We look for anything you might think is fun, interesting, beautiful, new, old or odd. Vintage and almost new clothes, ceramics, treen, ephemera, books and costume jewellery. If it fits in a box, we'll sell it.

Wednesday 30 April 2014

Vintage Miniature Sauce Jug and Saucer - Lotus Pottery - Michael Skipwith



Splendid all in one miniature sauce jug and saucer from Michael Skipwith's Lotus Pottery. This is the Stoke Gabriel backstamp which dates it to between 1957 and 1980. It is the familiar dark green glaze with wax resist lotus flower design on eah side. Please note this is a one-piece item - the saucer and jug are joined. It's in excellent condition.

8.5cm x 8.5cm
View here for further information.

Vintage Hand Thrown Jug - Skyeramics



SOLD

Lovely orange glazed milk jug in distinctive heavily grooved surface and slitghly angular strap handle. It's by Skyeramics of the Isle of Skye, information on which is scarce although the last company accounts were filed in 1982 so I guess this is in excess of 30 years old. If so it is in superb condition.

8.5cm x 11cm
View here for further information.

Vintage Brown Honeycomb Outdoor Ashtray - Kernewek Pottery



SOLD

Circular outdoor type ashtray by Kernewek Pottery, Goonhavern, Cornwall. In the familiar brown honeycomb drip glaze, the ashtray is quite large and rather like a ring doughnut in shape (although closed at the base) to stop ash being wind blown. It has four grooves and is in excellent condition.

15cm x 5.5cm

View here for further information.

Vintage Grandfather Clock Shaped Nutcrackers



Unusual pair of solid brass nutcrackers in the shape of a long case or Grandfather clock. They have a very detailed face, a fleur de lis design on the base and at one time were lacquered. Now, I have seen these mentioned variously as French, as antique and as a door knocker. These are stamped "Regd" with a number, 10533, on both arms so they are probably not French. Antique is possible, they are fairly worn but I am 99% certain they are nutcrackers. There is no way of fixing them to a door short of drilling holes in them and there is a handily placed recess on each arm, big enough for a reasonably sized cob nut. The "strike" of the knocker is actually a spacer to prevent the operator's hand being pinched. However they could be converted but you would be spoiling them. The lacquer has largely worn away and one of the finials on the top of the face has been bent slightly but otherwise they are in very good condition.

14cm long
View here for further information.

Tuesday 29 April 2014

Vintage Solid Brass Swan Poker Stand

                                         
 


SOLD

Rather nice swan shaped solid brass poker stand. The poker rest is on a swivel, held in place by a screw  - probably not the original one. In otherwise excellent condition.

8cm x 8cm x 5cm
View here for further information.

Monday 28 April 2014

Vintage Small Hammered Brass Measure



Solid brass tankard shaped measure in a hammered finish. There is no verifying mark on it so I'm not sure of the size and it doesn't have a maker's mark either. However it is in excellent condition.

5cm (h) x 6cm

View here for further information.

Vintage Miniature Creamer - Gray's Pottery



Lovely miniature creamer in gold lustre glaze with a white leaf band around the neck. It is by Gray's but one can see a Sandland Ware stamp beneath the Gray's mark. Quite legitimate as Gray's were decorator's and occasionally their base items were already stamped. This can aid in dating and the combination here puts this to around 1950. It's in excellent condition.

7.5cm x 6cm

View here for further information.

Small Carved Wooden Owl Ornament



SOLD

Sleeping owl carved from block of very hard dark wood. Nice looking little object although there is a small crack across the tail that looks as though it's original. Additionally there is a small chunk of tail missing but it is difficult to see whether this was an original fault or happened at a later date. It doesn't affect the look or the way the owl stands.

6cm (h) x 7cm x 5cm
View here for further information.

Sunday 27 April 2014

Stoneware Jug - Fiona Smith Pottery Cricket St. Thomas




Beautiful mid sized stoneware jug by Fiona Smith of Cricket St. Thomas in Somerset. It's coloured cobalt blue inside with blue wave pattern around the cup and a line around the bulbous middle and down the handle. There's a tiny fissure at the bottom handle join but it's from firing and not a crack so overall it can be considered to be in excellent condition.

17cm x 15cm (d)
View here for further information.

Stoneware Chalice or Goblet - Fiona Smith Pottery Cricket St. Thomas



SOLD

Beautiful small stoneware chalice shaped goblet by Fiona Smith of Cricket St. Thomas in Somerset. It's coloured cobalt blue inside with blue wave pattern around the cup and a line around the base. It's in excellent condition.

9cm x 8cm (d)

View here for further information.

Vintage Miniature Character Toby Jug - Falstaff - Sandland Ware



Miniature handpainted Sandland Ware character jug by Lancaster and Sandland featuring Sir John Falstaff. The inscription across his shoulders is just about visible but otherwise it's in excellent condition.

6cm (h) x 7cm
 
View here for further information.

Saturday 26 April 2014

The Uganda Cookery Book - 1925








SOLD

Lovely old cookery book published for the Ugandan colonials in 1925 by the Sheldon Press and sold through the Uganda Bookshop, Kampala. It is "The Uganda Cookery Book" or "Ekitabo Ekyokufumba" and contains 142 recipes in English with translation in Lugandan. They don't appear to be particularly local recipes, being rather familiar British or other colonially sourced recipes. For instance, while many of the recipes here call for cheese there is no Lugandan word for it and I can't imagine why there should be as I'm not sure cheese is particularly common in overtly hot countries. It makes for great reading! In addition it appears to have been used as a family cookbook and there are several cuttings stuck in it and also plenty of handwritten recipes on the notes pages. Some of these appear to be wartime ones as they reference the ration and one for chocolate is even written on the back of an ARP Warden's report form. Fascinating book and in very good condition considering its age and obvious well used history. Surprisingly little bumping and all stitching and bindings sound.

254pp, board bound

14.5cm x 11cm x 2.5cm
View here for further information.

Vintage Green Glaze Oil/Vinegar Pourer - Fosters Cornwall



SOLD

Vintage oil or vinegar bottle from Foster's of Redruth in their signature green honeycomb glaze. A bit of residue from the original label that appears to have hardened over the years (and which will probably soak off) but otherwise in excellent condition.

15.5cm x 11cm
View here for further information.

Friday 25 April 2014

Vintage Miniature Oldcourt Ware Lustre Vase - J. Fryer Ltd



SOLD

Miniature handpainted Oldcourt Ware colour lustre vase with gold rim by J. Fryer Ltd. Backstamp suggests 1960s. There is a bit of underglaze bubbling, which is obviously original, otherwise apart from the usual fine crazing it's in excellent condition.
 
7cm (h) x 6cm
View here for further information.

Colourful Small Oil Drizzler or Vinegar Bottle - Dudson



Fine looking oil or vinegar bottle from the Finest Vitrified range by Dudson. It's brightly coloured handpainted orange with green and blue circles around the bottle and lid. It is not dated but it does carry the 1800-2001 stamp on the base which suggests it's from around the turn of the century. The only fault is a small chip to the base of the stopper. This won't affect usage (It's untainted so is perhaps unused) and the Finest range is usually extremely tough, being made for the trade, and now carries an edge guarantee.

10cm x 10cm
 
View here for further information.

Thursday 24 April 2014

Vintage White Cornucopia Vase Bretby Art Pottery - Possibly Antique


SOLD

Lovely large white pressed vase in the cornucopia shape by Bretby. The stamp on the base suggest it is technically a pre-1909 version ("England" rather than  "Made in England"). It also bears either a 740 or 749 model number, it's difficult to make out. There is some fine crazing consistent with it being of that vintage but I cannot guarantee any age. It is though, apart from the crazing, in excellent condition.  

24cm x 14cm (d) x 16cm (w)
View here for further information.

Vintage Miniature Handpainted Oldcourt Ware Lustre Jug - J. Fryer Ltd



SOLD

Miniature handpainted Oldcourt Ware colour lustre jug by J. Fryer. It has a very distinctive downswept and deco inspired handle and I think the design may be "Avon" although it is not stamped as such.  The backstamp suggests late 1950s - 1960. There is a small chip to the base which is only noticeable in normal use once you know it's there but apart from this and the usual crazing it's in excellent condition.

5.5cm (h) x 6.5cm
View here for further information.

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Vintage Miniature Oldcourt Ware Lustre Ashtray - J. Fryer Ltd



SOLD

Miniature round handpainted colour lustre Oldcourt Ware ashtray. Three rests.  Backstamp suggests 1955 - 60 era. Some wear to the gold around one third of the rim but otherwise in excellent condition.

6cm x 3cm
View here for further information.

Heavy Cast Brass Propeller Shaped Candle Holder



SOLD

Great for any boating enthusiast, this is a small but very heavy cast brass candle holder in the shape of a propeller (or screw for the mariners). A couple of small marks to the edges of the blades but otherwise in fine condition. Takes standard sized slim table candle.

7cm x 10cm diameter
View here for further information.

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Copper Lustre Two Handled Vase - Mejias Polonio Pottery, Spain



SOLD

Rather nice looking double handled vase from the Mejias Polonio Pottery of La Rambla, Spain. The finish is copper lustre, one they are well known for. Around the middle of the bowl is an unglazed band decorated with copper and grey lustre lines and curves. Quite a striking piece. There is a very tiny flea bite to the glaze on the rim otherwise it's perfect.

16cm x 13cm
View here for further information.

Tey Pottery Miniature - Countryside Collection No 6 Public House "Skean Dhu"



Miniature pub from the Countryside Collection by Tey Pottery of Lenwade, Norfolk. This pub is the untimbered version, the "Skean Dhu". It still has the green felt base and original label (although somewhat scuffed). The model though is in excellent condition.

8cm x 4cm x 5cm


View here for further information.

Vintage Miniature Stoneware Casserole - Pearson's of Chesterfield



Perfectly serviceable single serving casserole with lid by Pearson's of Chesterfield. It's brown glazing on the lid and outside; natural coloured on the inside and underside of the lid and dates from the 1970s to 1980s. It's in perfect condition, the unglazed parts of the lid are not at all discoloured so I will hazard a guess it's never been used.

12.5cm x 7cm


View here for further information.

Monday 21 April 2014

Vintage Hammered Art Deco Pewter Milk Jug - Barkers English Pewter



An Art Deco hammered effect pewter milk jug by Barkers, size 3. It has a few little knocks consistent with age and it is also slightly out of shape, the opening being a little more oval than round. It is not beyond redemption and there's nothing an amateur restorer can't fix and I'm sure it will buff up nicely, too. No scratches. 

All measurements approx:
8cm tall,
14 cm, max diameter

View here for further information.

Antique Pewter Measure - Quarter Gill - Verified Sunderland & Durham



SOLD

Lovely quarter gill measure in pewter. It is absolutely peppered with verification marks and I think from several regions. There are some Georges and Edwards and one definite Victoria over a Uniform Verification number of 64 (which is the region mark, not a year). I think this relates to Sunderland from 1880 onwards. I can also make out a GR over a 155 which would probably equate to County Durham from 1891 onwards and George V. The north-east is at least consistent. Excellent little item with a wonderful history attached if you have the time to research it.

5cm x 6cm
View here for further information.

Sunday 20 April 2014

Vintage 1970's Beauvais Cheese Cloche - Royal Worcester Palissy



This is a small cheese cloche from the Royal Worcester Palissy Casual Tableware range in the Beauvais pattern. Pre-1976 but in excellent condition.

17cm x 8cm


View here for further information.

Vintage Small "Salad Ware" Sauce Boat and Saucer - Carlton Ware



SOLD

Lovely miniature Salad Ware Lettuce and Tomato sauce boat and saucer set from Carlton Ware. As ever, dating these is always a bit tricky, they were produced for a long time, so I can make no claims whatosever on age. What looks to be transfer rather than stamped marks on the base probably dates it to fairly late, though. The stamps are the "Australian Reg'd Design" ones. And as usual, I am open to any advice from collectors and experts! However, bar the usual crazing, it's in fine condition. 

15cm x 6cm x 9cm
View here for further information.

Vintage or Antique Lidded Pot Holder



SOLD

Rather splendid lidded pot holder in a cylindrical "cage" design. It has a notched lid indicating it probably held a glass pot, for preserves or sauce or, my preference, ink. The sides are a latticework of mildly Moorish influenced bars and verticals. The handle is quite ornate Condition is fairly fragile-looking. It's had a couple of bumps and there's a dent from the handle on the lid. Also close examination with a high-powered loupe reveals bits of the surface to be flaking or corroding, especially around some of the edges. It's possible it has a coating of some kind. There also appears to be a couple of slight fractures around the hinge which aren't visible to the naked eye (well, not mine anyway). A skilled restorer will, I'm fairly certain, be able to make the hinge a bit safer and remove the dents but as a stand alone conversation piece it looks fine. There are no makers marks or touch marks so I am unable to age it.

10.5cm (d) x 7cm


View here for further information.

Saturday 19 April 2014

Set of Six Stoneware Napkin Rings



Rather splendid set of six ceramic napkin rings, decorated with a scratched leaf vein design and three berries. They are not identical and are all either signed or initialled with what appears to be either "Fiddy" or "Tiddy" or an F or T. I can't trace the signature but they are well made and in great condition.

Approx measurements: 5cm x 3cm
 
View here for further information.

Pink Pressed Glass/Carnival Glass Candlestick and Pin Tray



SOLD

Vintage pressed glass candlestick and matching pin tray in carnival glass pink colour. My feeling is that there ought to be a second candlestick holder but minimal interior design skills should should be enough to cope with this particular arrangement! They have been used as there's a bit of wax residue but there's no apparent damage.

7.5cm square
View here for further information.

Friday 18 April 2014

Vintage Art Pottery Pin Tray - Portmadoc Pottery, Wales



SOLD

Beautiful small shallow pin tray by Portmadoc Pottery of Wales. Blue on yellow catherine wheel drip glaze with petal design in the centre.  The base is marked with the pottery stamp and 1 plus a hand written decorator's signature which I can't make out but begins with D. It's in excellent condition.

8.5cm diameter

View here for further information.

Large Studio Pottery Stoneware Vase - Begelly Pottery



Mid-sized sturdy stoneware vase from Wendy Sturdy's Begelly Pottery in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire. Grey glaze with blue floral design around the body and rim. Inb excellent condition.

18cm x 13cm


View here  for further information.

Vintage Large Milk Jug - Brixham Pottery



Large caramel coloured jug by Brixham Pottery. It features a band of circles around its middle in typical Brixham style. There are two very small nips on the rim, about an inch apart, and it is crazed as would be expected but otherwise it looks fine.

14cm x 13cm


View here for further information.

Thursday 17 April 2014

Vintage Bar Ashtray - Champagne Moët & Chandon


SOLD

Vintage large bar ashtray by Proceram of Aubagne en Provence advertising Moët & Chandon champagne. It's in a khaki/yellow in the Moët shield design. There are several small nips and fleabites to the edges but this is a small price to pay for a slightly less run of the mill ashtray, even by pub standards. Sure to be a talking point.

20cm x 24cm x 5cm

View here for further information.

Vintage "Bermuda" Milk Jug - Lord Nelson Pottery







Milk jug in the Bermuda design of rustic green and brown panels from the Lord Nelson Pottery. There is what appears to be a date stamp on the base, 1-70, which if it is indeed a date would be of the right vintage. There are a couple of very small scratches to the panels but otherwise it's in very good condition.

15cm x 9cm

View here for further information.

Vintage White China Boots - Plichta - Highly Collectable


Plain white boot with pale green inner made, before 1952, for Plichta of London by, I think, Wemyss (of Bovey). It's quite crazed, one craze line is possibly a hairline crack down the back (visible from the inside). There is also a small chip on the edge which has been coloured in green and appears darker than the surrounding colour. The slip of residue on the sole visible in the photo has now been removed.

9.5cm x 5cm x4cm


View here for further information.



SOLD


Plain white boot with blue polka dots made, before 1952, for Plichta of London by, I think, Wemyss (of Bovey). Some crazing and a few glaze pops on the toe but otherwise in very good condition.

9.5cm x 5cm x4cm


View here for further information.

Wednesday 16 April 2014

Vintage Studio Pottery Cup and Saucer Set - Lotus Pottery, Stoke Gabriel



Beautiful cup and saucer set by Lotus Pottery of Stoke Gabriel in dark green glaze with wax resist pattern. The saucer has a bit of a paint splatter underneath which has unfortunately gone onto the unglazed base (and is invisible from above) but otherwise the condition is excellent.

Together: 12.5cm diameter x 10cm

View here for further information.

Vintage "Bermuda" Sugar Bowl - Lord Nelson Pottery



Inverted cone sugar bowl in the Bermuda design from Lord Nelson Pottery. This dates from the late 1960s/early 1970s and is in excellent condition. It comes with a stainless steel sugar spoon that has been bent into an unusual shape. Now I'm not sure whether this was an original accessory or whether someone has tried an interesting variation on an existing design! The fact that it is slightly corroded around the join with the bowl suggests the latter but I reserve judgement.

11cm x 6cm
 
View here for further information.

Vintage 1930s Fish Shaped Sauce Boat - Shorter & Sons



SOLD

Brilliant fishware sauce boat from Shorter & Son and if the backstamp is correct, from between 1933 & 1940. Handpainted in aquamarine tinged with purple and yellow, with reddish lips and black and yellow eyes. It's in excellent condition, with no crazing, although it has to be said the eyes haven't been done too well, especially the right one! Unfortunately there's no matching saucer. Fantastic item though and would make a great addition to you fishware collection or could stand alone as a posy vase.

14cm x 10cm x 7cm

Weight incl packaging: 500g

View here for further information.

Tuesday 15 April 2014

Vintage Small Green Cream Jug - Holkham Pottery



Holkham Hall Pottery closed in 2007 after 56 years. This is a later era small jug/creamer in green glaze with a leaf design. Very pleasant and bar a little crazing is in excellent condition.

8.5cm x 10cm
 
View here for further information.

Monday 14 April 2014

Vintage Brown Heirloom Cup and Saucer - Hornsea




Brown cup and saucer set from the iconic Heirloom range by Hornsea Pottery. In very good condition overall, saucer slightly more crazed than the cup but the cup is eye perfect on the outside.

Cup: 10cm x 7cm
Saucer 15cm diameter
 
View here for further information.

Small Studio Pottery Style Earthenware Mug



SOLD

Small earthenware mug in mixed brown drip glaze and scratched oval eye shape design around body. Not sure of the maker, it does have a stamped mark on the base which looks to be a C and maybe and I inside a circle but I can't find a reference for it. Quite quirky but in excellent condition.

8.5cm (h) x 10cm
View here for further information.

Sunday 13 April 2014

Vintage Stoneware Oil Pourer - Buchan Riviera


Beautiful light blue oil pourer from the "Riviera" range by Buchan Stoneware. There were three Riviera patterns, this is the abstract one. The stamp on the base is the impressed thistle and M7 - 185 and a 256. The painter's mark is a star. It comes complete with stopper although I think there may well be a missing cork as the stopper has a threaded shaft as though to take a seal of some kind. Riviera dates from post 1956, the condition of the base suggests it could well be of that vintage. Apart from the missing seal the bottle is in fine condition and there doesn't appear to be any stale taint from the inside.

12cm x 8cm

View here for further information.

Small Vintage Vase - Aldridge Pottery



A very nice little cream coloured vase by the now defunct Aldridge Pottery of Longton. It carries a picture of a convolvulus type flower, large on one side, a small image on the reverse. In excellent condition.

10.5cm x 8cm

View here for further information.

Vintage Beauvais Sauce Jug and Dish - Royal Worcester Palissy



Beautiful sauce or gravy jug and saucer in the Beauvais pattern by Royal Worcester Palissy. This would have been produced prior to 1976 but is in excellent condition with no visible defects.

8.5cm total height, saucer 16.5cm diameter, jug 16cm
 
View here for further information.

Saturday 12 April 2014

Vintage Hen Egg Cup - Keele St Pottery



Great hand painted retro hen shaped egg cup by the Keele St Pottery. There is a tiny chip on the base with the head looking to the left otherwise it's in excellent condition.

6.5cm (h) x 8cm
 
View here for further information.