff mug with lion-head handle and blue rim giving 8,wellington1 with soldiers and a cannon0 7#i4b in471 also a ,continental tree with huge leaves in white relief commemorating the ,battle of ,vittoria1 #ahac4 ,,transfer ,,printing ,anyone interested in the evolution of this art would find in my collection enough specimens to point out the advancement as time went on1 and evidence that not many years elapsed before the printing was all that it need to be4 ,my earliest example is an irregular wavy edged #g-;inch plate1 the glaze of which looks like thin tin enamel1 and over this glaze there is a quaint picture of a woman and child in a garden under a palm tree1 of course4 ,to add to the impression that this is a very early effort at stipple printing on pottery there is a white line running nearly across the print1 denoting the paper had either been torn or the blue ink had not entirely covered it4 ,the plate is crazed all over like a fine spider's web4 ,the sauce-boat described on ,plate ,,xxxvi as printed over the glaze1 probably dates next1 and then must come a study of a #aj-;inch cream-coloured ware soup-plate4 ,this is not among the pieces photographed1 as ,i have only just discovered its peculiarities1 which1 now they have secured my attention1 strike me as remarkable4 ,it is the heaviest plate of its size ,i have1 and weighs #a lb4 #i oz42 it is well made1 and is in good preservation4 ,it is printed over the glaze with fern leaves and common ,english flowers1 like poppies1 lilies1 and harebells1 the stalks and foliage in green transfer1 while the flowers are enamelled red and yellow by hand4 ,with difficulty ,i have made out the mark to be an impressed crown1 and this1 together with the colour of the ware1 satisfies me that it is an early piece of ,herculaneum4 ,it was pushed on to me nine years ago by a dealer1 instead of a shilling change out of a sovereign1 with the remark1 8,perhaps you would rather take that plate10 and ,i did not wish to disappoint him by declining anything he desired to be rid of4 ,readers will do well not to miss any transfer printing over the glaze1 and the search for it will keep them busy4 ,,notes ,,on ,,the ,,groups ,i now come to the arranging of the groups of the many jugs and pieces which ,i know are worthy of being shown1 and ,i find ,i am up against the difficulty caused by so few of the makers marking their wares4 ,the advantages of the markings on pottery are twofold4 ,in the first place1 you get a guide to the age of the piece1 also an idea of the class of work the maker mainly went in for4 ,secondly1 you can guess at the age fairly well of pieces made by other makers who copied the designs4 ,by the ,cottage ,jug ,i know ,i have some ,whieldon1 but how much more ,i cannot say1 so ,i shall confine my efforts in this direction to the endeavour to make the photographs a guide as to age1 and ,i believe ,i can show that the period from #agej to #ahej is covered4 ,the style of the earliest specimens is so pronounced there is little difficulty in picking them out4 ,the large jug with a farm-house painted on it bears on the front1 8,t4 ,clare1 #ahje10 which helps me to fix the date of others with somewhat similar handpainting4 ,then the illustrations give a clue1 for instance1 the ,duke of ,wellington and ,general ,hill1 ,nelson and ,hardy1 ,princess ,royal and ,prince of ,prussia1 ,queen ,caroline of ,england1 pictures of the stage coach1 prize-fighting1 cock-fighting1 the first railway trains1 ,disraeli and the ,earl of ,derby1 ,gladstone and ,john ,bright1 ,george ,i,vth died #ahcj1 ,grace ,darling died #ahdb1 and1 to end the list happily1 a plate1 cup1 and saucer printed in green1 8,commemorating ,sir ,w4 ,w4 ,wynn attaining his majority #ahda40 ,photographic readers may be interested to know that ,i have used the same set of shelves for the pottery that ,i used for the metal subjects1 but covered with brown paper for the former and white for the latter4 ,a few of the light blue items are rather disappointing2 these1 of course1 required less exposure than the darker colours1 but ,i could not separate them all from the groups to which they belong4 ,the groups have required six negatives1 but they have had eight exposures4 ,after the first six operations ,i sent the three slides to my developer1 who reported ,numbers #a1 #b1 #c1 and #d as 8quite good10 but ,numbers #e and #f had 8no plates in them10 so the result failed to reach the high pitch of efficiency to which ,i had aspired4 ,the groups had to be rearranged another day1 and the slides chanced to be filled that time4 ,,pretty ,,poetry ,,printed ,,on ,,pottery ,parents are advised1 before compelling their children to commit the following gems from the jugs to memory1 to insist on their repeating aloud the above title rapidly but accurately until they or their children are1 so to speak1 fed up4 ,on an 8,oddfellows' jug10 which holds about a gallon3 ,behold1 ,behold the ,upright ,band1 ,in virtue's path go hand in hand1 ,they shun each ill1 they do no wrong1 ,strict honour does to them belong4 ,on a ,sunderland jug1 giving view of 8,bridge over the ,river ,wear03 ,glide on my ,bark1 the ,summer's tide1 ,is gently flowing side by side1 ,around thy prow the waters bright1 ,in circling rounds of broken light1 ,are glittering as if ,ocean gave1 ,her countless gems to deck the wave4 ,on a ,sunderland jug1 with picture of ship in full sail1 titled1 8,true ,love from ,hull03 ,kindly take this gift of mine1 ,the gift and giver ,i hope is thine1 ,and though the value is but small1 ,a ,loving heart is worth it all4 ,on a ,sunderland 8,frog mug10 showing a black print of a man-of-war with all sails set3 ,,the ,,fairy ,,of ,,the ,,sea ,ther's a frigate on the waters1 ,fit for ,battle's storm or fun1 ,she dances like a ,lifeboat1 ,though she carries ,flag and ,gun1 ,what 'er may try1 she'll stand the test1 ,the brave1 the staunch1 the free1 ,she bears a name of stainless fame1 ,the ,fairy of the ,sea4 ,on a jug with print1 touched up with colours1 of a tavern called3 ,,the ,,jolly ,,boatmen ,let none ,john ,barleycorn despise1 ,he makes the drooping spirits rise1 ,then drink till all are satisfied1 ,but reason ever be your guide4 ,on a ,queen ,caroline jug3 ,may ,loyal ,george and ,caroline1 ,agree to rule our nation1 ,and peace and happiness combine1 ,in every rank and station4 ,on a ,staffordshire milk-bowl with a black printed farm scene3 ,,god ,,speed ,,the ,,plough ,we plough the fertile meadows1 ,and sow the furrow'd land1 ,but yet the waving harvest1 ,depends on ,god's own hand1 ,it is ,his mercy give us ,the sunshine and the rain1 ,that paints in verdant beauty1 ,the mountain and the plain4 ,success to the ,farmer4 ,on a ,liverpool jug bearing a representation of 8,charity03 ,,success ,,to ,,commerce ,,and ,,trade ,the watery grave now opens1 ,all dreadful from below1 ,when the waves move the ,sea1 ,and the stormy winds do blow1 ,but when the danger's over1 ,and safe we come on shore1 ,the horrors of the tempest1 ,we think of them no more4 ,on a ,staffordshire jug1 probably made by ,daniels1 and transfer printed with a picture of an old dandy1 who has a paper headed 8,oracle0 on his knee1 and whom the artist has crowned with a wig that would stuff a furnish-on-the-hire-system settee3 ,long may we live1 ,happy may we be1 ,blessed with content1 ,and from misfortunes free4 ,on a small plate with a rim edged with red1 which carries the alphabet in raised letters1 ,i see a quaint print of two men1 one holding his hat in his hand1 the other has his right hand thrust in his vest1 while the left is in the flap pocket of his knee breeches4 ,there is1 of course1 a cow1 one sheep1 and a lamb4 ,in the background there is a thatched roof covering some house from out of which a lady1 who appears to have donned her shop-soiled sables1 has brought into the road a stool and a spinning-wheel4 ,she is sitting on the former while she works the latter4 ,it is a quiet road1 and no motors are anticipated4 ,the artist has wonderfully conveyed the idea that they are having a very warm time1 and that the 8,johnnies0 are having a heated argument2 further1 it is the fly season1 or why is the cow whisking her tail8 ,it is a peaceful scene1 for not a leaf stirs1 and it is small wonder that the author has been carried away from his object1 which was to report that at the top of the illustration there is printed3 ,,poor ,,richard',s ,,maxims 8,fly pleasure and it will follow you2 the diligent spinner has a large shirt40 ,while at the foot every child can read3 8,now ,i have a sheep and a cow everybody bids me good morrow40 ,so ,i conclude the diligent spinner whose hands are hidden by his clothing is bothered by too large a shirt on this hot day1 and that he is such a super-diligent spinner that he sees his wife does the spinning while he swanks about counting the cow1 sheep1 and lamb1 and is accosted by an indigent acquaintance who is anxious to negotiate a loan--hence the heated argument4 ,,willow ,,pattern 7,see ,plate ,,xxxvii7 ,of course1 everyone knows the ,willow ,pattern2 if not1 they fancy they do1 and it was only natural that the first old looking dish ,i met with ,i bought4 ,it was marked 8stoneware ,k4 ,b402 there was also a small cross in blue4 ,i couldn't find 8,k4 ,b40 in the book ,i then had1 but ,i found a cross was a ,bristol mark1 so ,i concluded the dish was old ,bristol1 whereas it would be made by ,knight and ,bridgewood in ,staffordshire4 ,then ,i bought other ,willow ,pattern plates and dishes1 some marked on the back and some not1 and found there were no two actually alike4 ,on reference ,i found that the ,willow ,pattern was the original design of ,thomas ,minton1 made for ,thomas ,turner1 of ,caughley1 so ,i turn7er7ed to my guide books to look for a reproduction of the genuine picture1 and ,i found each author showed photographs which differed in many particulars1 but some specially recommended marks 8,c0 or 8,s0 and ,i surmise that we may take it that 8,c0 is the most original of all the originals4 ,as ,i was growing older every day1 and wished to solve this ,anglo-,chinese problem for the benefit of a bewildered brain1 ,i rambled farther afield1 and at last discovered a dish marked 8,s10 this being the mark of the ,salopian works which were early in the market with this remarkable design4 ,when ,i found another dish marked 8,s10 ,i exchanged two of my mongrels for it1 and ,i repeated this bargain when ,i found a third4 ,i use the word 8bargain0 from the shopkeepers' point of view1 as they would by my generous treatment receive double from their sale than they had previously expected4 ,one of them told me ,i was too good-natured ever to be well off1 and ,i think he was a man of keen perception of character1 but it is disconcerting if a bank-book can be revealed by the face1 or by the old ,burberry worn on the back4 ,having a trio of the genuine article1 each one 8bought0 at different places1 on comparing ,i found the pictures identical1 although the blue varied slightly1 and so ,i recommend the reader1 if he is interested in this grave question1 to study ,plate ,,xxxvii4 ,my cue is to look at the wagtails or love birds1 and if the one on the off side is a cock and carries his wings perpendicularly1 or if she is a hen and1 after looping the loop1 has also acquired the same wing position1 which appears to be just the right one for billing and cooing1 then it is about time for the collector to turn-er-over and see if there is anything more fascinating than a love story on the back of the piece4 ,to make myself doubly clear1 and to remove any possible doubt whatsoever1 ,i give an illustration of another ,willow ,pattern dish which has no mark1 and is1 to my mind1 worth half a dozen of the 8,s0 specimen as an antique1 for it must be fifty years older1 is a better shape1 and a nicer blue4 ,i obtained a pair of these from an auctioneer1 one being broken in two1 and whether ,i gave him three shillings for the whole one or for the whole lot ,i am uncertain1 and so ,i cannot make up my pottery account1 for ,i am unable to say the exact number of pieces ,i have bought4 ,i rather think he sold me the whole one1 and gave me the two halves2 he certainly did not knock down the lot1 or both the dishes would have been broken4 ,with some stuff that is guaranteed to stick everything1 on two occasions ,i joined the two halves1 but each time they fell apart a while after4 ,as the third time is like no other my reward for perseverance was that they held together until ,i nearly got the dish on the shelf1 when half fell on the floor1 broke in many pieces1 and ,i dropped the other on the top of them in disgust4 ,i suppose those uneasy birds started carrying-on1 and the cement did not have a proper chance to set4 ,i shall now have to photograph ,no4 #b1 and ,i must see those cuckoos maintain their present positions4 8,birdie1 come here a minute and help me take a photo4 ,you keep an eye on that off-side budgeregar1 and see he doesn't budge1 while ,i put a ,w4,p4 plate in the slide40 8,hurry up1 dad--they're gliding40 8,a'hem6 they've shifted--so like a bird to move2 it's a snapshot anyway40 ,a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush1 but when they are in the air1 and you haven't got your gun1--well1 there you are4 ,talk about ,willow ,pattern--but those flighty birds are no pattern4 ,i once collected a pair of love-birds in ,london1 and fetched them home4 ,i thought they would do well in the nursery to teach the young idea how to love4 ,one day ,mr4 ,lovebird got loose and flew about the room until at last he found a perch out of reach in a hook in the ceiling from which was suspended a swing4 ,the hook was kept well greased1 and what with friction and dust he could not have found a handier place for disguising himself as a blackbird4 ,to get him down the nurse hit upon the brilliant idea of dipping a stick in treacle1 and poking about with this to entice him down1 with the result that he got treacled as well as vaselined4 ,at length he was caught1 and put under the bathroom tap by my better half1 who was rewarded by having his beak through the best half of her thumb4 ,when ,i came home to lunch1 on learning what had happened1 ,i flew to the nursery1 and then ,i saw something that looked akin to 8,l0 on one end of the perch1 looking very down in the feather1 while ,mrs4 ,l4 was at the other end4 ,i enquired1 8,lovey1 why don't you get on with your loving40 ,when swallowing a tear he answered1 8,she won't let me1 cos ,i'm sticky40 ,i said1 8,oh1 that's foolish2 if you love one another you should stick together whatever happens40 ,i gave them to a local bird dealer eventually1 and the last ,i saw of them they were playing about with some rabbits4 ,this man came up to cure a ,plymouth ,rock rooster which ,i thought had the gout2 he wrung its neck1 and that is what ,i would like to do with those wriggling skylarks which have caused me all this trouble4 99 99 99 99 99 8,hello--what's this80 ,in reply the broker just said 8,two40 ,of course he meant the price of the plate1 but ,i referred to the portrait2 on my explaining he only answered1 8,don't ask me40 ,i felt sure it was intended for ,tennyson1 for although we writers are a bit jealous1 we soon get to know one another4 ,i wanted my impression confirmed1 so ,i enquired of ,no4 #a1 8,who do you think this is80 8,oh1 that's ,sir ,stafford ,northcote2 ,i can tell by his beard40 ,no4 #b said it was 8,garibaldi10 judging by his necktie4 ,then ,i considered1 who do ,i know who runs a beard1 because anyone who flies a kite at this angle usually trims it la somebody1 and so ,i thought of my friend the librarian4 ,he has plenty of whiskers on his face1 a store of information in his head1 and much more on his shelves1 and it's no use having a lot of shelves if you store everything in the brain4 ,he thought it might be ,tennyson and yet it had a look of ,browning2 it had rather too much beard for ,tennyson4 ,i pointed out that at intervals beards were usually trimmed1 and he1 whilst stroking his own1 agreed with me4 ,he kindly produced volumes which gave ,tennyson from photographs1 woodcuts1 and steel engravings1 taken at various times1 and the beard seemed to change after each poem2 in the end ,i came away firmly convinced it was ,tennyson1 and he didn't seem to mind who it was4 ,i know that ,tennyson was born in #ahji1 and the plate was made before #ahfg by ,copeland1 otherwise the mark would be 8,copeland and ,son10 so if we call the plate sixty years old1 we find that the great poet was honoured by a halo of ,willow ,pattern when he was about fifty1 and that is as near as one can guess to with such an illustration4 ,i need hardly say that ,tennyson was not the writer of that much-whistled and enticing poem 8,tit-willow1 ,tit-willow1 ,tit-willow40 ,i thought ,i had done with ,willow ,pattern1 but the arrival of ,tennyson has caused a flutter in the dove-cot4 ,when ,i came to arrange a photograph for this book ,i found he was out of place in any position for making an artistic group worthy to grace a standard work on the ,willow ,pattern such as this aspires to be4 ,i therefore went through--or to be more accurate took up a position in front of--my collection1 and seeing a set of ,leeds bread dishes with beaded edges1 found they were all too large4 7,by the way1 these have no warblers on their design47 ,then ,i saw an oval pie-dish by ,job ,meigh and ,son1 and thought that was no match2 next ,i caught sight of a pair of dishes by the so-called ,wedgwood and ,co4 of ,stockton-on-,tees1 but neither of those would fit the space4 ,a small pickled-onion holder1 shaped like a flat-bottomed boat or barge1 was hardly dignified enough1 especially as the futurist artist had given his coots two wings and two tails each4 ,i was on the point of throwing up the sponge--which1 of course1 ,i did not have with me--when ,i espied on the top shelf a hot-water plate with an antique cork in the hole4 ,this ,i thought very suitable1 for had ,i not heard an ode to the odour of a cork by a poet who had lost his licence8 ,also the lapwings looked fairly normal4 ,perhaps they were tired with having had such warm times and fidgeting about trying to find a cool corner on a round surface4 ,anyway1 they did not look like nesting in that beard and thereby upsetting the growth of years4 ,i must decline to discuss the matter further4 ,,sixth ,,course ,old ,china ,hard or ,soft ,lowestoft--8,won by ,waiting0--,bow ,bowls--,contrast in ,prices--,changing ,trains--,eye ,openers--,a ,hidden ,meaning--,photography--,bow--,chelsea-- ,lowestoft--,bristol--8,t0 and ,crossed ,swords--,tebo and ,taboo--,minton--8,thereby ,hangs a ,tale10 ,a ,transparent ,error--,swansea--,the ,first ,starter--8,woodbine0--,blue ,dragons1 and ,green ,ones--,worcester--,sauce and ,sentiment--,english ,japanese--,some ,temper--,some ,difference--,newhall--,the ,broken ,bowl--,camouflage--,physiognomy--,derby --,spode--,leeds--,french ,porcelain--,what's in a ,name8 ,enobarbus said of ,cleopatra1 8,age cannot wither her1 nor custom stale her infinite variety10 and the sentiment embodied in this remark seems singularly applicable to china4 ,year after year it wears the same charm and beauty if taken care of1 while we see evidence of its infinite variety every day4 ,to the amateurs who are desirous of gathering together a collection let me remind them that 8a little knowledge is a dangerous thing40 ,i was recently examining a teapot1 the only mark on which was 8#bes40 in ink1 and on commenting on the price to a lady who was also looking round1 was amused at her remark that 8it did not seem excessive if it was either hard or soft ,lowestoft40 ,i did not argue the point1 but it came into my mind that ,i had read that the furnaces at ,lowestoft were never capable of firing hard ,china4 ,moreover1 ,i had seen an identical teapot in a shop about a mile away1 and ,i have one almost identical labelled 8,newhall0 and marked 8,n0 7see ,shelf #c1 ,plate ,,xlii1 facing p4 #acf72 also ,lowestoft china is very scarce4 ,i believe if all the china which has been1 and still is being1 offered as ,lowestoft had been made at that small early factory it would have necessitated its being many times larger than ,doulton's is to-day4 ,illustration3 ,china ,cabinet1 ,mahogany1 ,late #ahth ,century4 ,,plate ,,xxxviii4 ,illustration3 ,old ,china4 ,shelf #d4 ,derby4 0 #c4 ,spode4 0 #b4 ,spode4 0 #a4 ,chelsea4 ,,plate ,,xxxix4 ,these remarks caused me to reflect on the difficulty ,i experienced in learning to distinguish between hard and soft china1 as ,i had no desire to collect any but old ,english4 ,i read that the surest way was to use a file1 but ,i always feared antique dealers might resent my testing their stock in this effective manner1 although it would have been a useful tip for some who have sold me pieces of ,chelsea and called them ,oriental4 ,i have for some time been fitted with a thumb-nail of experience on which ,i have to rely4 ,as illustrative of what may be 8won by waiting0 let me relate the following3 ,in the year #aiab ,i was in ,harrogate and had a desire to acquire a blue-and-white china sauce-boat1 and ,i found one which the dealer and ,i agreed must be ,lowestoft4 ,the price was high1 but he advised me to buy1 as ,i might not find another4 ,seven years after ,i was struck with the strange appearance of another blue-and-white sauce-boat which ,i bought for a nominal sum4 ,i found it bore a faintly impressed mark1 and this enabled me to identify it as made at ,bow and printed at ,battersea4 ,this discovery led to another1 which ,i think worth recording4 ,in #aiab among other pieces ,i purchased a triangular-shaped tray with fretted sides1 and not being able to locate its origin said nothing when ,i found it had been appropriated for use in the bathroom as a receptacle for soap4 ,when ,i had labelled the ,bow sauce-boat1 which was made of a thick body with a yellowish cast1 ,i looked through my collection for anything like it and found a small blue-and-white saucer and the tray which had been desecrated with soap instead of decorated with sweetmeats and consigned to the risks of a bathroom instead of the safety of the display cabinet4 ,pursuing my investigation ,i turned out an oblong basket-work pattern dish with quaint fret edge and with every evidence of old age1 which had been in my cupboard for nearly ten years1 and then realised that it also was early ,bow4 ,you will see on ,plate ,,xv a #i-;inch ,bow bowl of the famille rose design2 this appeared in an auctioneer's catalogue as 8,oriental bowl0 and was knocked down for half a crown to a broker who took a profit of one shilling from me for his bargain4 ,here is another incident3 8,will you buy that bowl80 8,well hardly1 but ,i don't mind making you a sporting offer for the rivets10 ,i said4 ,these were the oldest type of rivets used for china ,i had seen1 and they1 with some very ancient shellac1 held the two halves very firmly together4 ,my offer was accepted1 and ,i do not mind telling you the bowl is early ,bow and the only piece with green in the decoration ,i have ever seen4 7,see ,plate ,,xv47 ,i shall not attempt to place values on any of my specimens as it seems to me they are worth just as much as ,i could get for them1 while the same theory holds good in buying4 ,i show on ,plate ,,xli1 ,shelf #a1 a cup and saucer which are marked with cross swords2 the matched cup and saucer were sold to me by a dealer as ,dresden for about #ajs41 whereas an odd saucer1 also with cross swords 7,shelf #c1 ,plate ,,xlii71 was sent to me marked 8#d;d40 with some other china1 mostly rubbish1 on approval4 ,these three items might have belonged to the same set1 and are excellent examples of the beautiful hand decoration turned out at ,bristol about the end of the #ahth century4 ,i was changing trains at a station and had some short time to wait1 so ,i strolled into the principal street of a town that is constantly visited by dealers or their representatives1 when ,i espied in a secondhand furniture shop a pair of hand-painted dark-blue lidded pots which at first glance ,i thought were ,chinese ginger jars1 and yet ,i desired to make closer acquaintance4 ,on enquiring from the girl what was the price she shortly returned and said3 8,she has been asking three-and-six for them1 but she will take two-and-six40 ,the pots and lids were quite thick1 and ,i could make nothing of them in the train2 but when ,i got home1 and in a dark room switched on the electric light1 turned them round until ,i came to a part thin enough to be transparent1 then by the cast of the paste ,i knew they were what ,i anticipated1 real ,old ,worcester teapots4 ,this reminds me of another adventure when ,i passed a shop on my way to catch a train1 and noticed in the window a blotchy blue and white teapot and felt sorry ,i was tied to time4 ,about three months after1 ,i had occasion to visit the town again1 and my business being finished ,i went straight to that window1 when to my joy the teapot was still there4 ,a very short examination and ,i had made up my mind to have it although it was minus a lid4 ,on asking the price ,i was told #as41 but--bless their honesty6--they wouldn't guarantee it was old4 ,that teapot will be found among my ,lowestoft group and it is probably the earliest example4 ,i will here refer to the ,liverpool teapot on ,shelf #c1 ,plate ,,xli4 ,i had travelled by train to a town about twenty miles off and there called in a shop kept by a man whom his most intimate acquaintances might have found to be one of the best1 but to my mind had some of the ,stone ,age blood in him1 for he was indeed a hard case4 ,i asked how much for the teapot4 8,five shillings to you40 8,five shillings8 ,well1 ,i'm sorry1 but they ought not to have told you40 8,what are you getting at80 8,i just thought you must know your number's up and that you are in training for the repentance stakes40 8,no sir1 but ,i'm pleased to see you1 and to be able to offer you a bargain this time40 8,oh1 thanks--,i apologise40 ,when ,i was leaving with the teapot under my arm he added to his farewell1 8,you'd be surprised if you knew how little ,i gave for it40 ,this remark rankled1 and ,i was no sooner in the train than ,i carefully examined my purchase1 when ,i found that the spout had been snapped off clean just where it entered the body of the pot1 and had been carefully and neatly stuck in again1 and so the mysterious outburst of genial generosity was revealed4 ,blue and white takes my eye always1 pulls me up every time1 and ,i fancy myself fortunate in having so much of it in pottery and porcelain considering the means ,i have adopted while collecting4 ,i do not flatter myself that ,i have any china of extraordinary value1 but the reader will gather from the photographs that1 taken as a whole1 ,i have found something worth looking for4 ,being wishful that the amateur may derive assistance from my book ,i have arranged several groups as specimens of various factories1 and although the photographs can give only a poor idea of the colours1 yet the style of decoration and the shapes may be some guide4 ,i have succeeded in obtaining a black background by making use of the bookcase on the bureau1 which gave me a side light4 ,i am glad to say that all the handling1 moving from place to place1 fixing on wire stands1 arranging on the shelves1 shifting from one position to another1 taking down and getting back into their respective quarters has been achieved without a chip4 ,beyond the annoyance of having to arrange a grouping twice1 owing to an oversight which was not discovered until some days after the first negative had been taken1 the photography was interesting1 and ,i hope the result will be so to the reader1 who is recommended to use a magnifying glass4 ,,bow 7,,plate ,,xl7 ,i have drawn my bow at a venture in getting this bag and my first shot brought in a saucer pronounced 8,worcester0 which ,i found had an impressed ,bow workman's mark2 next ,i potted a saucer which was so thick and heavy that ,i thought it was all pot2 then came in sight the teapot sold as 8,worcester10 ,dr4 ,wall period1 and soon after ,i got a small bowl1 strange to say flying under the same false colours4 ,other stray shots account for the odd handle-less cups4 ,all these are hand-painted in blue1 and as they vary in shade and hardness of paste they have been very entertaining4 ,the tea-caddy on which ,i placed a small cup inverted1 and two cups with saucers are painted in red1 blue and gold4 ,i have already spoken of my large bowl1 the bowl with green decoration1 sauce-boat1 fretted bon-bon tray and basket pattern dish1 so ,i need not again refer to them4 ,,chelsea 7,,plate ,,xxxix7 ,i fancy the two cups hand-decorated in red were among the first pieces made1 and ,i wonder what has become of the saucers for they would be so thick they would not be likely to be broken except by a twentieth-century washer-up4 ,i have three large plates1 two of which were sold as ,oriental1 while the other was exchanged for a remark about the weather and half a crown4 ,the two small plates were 8certainly ,lowestoft40 ,the fine cup ,i found at ,dunbar1 and strange to say ,i picked out a saucer to match it at a ,southport shop a few days later4 ,here ,i also bought the little vase as ,oriental1 and at the next antique shop ,i visited ,i was kindly furnished with an ,oriental lid which fitted1 thus completing the picture in a way4 ,the ,chelsea painting is exquisite1 yet the whole does not bear careful scrutiny4 ,still the two make handy examples of hard and soft paste4 ,the odd cup dates between the cups already spoken of4 ,the small figure of ,cupid holding a shell for sweets completes the group1 but an early bowl will be found on ,plate ,,xv4 ,illustration3 ,old ,china4 ,shelf #d4 ,worcester1 ,caughley4 0 #c4 0 0 0 #b4 ,lowestoft4 0 #a4 ,bow4 ,,plate ,,xl4 ,illustration3 ,old ,china4 ,shelf #d4 ,turner ,jug1 ,newhall1 ,chinese1 ,newhall4 0 #c4 ,liverpool1 ,davenport ,jug1 ,worcester4 0 #b4 ,swansea1 ,nantgarw4 0 #a4 ,plates3 ,coalport1 ,minton1 ,worcester1 ,coalport4 ,cups and ,saucers3 ,minton1 ,leeds1 ,bristol1 ,rockingham1 ,pinxton4 ,,plate ,,xli4 ,,lowestoft 7,,plate ,,xl7 ,before you set out to collect ,lowestoft it would be as well if you learned something about it1 for as no marks are known of in connection therewith it makes a most convenient name to conjure with4 ,i have had all sorts of stuff offered to me as ,lowestoft4 ,after ,i had coached myself up ,i rambled out one day to endeavour to make a start and you will scarcely credit it but at the first shop ,i came to ,i was successful4 ,after going through the china that was visible ,i worked my way to the back where ,i found a few plates and odds and ends jumbled together1 and after turning them over came across the pair of small blue hand-painted plates shown4 ,i was told the plates had been in the window ever so long1 but as nobody wanted them ,i could have them for a shilling each4 ,i have found the other two odd plates quite at haphazard1 and they were treated as just ordinary old ware by people who have not sunk deep into the mysteries of porcelain and glazing4 ,three cups and a saucer in blue1 also a cup and saucer with basket and garland floral decoration in colours1 make up the lot after including the teapot to which ,i have already alluded as probably one of the earliest pieces1 owing to the way in which the design had run causing its smudged appearance4 ,the handle-less cup may be ,longton ,hall4 ,,bristol ,to the group ,shelf #c1 ,plate ,,xlii1 ,i think it worth while to call special attention4 ,to begin with ,i invested one shilling on the handle-less cup blue and gold1 marked 8,t10 and ,i concluded this identified it with ,tebo and ,bristol2 next ,i was sold the blue-and-white coffee cup marked with crossed swords and guaranteed 8,worcester02 then ,i bought the spill-holder with crossed swords4 ,all these at different times and places4 ,later ,i spotted a dirty teapot1 with no mark and no gilt1 which when washed looked well4 ,it was evidently closely related to the coffee-cup in decoration and age1 and was undoubtedly old ,bristol4 ,then my faith in the 8,t0 mark wavered1 and when a few days after ,i saw a feeding-cup which appeared new1 and which on handling revealed the 8,t0 again1 ,i began to feel cheap4 ,anyway1 this settled the doubt ,i had in my mind and convinced me that while ,i had found an old ,bristol piece which had copied the ,dresden mark ,i had been deceived by 8,dresden0 faking the old ,bristol mark4 ,i show the two wastrels alongside the absolutes to illustrate my perplexity2 certainly the soft paste1 hand decoration1 and very little gilt remaining helped to take me down4 ,i wonder which of the copyists originated the design8 8,t0 on this class has meant taboo since4 ,when the forger stops his forging ,there won't be half the fun1 ,for the hunter bargain hunting ,stands less chance of being done4 ,it's just the doubt1 when you are out1 ,that makes up half the game2 ,without the fake1 and chance you take1 ,the pastime would be tame4 ,the first ,bristol cottage china teapot 7,shelf #b7 ,i discovered was on a shelf and as ,i lifted it down ,i noticed the cross mark in red1 and as no lid was in evidence ,i was charged one shilling4 ,on wrapping it up ,i found the lid inside and called attention thereto1 but was met with the remark 8,that makes no difference40 ,,minton 7,,shelf #a1 ,,plate ,,xli7 ,i am noticing this name because thereby hangs a tale4 ,while in a well-stocked shop ,i was charmed with a cup and saucer1 which ,i examined and found impressed 8,minton10 together with the name of the artist1 and dated #ahfd in red4 ,at the time of my find 7#aiab71 this artist had risen to the important position of ,art ,director at ----1 and ,i wondered why he had gone to such trouble to please someone whose initials are worked into the design on the cup and saucer1 and how it came to be sold to me with the remark1 8,oh1 that's only modern2 you can have it for----0 7so little71 as it is hand painted with sweet delicacy4 ,the plate is a typical example of hand-painted fruit1 with the border of turquoise blue4 ,further specimens are on ,shelf #a1 ,plate ,,xlii1 a ,minton plate giving a ,spanish noble's coat-of-arms in green1 and a rather ordinary cup and saucer in pink and turquoise4 99 99 99 99 99 ,owing to a very recent purchase just in time to be included in ,plate ,,xxxiii1 ,shelf #a1 there will be seen two ,minton ,plates2 the one in the centre is pottery1 is mainly hand painted in bright colours1 one over the glaze1 and impressed 8,minton40 ,that on the right is thick porcelain with one colour over the glaze1 the outline of the design in black transfer1 the colouring done by hand4 ,i have had a pair of the latter some time1 and the marked plate confirmed my opinion that they also came from the same factory1 so ,i included one for the benefit of the reader1 who will do well to study old ,minton4 ,because--,i have just been pulled up short when passing a shop which exhibited a large dish 7#bj in4 by #ae in471 having been struck by its almost dazzling decoration and its perfect condition4 ,i found it bore no maker's mark1 but as ,i had ,minton's style in my mind's eye1 ,i bought it in a hurry as pottery4 ,now ,i have time to examine it at home ,i find it is excellent porcelain1 translucent throughout1 although it weighs #f lb4 ,it is the largest piece of china ,i have and the most brilliant in colouring1 which is all hand painted1 being touched up here and there with dark brown for a finishing effect after glazing4 ,there is enough work on this dish to keep a 8,ca' ,canny0 artist 7did such exist7 toiling for a week4 ,it is a greatly glorified edition of the marked plate1 and it is just in time to be too late to photograph1 as this is my final haul before going to press4 ,here is another proof of my previous remark that 8,you never know your luck when collecting10 but ,i must add that your fortune may be considerably influenced by the knowledge you have acquired4 ,you should first of all make up your mind where you want to go1 and ascertain the best way to 8get there10 as there are many pitfalls on the road4 ,the six plates referred to have been found at five different places 7the pair #ajj miles away72 and as to the cost1 well1 that is a detail which might depreciate the descriptive notes4 ,,swansea 7,,plate ,,xli7 ,i must say a few words about this group1 as second on the left is a jug which represents my first purchase in old china4 ,i knew nothing about the subject1 and when later ,i discovered its mark 8,woodbine0 denoted that the piece emanated from ,swansea1 and that it was actually mentioned in a book1 it set me thinking1 and ,i decided to enter for the ,china ,stakes4 ,i have gathered in other ,swansea representatives1 none of them of a really uncommon type4 ,four in the centre are lustre decoration1 but no one ,i have come in contact with has been aware that it was all ,swansea1 so possibly the photograph may be of avail to more than one curious reader4 ,i am well aware that the really artistic ,swansea is considered of great value1 but the fact that ,i have no specimens of this class does not keep me awake o' nights4 ,the jug on the right is ,nantgarw4 ,,blue ,,dragon 7,,plate ,,xl7 ,i had a remarkable experience one morning when ,i was staying at a seaside town4 ,i turned out to see what ,i could find1 and visited all likely shops4 ,in one where the stock was mostly modern ,i was told they had no old china1 but for some reason ,i opened a drawer near the door and lifted out a blue dragon bowl bearing an old ,worcester mark4 ,they had forgotten all about it1 and seemed almost as pleased as ,i was at the discovery1 which ended in a mutual bargain4 ,in another street at a shop where they were giving up business1 and only had a little stock left1 ,i saw another blue dragon bowl the same size1 marked #ds4 #f;d4 ,when ,i got home ,i removed the price ticket and was shocked when an imitation ,chinese mark was revealed proving it to be very early ,caughley4 ,no blue dragons or blue devils have since crossed my path1 but if ,i do meet with any green dragons on cups ,i will see if ,i cannot make them agree with some which are portrayed on the two early ,coalport saucers ,i show on ,plate ,,xli4 ,,worcester 7,,shelves #c ,,and #d1 ,,plate ,,xl7 ,reader1 ,i have now brought you to ,worcester1 which you know is a ,sauce-y as well as a ,saucer-y place1 but that should not influence our careful study of some of its products which appeal to me effectively4 ,there is something so reposeful about the blue-and-white old ,worcester china1 mellow with age1 and soothing with its smoothness1 combined with a warmth of feeling1 that has ofttimes affected me4 ,when reaching the stage of jadedness after a long ramble1 when the results have been up to that point disappointing1 ,i have felt quite revived after treating myself to a taste of ,worcester ,sauce4 ,you see the variety of articles1 wine cup1 egg-cup1 sweetmeat dish1 teapot1 cups and saucers--but ,i wish to call your special attention to the small jug4 ,i saw one very like this recently fitted with a lid1 and marked with a crescent1 which the dealer said denoted either ,worcester or ,caughley1 and the price was four guineas4 ,as my jug has no mark ,i call it 8,worcester40 ,the cup and saucer1 lotus pattern bear the #ahfb mark4 ,shelf #c1 ,plate ,,xli1 coloured and printed ,worcester4 ,i bought the ,english ,japanese mask jug1 as ,i was struck with its doubtful beauty1 especially as it had only part of the handle4 ,later it took a journey to ,london1 and returned after a lengthy absence fitted with the artificial limb which1 as it has not been put to use since1 has proved most satisfactory4 ,with regard to the coloured cream jug1 on one of my cycling rambles ,i unexpectedly came across an emporium1 stocked with a legion of antiques1 which ,i entered1 after dismounting of course4 ,being a beginner ,i was much bewildered1 and was backing out without buying when ,i was hypnotised by the glare of the proprietor's gaze1 so ,i grabbed the most strikingly coloured thing that struck my eye1 put down half a crown1 and scorched away with what ,i have since discovered to be a piece of old ,worcester of a type which is in great demand4 ,i got to know the man fairly well later1 and if he had sudden fits of uncontrollable temper at intervals his lungs were ,o4 ,k41 and fitted him for the role of local politician4 ,he did a big trade1 and if ,i caught him in his shirt with his trousers fastened up by his braces tied round him ,i anticipated we could do business2 but on occasions when ,i found him got up in print shirt-sleeves and a black velveteen waistcoat then ,i knew he was expecting wealthy clients and ,i had better call again4 ,his knowledge of marks was somewhat limited1 and ,i wondered why his price always seemed high after ,i had examined the bottom of a piece2 and that he never said what he wanted until he had taken the thing from me and satisfied himself if it had a mark or not4 ,when ,i tumbled to his game1 if ,i caught sight of a mark ,i had to put that piece back hurriedly and pick it up again casually just before leaving1 this being a case of paste cutting a rough diamond4 ,lastly ,i come to my first little bit of ,worcester4 ,you will no doubt have heard of ,dr4 ,wall1 who really created this china2 if not1 you can read him up1 when you will find he took a great interest in ,malvern1 so it is not surprising that on this mug there is a view of ,malvern4 ,judging by the scene it must be a very early production1 more especially as the printing is over the glaze4 ,every collector seems to be out for reminiscences of ,dr4 ,wall1 and ,i once came in contact with a dealer who labelled most of his ,worcester 8,dr4 ,wal period40 ,on my pointing out the error in the spelling he remarked1 8,i see--that makes a ,l of a difference60 ,,newhall ,it is often hard to tell a certain class of ,newhall from ,bristol common or cottage china1 and ,newhall seems to have turned out many qualities of work without using any mark4 ,the only pieces ,i have which are marked are the bowl on 8,grandfather ,helm0 and the teapot in ,plate ,,xlii1 ,shelf #c4 ,illustration3 ,old ,china4 ,shelf #d4 ,french ,porcelain4 0 #c4 ,newhall 7#c71 ,plymouth ,cup1 ,bristol ,saucer1 ,mug and ,teapot1 8,dresden0 ,duds 7#b74 0 #b4 ,bristol ,cottage ,china4 0 #a4 ,plates3 ,minton1 ,worcester1 ,chamberlain's ,worcester1 ,cups and ,saucers3 ,minton1 ,leeds1 ,caughley1 ,newhall4 ,,plate ,,xlii4 ,illustration3 ,old ,horse ,amulets4 ,group #a4 ,,plate ,,xliii4 ,in regard to the bowl ,i am about to reveal a secret known to very few outside my own family circle4 ,the bowl was given 7not thrown7 in with several other things ,i had bought1 as it had a piece broken out4 ,it is gaudily painted inside1 and having the letter 8,n0 on the bottom ,i determined to make the most of it4 ,i had a wooden block cut1 grooved to just fit the jagged edge when the bowl was on its side1 and fitted with a back support which took in the bottom1 then a piece of wire holds the bowl always in position4 ,this is a bit of camouflage that has only been noticed by one collector visitor1 and the bowl has often been admired4 ,on the top shelf1 ,plate ,,xli1 you will see two teapots very similar in decoration1 the practically perfect one is ,newhall and soft2 the other1 without a handle1 is ,chinese and very hard4 ,i bought the latter to demonstrate how nearly the ,english artist copied the ,oriental1 but the faces always give the show away2 the fact is1 you cannot make a ,chinese mug out of an ,english face4 ,when ,i bought this broken pot the following remarks were exchanged3 8,i never thought anyone would be soft enough to buy that thing40 8,ah6 but ,i collect teapots without handles2 then they cannot be broken off when they are used at home40 8,but how can they pour the tea out when it's hot80 8,pump it out with a strainer40 8,how80 8,now you are pumping4 ,if you get any more without handles1 will you save them for me8 ,good day40 ,,derby 7,,shelf #d1 ,,plate ,,xxxix7 ,the cup and saucer on the right are richly decorated in heavy gold only1 and are marked4 ,those at the left end are painted with rural scenery1 and ,i was surprised to find they were ,derby4 ,the part-set of handsome ,crown ,derby will be easily identified by the typical handwork1 which is of good early production4 ,,spode 7,,shelves #b ,,and #c1 ,,plate ,,xxxix7 ,i give several specimens representing this prolific factory1 and although none of them is marked1 ,i feel sure they are correctly classified4 ,there is a substantial portion of a family tea service of old ,spode on the third shelf1 to which ,i have added some cups and saucers of the same design1 but whiter in the body4 ,these all have the well-known ,mandarin design as decoration with the typical bright green in evidence4 ,the teapot1 sugar bowl1 and specimen cups and saucers on the shelf below call for no special comment4 ,,leeds ,i give on ,shelf #a1 ,plate ,,xli1 a charming specimen of some cups and saucers printed in maroon and gilt1 and on ,shelf #a1 ,plate ,,xlii1 a blue-and-white cup and saucer bearing a square imitation ,chinese mark4 ,on 8,grandfather ,phillips10 ,plate ,,iii1 there is an example of old ,leeds pottery1 hand painted in blue1 with an early ,oriental design4 ,i was in doubt where this bowl emanated from1 but ,i am now convinced it is ,leeds1 for ,i have just bought a perfect rich blue-and-white ,leeds ,queen's ware coffee pot of similar design and glaze4 ,it has a twin twisted handle with flower knob1 and cost less than the price of this book4 ,a basket-pattern dish in fine condition appears on ,plate ,,xv4 ,,french ,,porcelain ,at the head of ,plate ,,xlii you will see a covered potpourri jar and a pair of #h-;inch beakers1 together with two mugs4 ,i found four of these things at ,folkestone1 while one mug1 with the coat-of-arms of the ,earl of ,arundel worked into the decoration1 ,i got in ,kendal4 ,when ,i was in ,folkestone in #aiab ,i was hopelessly puzzled as to what this stuff could be4 ,in another shop ,i had examined a bowl of the same make bearing an imitation ,chinese mark1 and as up to then ,i had learnt that only ,english china was soft--which all these pieces were--,i could not understand where it came from4 ,after comparing notes with ,mr4 ,j4 ,f4 ,blacker1 who had previously written me very kindly when answering my queries1 ,i felt satisfied it was made in ,france of a soft quality to suit the ,english market4 ,the decoration is by hand1 and is a mixture between ,chelsea and ,oriental design4 ,lots of this stuff has been called ,lowestoft1 and about that time in an up-to-date shop ,i saw something like it which ,i felt sure had not long come over from the ,continent4 ,soon after this holiday ,i was asked to call at a house near home to look at two 8,lowestoft0 vases which had just been sent them1 and ,i found they were similar modern ,continental4 ,i believe my specimens are about a hundred years old4 ,,seventh ,,course ,old ,horse ,amulets ,a ,poor ,start--,castings--,tips--,duplicates--, photographs--,a ,puzzle--,my only ,son--,our last ,tour4 ,i have now reached a course which ,i am afraid ,i shall not find easy-going4 ,my attention was first drawn to horse amulets or face brasses in an article in the ,connoisseur for ,october1 #aiaa1 but it was not until #aiac1 when ,i came in touch with the proprietor of an antique shop who had dabbled in these things for some time1 and who obligingly talked to me about them1 that ,i decided ,i would add a few to my collection1 as they might be interesting and would occupy small space4 ,my first purchases resulted in my bringing home on approval quite a number which ,i had obtained from a dealer1 who informed me that the brasses were usually collected in pairs4 ,i referred this find to the friendly antique proprietor1 who1 after looking them through1 asked if ,i had paid for them1 and he said it in such a way that ,i evaded the question by enquiring 8,why80 ,his answer was1 8,because there are several stamped pieces1 and you should only buy cast ones2 besides1 what do you want pairs for80 ,this seemed rather a poor start1 but ,i was taught early in life to make difficulties stepping-stones to success1 so ,i returned the amulets not approved of1 and later received desirable specimens in exchange4 ,the next step was to learn how to detect those that were cast1 and ,i found they usually had a couple of points or studs apparent at the back corresponding with the holes in the moulds through which the molten metal had been run4 ,further1 all stamped pieces are punched out of a sheet of brass1 the same thickness throughout1 the back of which is practically as smooth as the front4 ,i have about half a dozen not cast and not stamped1 but fretted by hand4 ,next ,i had to ascertain how to tell old from modern4 ,that can usually be arrived at by the appearance of wear1 while the old type are more highly finished and better metal was used in their manufacture4 ,i was soon made aware of the fact that new 8old0 pieces were being made1 as they were constantly cropping up4 ,the ambition of the collector evidently should be to get together as many varieties as possible1 leaving the duplicates for other buyers2 but as soon as my curiosity was aroused ,i bought all the old castings ,i came across4 ,to anyone who makes a special study of signs and symbols these patterns and designs must be very fascinating1 and the collecting thereof should appeal forcibly to those with enquiring minds whose fancies tend in that direction4 ,as it was quite impossible to get together a collection by my usual method of looking out for myself1 ,i secured the assistance of two kindly travellers who went in all directions in connection with their ordinary business4 ,they took great interest in my requirement1 and bought up all the old brass cast specimens they could find1 with the result that ,i became possessed of many duplicates1 some of which ,i disposed of1 whilst through the courtesy of a correspondent who readily exchanged the remainder1 ,i was able to raise the number of my different specimens to about four hundred4 ,i found these amulets made very interesting groups for photography1 and as fast as ,i procured a fresh two dozen ,i hung them by strong pins on a bridge table1 which ,i placed on its side on a dining-table1 and so was enabled to make an easy job4 ,i was quite keen up to a point on doing this1 but the bottom seemed to drop out of the business soon after the war started1 though not before ,i had taken quite a number of photographs4 ,in the hope they will interest many readers1 ,i give two plates reduced from twelve of my best negatives1 which will show enough amulets for anyone to be going on with4 ,one collector informed me he knew of over one thousand designs1 and no doubt there are many more1 so there is ample scope1 but my experience is that old specimens are very hard to find4 ,i am now going to put a puzzle before you1 and hope it may be somewhat entertaining4 ,the fact is1 one of the amulets is a fake4 ,it occupies a central position on one of the twelve photographs reproduced4 ,i conceived the idea when the spirit of mischief was upon me1 and with the assistance of a mechanic and a little solder1 a very common piece was made into a very rare specimen4 ,it was specially remarked upon by another collector to whom ,i sent my photographs as the only one of the kind he had seen4 ,which is it8 ,i remember showing this jokingly to my son1 and his characteristic comment was1 8,that's jolly good2 but ,i say1 dad1 is it playing the game80 ,illustration3 ,old ,horse ,amulets4 ,group #b4 ,,plate ,,xliv4 ,illustration3 ,sheffield ,plate and ,old ,silver4 ,,plate ,,xlv4 ,in the spring of #aiad my son took me in his side-car for a tour which lasted one happy week1 one day of which now comes forcibly to my mind4 ,that we started back from ,henley-on-,thames in pouring rain made no difference to his equable temper1 and before we reached ,oxford the sun was as bright as his disposition4 ,when we turned at ,whitney and passed over the ,cotswolds en route for the ,wye ,valley1 we came across the scenery in which he revelled1 and here he and ,i found a few old amulets in a saddler's shop while waiting for the wayside lunch4 ,in peace and quietness his true bent lay1 and only his regard for duty impelled him to join the ,army when volunteers were appealed for4 ,his commission was dated on his twenty-first birthday1 and it was the irony of fate that the last two years of his clean life should have been spent in the grime and stress and turmoil of war4 ,thus ,i lost my lovable companion1 who for nearly ten years had played such a charming part in assisting to make my collecting a pastime4 ,,final ,,course ,sheffield ,plate and ,old ,silver ,told by the ,plateau ,i have been asked to act as spokesman for this group and as it is in the customary order of things1 not only for every group but for each individual1 to have a grievance and air it1 ,i must first of all protest against the indignity of placing my companions and myself at the rear of the book1 when our value and appearance justify our occupying the premier position1 and we consider it a great slight on the estimation in which we are held by real connoisseurs that we have been allotted a back setting while things like old pewter1 for which we have the utmost contempt1 have been allocated to the forefront4 ,now that ,i am on my feet ,i will say a few words respecting my associates and myself1 and considering that my age and reflections extend over a century1 ,i hope they will be followed with some regard4 ,i get on very well with the ,tankard1 but there are times when he gets out of hand4 ,on one of these unruly outbursts he addressed me as 8,centrepiece10 but ,i metaphorically put his lid on by calling him 8a mug40 ,taking him all round1 he is not a bad specimen1 and undoubtedly has sprung from a good family1 although ,i have heard that he latterly came out of a pawnshop for half a sovereign4 ,my friends the candlesticks might assist me considerably in my reflections1 but their glory has been snuffed out since coming here1 and on no occasion have they served any useful purpose1 whereas if their telescopic action was brought into play and their proper office as candle-bearers to a distinguished specimen bearing the aristocratic title of 8,tableau0 was allotted to them1 they would undoubtedly throw more light on this subject4 ,the cake-basket is the silent member of our select clique1 but ,i learnt that it had served a fine family for some generations1 when it was presented to a church bazaar4 ,from there it passed into the warm hands of the late donor to our present owner4 ,in my opinion this is a case of overfretting4 ,the sugar-tongs and butter-knife are quite unobtrusive1 but are of sterling worth4 ,they often indulge in punctilious conversation which usually becomes more animated in the afternoon about tea-time1 when they often refer to a family of ,spoons--the ,tea ,spoons1 ,i believe4 ,on these occasions ,mr4 ,knife lays the butter on rather thickly1 which ,miss ,tongs in her sweet way appears to look upon as quite the correct thing4 ,only on her arrival here in company with the ,cream ,jug have ,i seen them upset1 and ,i gathered that they had all their lives been accustomed to the troy weight which jewellers use1 but owing to the vicissitudes of their recent experience they had fallen into the hands of a broker1 who1 when he parted with them1 dumped them into the scales which were guaranteed to weigh correctly up to #ad lb4 avoirdupois1 and which had just been used for dirty pewter and called them 8half a crown an ounce40 ,the ,cream ,jug keeps himself to himself1 and is taciturn1 at times turning to sourness4 ,he suffers from swelled head occasionally1 and then says things about 8hall-marks0 and 8helmet shape10 but he always carries himself well4 ,we call the ,toddy ladle 8,euclid10 because he is length without breadth1 but he doesn't mind4 ,he has had jovial times in the past1 and says if he were to tell me some of the tales he has heard when he was kept busy at nights that ,i should crack my mirror4 ,he loves to lie on me with his face downwards1 as then he can see it in the glass1 and ,i will say ,i have seldom seen a nicer4 ,as regards myself1 ,i could fill a volume with the interesting events ,i have witnessed and the conversations ,i have heard1 but the space placed at my disposal is so meagre ,i will limit my disclosures to the last few years of my existence4 ,owing to circumstances over which ,i had no control1 after a lengthy period of neglect ,i was condemned to occupy an undignified position in a broker's window1 where the odour of paraffin was most repulsive to my susceptibilities4 ,i was dozing in the dark one evening when ,i heard a voice inquiring1 8,have you any pewter80 and the reply1 8,there is a thing in the window1 but ,i think it has some copper about it40 ,some money changed hands1 ,i was wrapped in soiled paper and carried to this home1 where ,i was shocked to see a lot of horrid pewter in the hall and elsewhere1 and ,i was introduced to the family in this way1 8,i don't know what it is1 but it is juicy heavy40 ,these people treated me with an attention ,i had not been accustomed to for many years1 and after giving my frame a bath and a polish1 refitting my mirror top and screwing my mahogany back1 promoted me to the drawing-room1 where no pewter was permitted to enter1 and here ,i have since remained4 ,i am convinced ,i never looked better1 and they went into ecstasies over my grape and vine leaves border decoration1 and ,i then had my photograph taken for the first time in my life4 ,being a great advocate of cleanliness1 and as the same care was bestowed on my appearance in my early days as now1 ,i was quite in accord with the lady who remarked1 8,she thought that in all well-managed houses the carpets ought to be taken up and beaten at least once a year40 ,do you know ,i love old furniture1 and on occasions when there is a general dust up in the drawing-room ,i am walked past an elm dresser on which ,i have caught sight of a pair of ,sheffield plate snuffers4 ,i have cut them dead1 as ,i notice they have so far demeaned themselves as to form an unholy alliance with a despicable pewter tray4 ,i had an uneventful period until the leaves were falling in #aiah1 when a young captain in khaki arrived straight from the firing line in ,france on leave for a fortnight4 ,the next few days ,i am proud to say ,i had to bear the weight of a large wedding cake1 and on the eventful day ,i trembled when the bride began to cut it with the captain assisting her1 but my old back1 which is as strong as ever1 bore up bravely4 ,there was much talking on that occasion1 but the words which most impressed me--and which1 in order that ,i may apply them to my patient readers1 shall be my last--were 8,,health1 ,,wealth1 ,,and ,,happiness40 ,,printed ,,by ,,cassell ,,company1 ,,limited1 ,,la ,,belle ,,sauvage1 ,,london1 ,e4,c4#d ,f4#cj4cbj 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,italic text is denoted by underscores and bold text by equal signs4 ,the use of small capitals for the names of the plates has been regularised throughout the text4 ,variations in spelling and hyphenation remain as in the original unless noted below4 ,list of ,illustrations1 number 8#ag0 inserted4 ,plate ,,vi1 period added at the end of the caption4 ,plate ,,xvii1 period added after 8p40 ,plate ,,xxxvi1 8,deft0 changed to 8,delft0 78,bristol ,delft ,dish074 ,page #g1 period added after 8viz40 ,page #fg1 8,shipwrights' ,arms1' ,limehouse ,hole10 changed to 8,shipwrights' ,arms'1 ,limehouse ,hole10 ,page #gb1 8,w ,nettleford0 changed to 8,w4 ,nettleford40 ,page #gc1 period added after 8,wisbeach40 ,page #gi1 superfluous quotation mark removed after 8#bf1 ,haymarket1 #ahbd40 ,page #ib1 double quotation mark added after 8,freemason's ,arms40 ,page #ic1 single quotation mark changed to double after 8,s40 ,page #aje1 period added after 8the glaze will be his initials40 ,page #aae1 period added after 8stoneware ,k4 ,b40 ,page #aai1 period added after 8caused me all this trouble40 ,page #abe1 8teapoys0 changed to 8teapots0 78real ,old ,worcester teapots074 ,page #acj1 period added after 8was undoubtedly old ,bristol40 ,page #aci1 8were0 changed to 8where0 78,i could not understand where it came from074 ,original scans of this book can be found here3 https3_/_/archive4org_/details_/collecti ngaspast#jjrowe