The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-16
SPECIALISTS In CHINA.
Collectors I'm These Days Prefer a
Particular Piece or Ware.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
"In the great interest that is being mani
tested about old blue china, there is a
curious tendency TO specialize, and the "all
around collector of ten or twenty years
ago has given way to the collector of one
particular kind of Objects said a man
yesterday. 1T would be interesting to
know how many patient collectors there
are Of pitchers only. l know of over a
dozen in New York State alone. Several of
them have preference for only one kind
of ware the ever beautiful luster, in sill
yer, copper, rose and lavender tones.
"A collection of pitchers of Wedgewood's
make is not only beautiful and various, but
very costly as well. Nor is 1t yet impossi-
BILE, even with a collector on the qui vive
on every corner. Recently'in Boston, there
was sold at auction collection of Masonic
pitchers in black, printed Liverpool ware,
several of them bringing over $50 apiece.
Most of these were the generous old cider
pitchers, standing twelve inches high, and
having on them in one design or another a
portrait of Washington, the greatest Ma
son of all.
simon-pure collector calls them, is very
much increased when the name Of the
original owner is painted on them. This
is generally on the front, inclosed in a
wreath, or even in luster bands.
''Ine Masonic pitchers without a Wash
ington portrait are usually of less value,
though they are interestingly decorated
with quaint old verses, in which the SPELL
ing will not bear close scrutiny.
THE old blue historic pitchers &c ,
scarce anu rare 10 MAKE Ol
any size, but teapots are not hard to find
in q great variety of wares. One city in
the interior of New York State holds a
private collection of 800 all different, and
scattered all over the country are many
others, a number OF them boasting more
than 200 specimens.
''Old glass bottles form another side line
of great interest. many of them were
made here TO commemorate some great
event of national Importance, but they are
never pleasing 60 the eye, which is one Of
the charms of all collections of china.
When we had got over our desire to
make Boston harbor one grand teapot, and
settled down peacefully TO an individual
teapot, china had become quite plentiful
among US, the English potters leading the
way in sending us patriotic subjects, and
ouI own shrewd merchants importing large
quantities direct from the Orient.
GAS we do not find cup plates in Lowe
stoft, Oriental china, which formed in
colonial days eat-grandmammas best
days and holidays when IL was used, COM
pany manners were used, too, and the
choice Bohea was allowed to cool in the
teacups. Eut certain il is that on every
day occasions the fragrant herb was poured
into the saucer 10 cool. and slipped from
that vessel. What, then, done with
the cup. which good housewife would
allow set on her best board or tablecloth?
liz was set in a little fiat plate. called a
cup plate, very much the size and shape
OF those individual butter plates of our
own day. These cup plates. decorated with
the same designs as the dinner and tea sets.
have become OF immense value in the col
lectors' eyes when these are in the beautiful
blue Staffordshire ware. They are worth
more than their weight in gold. Why IL is
that they are scarce one may hardly
say. Perhaps they were more easily lost