as to how to accommodate so many children. I can sympathise with
her, for having so much pewter and being anxious to show it off
I was much worried “and didn’t know what to do.” I hunted about and
advertised for an oak cupboard with glass doors but could find nothing
suitable so I bought the chest shown. Then I had the cupboard made
from oak taken out of a farm built in 1633 near St. Helens which had
been pulled down, while the top decoration is some of the original
wainscoting from Argoed Hall, Oswestry, which I had by me, and it came
in suitably for the frieze. The top of the chest being in two pieces
the cupboard just fits on the hind portion while the front half lifts
off, and so I am enabled to stow a lot of extra pewter in the chest.
(Plate XVII)
Pewter plates and blue and white dishes needing to be displayed, I
had shelves fitted in my morning and dining rooms. To provide for the
china I purchased the cabinet shown in Plate XXXVIII, and in a short
time found four corner cupboards. It might take as many years to find
a lot to equal these, which are mahogany made and all nicely inlaid. I
bought them from the same broker who astonished me by saying, “I am a
collector too--of sovereigns.”
DATED FURNITURE
Dated furniture is hard to find. I only have two specimens, of which
photographs are given. The initials on the oak chest will be the
initials of the first owner and his wife, but whether this dating may
be evidence of a dower chest on their marriage, or whatever happened
to them in 1702, there is no question about the chest being Queen Anne
period. (Plate VIII)
As regards the salt box, the carved piece of oak which bears the date
1659 has a much older appearance than the rest of the box, although
that is ancient timber. Probably the seventeenth century article fell
to pieces about a hundred years ago, when the owners would have this
one put together. 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
worked. I found it in a shop on the North Pier at Blackpool, and was
informed it was bought at an old farm sale near Preston. (Plate XI)
MAHOGANY CHESTS OF DRAWERS
When I bought the dwarf chest shown on Plate XVI, it was fitted
with black wooden knobs which could not have been on many years. On
examination, marks were sufficiently clear to enable me to judge to a
nicety the design of the brass plates the original handles would drop
on to; so I had five cut, and looked up some old handles and fasteners.
Then I was able to give the chest its original appearance.
The large chest shown on Plate XV really is a beautiful piece of
furniture, complete with its imposing brass ring handles, original and
perfect in every way just as I bought it. The workmanship is of high
class, and the long secret drawer at the top has made a good hiding
place for a large number of amulets. The drawers are in smooth running
condition, and the oak linings are a fine example of good work, while
the mahogany cannot be beaten. It came from the sign of “Uncle will
oblige.”
[Illustration: Birch, Veneered Rosewood, Folding Table (Satinwood
Inlay). Tea Caddy (Rosewood).
Mahogany Table (Satin-wood Inlay, Drop Ends).
PLATE XIV.]
[Illustration: Mahogany Chest of Drawers (Satinwood Inlay).
Dishes: Davenport, Leeds, Copeland. Bowls: Bow, Chelsea, Plymouth, Bow.
PLATE XV.]
The chest with bureau fitment on Plate XIII is, I believe, a very rare
specimen; it has one small and three large drawers, and is provided
with a pull-out drawer, fitted to answer the purpose of a bureau. I was
passing along a street in a busy town when I saw this standing on the
pavement. Out of curiosity I pulled open the right hand top drawer,
and immediately I realised what happened, enquired the price. “Five
pounds; Mr. Smith is after it.” I paid the money without hesitation, as
the chest was in fine preservation. Mr. 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 back, it having taken me
about five minutes to accomplish this; and so Mr. Smith was left “in
the cart.” Moral--Go snap on a bargain.
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
acquaintance. Her well preserved appearance coated with a rosewood
overall, the rings she carries at her sides and her dainty claw feet
must claim your notice. She has no hesitation in allowing you at any
time to admire her tight fitting combinations which contain her black
and green teas. I have lifted her covering to reveal her velvet lining
which has stood the wear, without a tear, for more years than you will
credit her with. With what tender care she has nurtured her Waterford
Glass Sugar bowl now raised with her fittings for your inspection. 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 soothes. Taking all her good qualities into consideration
we must pardon her desire to have her photo taken too. (Plate XIV)
I appear to have touched on nearly all the Furniture objects I have
found it convenient to photograph indoors, and as I am not stocktaking
or compiling a catalogue we will pass on to the second course.
[Illustration: Dwarf Chest of Drawers with Hepplewhite Mirror, 2 ft. 6
in. high, 2 ft. 3 in. wide.
PLATE XVI.]
[Illustration: Oak Chest with Oak Cupboard (_see p._ 31).
PLATE XVII.]
_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 Act, 1826--Candlesticks--Church Pewter--The
Basin--Faked Pewter--Plates and Dishes--Irish and Scotch--Tappit
Hens--Whisky Stoups--Britannia Metal Enquiry--Cleaning--The
Tinsmith--The “Odamifino”--The Pewter Pot--The Mystery Piece.
There is an old axiom that “a man is no good unless he has a hobby,”
but some of my friends say I have been no use since I took up the
collection of old pewter. Many may wonder what induced a busy man to
go to the trouble of getting together a collection like that shown
in the photographs. It all arose through my rummaging in a broker’s
while waiting for a friend who was looking for old books, and finding
a mug which was dirty and black with neglect but inscribed, “Canteen,
70th Regiment.” My curiosity was aroused, and I became the owner. On
submitting this to a tinsmith it was pronounced to be old pewter, and
from the time it was polished, fifteen years ago, I have been on the
look out for more. The experience I soon gained taught me that the
collectors of old pewter mainly belonged to that class with whom money
is little object, and that what they strived to obtain were very old,
unique pieces, communion vessels and historical specimens, quite out of
the reach of an ordinary householder. This I recognised when visiting
an exhibition of Old Pewter at Clifford’s Inn Hall in 1908.
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 solder, the fate of so many tons in years gone by, 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 shelf. I have
given much attention to British pewter; the old associations appeal to
my imagination, and I have never been drawn to foreign specimens.
If you suffer from a good memory you will recall that Wolsey said to
Cromwell, “Take an inventory of all I possess.” Now if he had as many
pieces in such variety of any one line as I have of old pewter, then
Wolsey was giving Cromwell something to do, and as pewter was knocking
about in those days he may have had a fair collection. I cannot
pretend to describe many of my pieces, but I present the reader with a
selection of photographs, and I hope these will, to a certain extent,
speak for themselves; anyway they give a good idea of the effect a
large collection of pewter has on the home, and on the patience of
those who attend to the dusting. Space has not permitted me actually
to show in my rooms or have in the house more than 500 pieces, but I
have, as opportunity occurred, kept on improving the specimens on view,
and I could best do this by letting the stuff come in whenever I heard
of any likely lots, out of which I selected what I fancied, getting
rid of duplicates, pieces I did not care for, and sending modern and
worthless things to be melted.
So far back as 1908--since when my collection has much improved--I had
the pleasure of exchanging photographs with a great connoisseur of old
pewter, and I was very gratified when he wrote to me as follows:
“There is so much that is worse than valueless in most collections;
so much unnecessary repetition, that large collections become
irritatingly monotonous. Although your pieces are often repeated, the
repetition represents always an interesting variation; and this feature
contributes the element of evolution which is always interesting, and
without which no collection is complete or satisfactory. I congratulate
you, therefore, upon your possessions, and think you have done
remarkably well during the short time. Could you let me see the two
‘salts’ marked on the photo?”
I sent the two “salts,” and he remarked, “The little one is
particularly interesting as it is a reversible one, the only specimen I
have seen.”
That special “salt” is the queer looking little thing in the centre
of the salt group, and I am giving it more space than its size or
appearance seem to warrant. It was first caught sight of in a shop at
Leeds, where a broker had it filled with black varnish into which he
was dipping his brush, while he was giving an artistic touch-up to
some of his stock. The hunter spotted pewter, and after some little
chaff was told he could have it if he would bring something that would
do for holding the varnish; this he bought at a shop not far off, and
the change was soon effected. It is a curious specimen, for whichever
way it stands it will hold the salt, but in its present position it
will hold more than twice as much as when it is placed the other way
uppermost.
The results of my hunting and advertising not keeping pace with my
ambition for more, I secured the assistance of a friend in Ireland,
who proved to be a friend indeed. He had a dog which was constantly
jumping on the sofa and chairs, so he called him Zacchæus because “he
was everlastingly telling him to come down.”
Have you heard of “Phil the Fluter”? I had not until I heard our
friend warble of the wonderful effect the execution of that phenomenal
flautist produced upon his hearers, but I imagine the charm attained
would be as comparable with that of my Irish friend as modern is to
antique, while he has a tongue that would “wile a bird off a tree.”
Like Father O’Flynn he’d “a wonderful way wid him, the young and
ould sinners were wishful to trade wid him.” I am not digressing
but adorning the tale to point the moral. With his cheery manner he
succeeded all the time to such an extent that I had to wire him “Hold!
enough.” Later when other collectors sought my help to get them Irish
measures he reported “Too late, the Jews have been round and bought
up the lot. Why did you stop me just when I was getting my hand in?”
Explanatory of my reason for cancelling my early instructions, let me
give the following. I was impatient to make a show, so told him to buy
all the pewter plates he came across. A few days after seventy arrived
in two filthy dirty sacks, the state of which corresponded fairly well
with the appearance of their contents. He apologised later for the
condition of the sacks which “he had borrowed from a place where they
had just skinned a dead horse.” Some of these plates bore marks and a
few others crests, but as the former owners had a strange custom of
polishing the backs with sand, the marks were mostly rubbed off, and
as they never cleaned the fronts, my getting that consignment into
exhibition form required some trouble and expense, but as the Tommy
said after getting C.B. for being absent without leave, “It was worth
it.”
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 washhouse, as he thought they were a trifle
high after he found the boots of the hotel, where he had to spend a
night, had put them in his bedroom! Worse than that, however, happened
the following day. He had left them at one end of the station platform
with a porter, that they might go in the guard’s van, while he went
to another part of the train and joined some friends. He had just got
seated when the porter who must have followed him with the sacks on a
truck, opened the door and enquired, “Will your honour have these suit
cases in the carriage wid yer?”
The miscellaneous articles which arrived at frequent intervals were
wellnigh confusing, and it kept me busy finding out what many of them
were really for, 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 of, and he settled my mind by replying, “I thought it had come down
from heaven.”
On one occasion I saw quite a number of pieces in a shop where I
had now and then found an odd one, and after making a few purchases
enquired the reason for this amazing influx, when I was informed,
“You see it’s this way; there’s a lady who’s got a husband who’s been
collecting pewter until she’s got fed up, so as he’s gone off for a few
days she asked me to call and take the lot away, as she is not going
to have any more of the dirty stuff about.” Sequel--they lived happily
ever after.
For a time I adopted the practice of getting men I knew to save pewter
for me, and, as my rambles permitted, calling on them periodically.
On one occasion I was looking through the window of a marine store at
---- when I noticed something I was on the look-out for. I entered, and
enquired, “How about the pewter?” The old fellow replied:
“Hello, you’ve come at last? It must be six months since you asked me
to save any bits that came in.”
“Oh, well,” I said, “it’s better late than never,” and paid him what he
asked.
I had never visited the place before. Reader, I hope you have never
been the victim of mistaken identity.
You will recollect the story I told of my friend who brought me my
first eight-day clock. In talking over reminiscences lately, I asked
if he remembered assisting me to get pewter. Instantly he replied,
“Remember! I shall remember it to my dying day. I was at Sneinton
(Nottingham), and I asked a marine store man had he any pewter. He
said, ‘Not here, but I have any amount at my Radford place.’ Now
Radford was out of my way, but I thought I would do you a good turn, so
I padded there, about twenty minutes’ walk--it was warm. When I got
there, I was offered about half a hundredweight of zinc that I should
think had for a few years previously been fastened on a pub counter. Of
course I had to walk back, and I never felt so hot in my life.”
MARKS
This is an all important subject to some collectors and I feel I ought
to treat it with a consideration bordering on veneration, but anyone
who has had to put up with the queries I have been compelled to answer,
which has necessitated my fetching the step-ladder to bring down plates
from shelves in order that the marks may be examined, would have the
reverential esteem knocked out of him. On one occasion a lady who had
taken a superficial look at my display remarked “What a number of
pieces you have. Do they all bear the London mark?”
I was taken aback as I was unaware she was so well up in the subject,
but when she informed me she had begun to collect and had already
bought a 5s. half-pint tankard with a cross and crown stamped on the
bottom, which the seller had assured her was the London mark, then I
understood.
When another visitor asked, “Is it all marked?” I replied that I
collected makes, not marks, and that was why I had such a variety of
pieces, and that many of my most interesting specimens never bore any.
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 gratitude. I must add that from information received a work is
coming out which will be quite the last word on old pewter, its makers,
and marks. I will here repeat a statement which has been printed in
almost every book on old pewter since the flood of 1667--viz.: that the
early touch plates of makers’ marks were destroyed in the Great Fire of
London.
With the aid of my old watchmaker’s magnifying glass, 2¼ inches
diameter, cased in horn and hinged on an iron rivet to shut up and
carry in the pocket, I have just examined the fine quart tankard
stamped “Js Dixon” in three small panels. This was no doubt James
Dixon’s mark just after he lost his partner Smith, who had been with
him since 1809, and as he took his son into the business in 1824, this
mark I think, would only have been used for about twelve months, and
must be very scarce. Underneath the maker’s name I see the first Excise
mark, “WR” surmounted with a small crown. Next I find an imperfect
impression which looks like “NOXO,” but I can make no sense out of
that; then I discover a stamp “Crown V.R. 106,” and another with a
Crown between the letters “V.R.” also the figures “50,” these all
denoting that at least three inspectors have passed this tankard as up
to the standard at different periods of its useful career.
Now I came to the most interesting part to my mind, of the outward
signs visible to the naked eye; under the word “QUART,” which is boldly
stamped, there are the initials “T.B.” and a fine large crown with the
date “1823” all neatly engraved with some embellishment. The initial
letters will no doubt be those of the landlord of a licensed house
known as “The Crown,” and the year that in which the tankard was made
for him.
[Illustration: Mahogany Corner-Cupboard with Pewter.
PLATE XVIII.]
[Illustration: Old Pewter.
PLATE XIX.]
PLATE XIX
DESCRIBING THE PEWTER
_First and Second Shelves._ Note the two Tea Infusers in which the tea
used to be brewed to replenish the small teapots. The Teapot on the
right of the large Queen Anne is stamped “half-pint,” so will no doubt
have been in a refreshment house when tea was scarce. The only makers’
names on the ten are Vickers and Dixon.
_Third Shelf._ See notes on Church Pewter (page 45). The Dish by Allen
Bright in centre is 11½ inches across, the Flagon is 9½ inches high.
_Fourth Shelf._ Hot-water Jug. Jersey Cider or Wine Measure. Two Wine
Flagons.
_Top Shelf._ See notes on Tappit Hens and Whisky Stoups (page 54).
I have several other tankards bearing makers’ initials and touch marks,
and I know they were made prior to 1826, which I notice did not come
into the Inspector’s mutilating hand until Queen Victoria was on the
throne. I have just taken down two small measures of an uncommon shape,
a gill and half-gill. They have had a small raised plate soldered on
with raised lettering, “Imperial G. Crown R. IV,” under. They were
excised once “W.R.,” and six times “V.R.”
I have gone to this trouble to make it clear that the Excise marks are
a lame guide to the age of early pewter, as the Weights and Measures
Act which compelled inspection was passed only in 1826. These Excise
marks have been fair game for the antique dealers, one of whom, when
recommending me to buy some of his tankards and measures, which bore a
“Liver” bird as an Excise stamp told me that Lady ---- was collecting
only pewter which bore the Liverpool mark. 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 pewter.
PEWTER CANDLESTICKS
Before going to bed I will just tell you how I got these tall fellows
shown on Plate XX. They were in a greengrocer’s shop window, so I
thought I would buy some apples. I came out with these 10½ inch
candlesticks as well. No, I did _not_ steal them, and they were not
actually given away, but that is not what I wanted to tell you. They
have loose tops and in consequence are extra special. Be sure you blow
out the light. Nearly all pewter tops get melted through the candles
being left burning until they get down to the sockets.
Of the candlesticks in the group I wonder which you will like the best.
I prefer the 7 inch, as they are oblong shape, base pillar and top; the
bottoms have the original wood filling and the very old baize to stand
on. I found these suddenly in the office of a gentleman who perchance
made a lot of money out of me; anyway, shortly after this final
transaction he retired from business, and built and endowed a--cinema.
One candlestick was broken and the other needed repair, 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
bottoms. The 4½ inch pair were kindly sent to me by a lady in Norway.
I bought the 8 inch straight pillar pair from a Jew, who later wished
to buy them back as he had found a new customer who would give 30s. for
them. As I have given you these sizes you can easily guess the heights
of the remainder.
CHURCH PEWTER
Church pewter which has been associated with Church worship now gets
more worship than it did in its Church days. Firstly from the dealers,
who seem to be able to get any money they like to ask from some
collectors, 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 shrine. The flagon shown on
Plate XIX originally came from Bearley Church, near Stratford-on-Avon.
I was assured by the dealer that “Shakespeare attended Bearley Church.”
[Illustration: Old Pewter.
PLATE XX.]
PLATE XX
DESCRIBING THE PEWTER
_Bottom Shelf._ Pair Bedroom Candlesticks with loose tops and
extinguishers. Quaint Teapot. Tea Caddy. Chocolate Pot. Two-handled
and one-handled Caudle Cups.
_First Shelf._ Spill Bowl inscribed “43” with crown and bugle, showing
it belonged to the Leinster Regiment. Seven Beakers. Funnel dated 1698.
_Second Shelf._ Tobacco Jars. The two end ones are of lead, the one on
the left being made by hand. The other is cast, and has on each side a
reproduction of “The Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci, very clearly
moulded, while it is fitted with the old oak bottom fastened with iron
studs.
_Third Shelf._ Three Baluster-shaped Wine Measures. Four Irish
Measures. Five Measures.
_Fourth and Top Shelves._ See notes on Candlesticks (page 44).
[Illustration: Old Pewter.
PLATE XXI.]
PLATE XXI
DESCRIBING THE PEWTER
_Bottom Shelf._ Spice Box. Spice Dredger. Box Inkstand. Sand Sprinkler
for drying the ink. Tray with Sheffield Plate Snuffers. Snuff Holder.
Scotch Token Box.
_First Shelf._ At either end three Measures. Four Wine Cups. Three
Measures in centre.
_Second Shelf._ Flask; top screws in and not on--a peculiarity of
early Flasks. Wine Bottle Stand. Pap Boat and two Castor Oil Spoons
(see notes). Rat-tail Toddy Ladles. Mould for Clay Eggs. Small Tea
Caddy. Odd-shaped Flask.
_Third Shelf._ Tinder Box. Sandwich Case. Combined Sandwich Case and
Flask. Saddle Flask and Cup. Tea Caddy. Snuff Box. Cigar Case.
_Fourth Shelf._ Peppers, except centre, which is probably for sugar.
_Fifth Shelf._ Double-ended Egg-cup. Egg-cup from St. Bees Lighthouse.
Salts--three-legged, dated 1801. Glass-lined. Reversible. French.
Three-legged Sphinx. Swan. Plain. Three-legged early Elkington. Two
Egg-cups.
_Sixth Shelf._ Mustards. The three largest have fixed glass lining.
_Top Shelf._ Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with date 1840. Irish
Harp. Cream Jugs and Sugar Basin (J. Vickers). Centre Cream and one
adjoining are blue glass lined, and the fitting of the Pewter cover
denotes careful workmanship.
“Did he read the lessons?”
“Of course, that’s why he went.”
After this I felt compelled to buy it.
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 building. I
have also an old two-handled cup and a pair of collecting plates from
the old Runcorn Baptist Chapel, which was erected soon after 1800
and closed about 1880; a small private set, paten and chalice and an
engraved Scotch chalice, 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 sacramental.