The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-21


mug" of blue-white porcelain orna-
mented in Chinese lacquer. 1t stood
eight inches high and four across and
its egg-shell transparency showed
cracks and rivets that made one hest
state to pick it up.
An accompanying card carried this
legend:
brought over in the Mayhower, 1920
Said by Tiffany to be Bristol china.
Price $780,
The latter point Is open to discussionl
Into our mind came the history lesson
| the children studied overnight, word
painting of Plymouth Rock, the dreary
| December afternoon. the landing OF the
| Pilgrims of 1.-THE plague which carried
off half their number ere the spring be-
gan their storm, unrelenting blue laws"
Twas a sin for a man to kiss his wife,
to wear starch. in a ruff or TO hang gar
lands on a maypoe.
Later we know they planted orchards
and drank cider-carrying to their pas
tors family whole hogsheads of infer
mented apple juice.
Yet, even here in the gray, shadowy
shop, served by old Mortalitys very SELF
the inconoclastic spirit of youth and good
health asserted itself and we said quite
cheerfly, as through a megaphone!
"Old gentleman, you've made big mis-
take this isn't soft it were the cup
would be worth its weight in gold.
But the keeper of the treasure was not
to be enthused-eyen his gums were anti
auaran--so we left him and returned
home via another landmark of this fasci-
Mating town, viz, the Charleston library,
founded 1743, and consulted books, and
this is what they told us:
The making of pottery has been prac-
ticed from prehistoric times but the
introduction of china, in any quantity into
England, began about 1o50, by the East
India Trading company, from the Orient.
Queen Bess possessed only two ebay
ME pieces, one a porrnger OF white
porselyn garnished with gold, gift from
Lord Burleigh," and another greene
pursselyn given her by Robert Cecil
And Pops, in his diary, writes: l did
send for a cup of tee "a China drink, OF
which | never drank before"
Shakespeare, in Measure for Measure"
mentions:
IA dish of some three pence, your
honors have seen such dishes; they are
not china dishes but very good dishes. -"
The Pilgrim Fathers brought with
them from Holland Capt Miles Standish
but it isn't likely the doughty captain
was acquainted with the aristocratic
DELFT ware Oh tIfdI DSoiuSS TINS
frail mug is not delft. Can 1t be the
still more aristocratic India china, as
yet hardly become the fashion?
Further research discloses: 1.-THE old
est and most authentic piece Of stone
ware in this country is preserved by
the American Antiquarian Society a.
Worcester" 1. e.. the tankard of Gov
ernor Winthrop, who died 164s 1t stands
eight inches high. is mounted In silver
and the lid is engraved with quaint
design of Adam and Eve, and the SER
pent up an apple tree"
Other Massachusetts colonials possessed
similar beer mugs, but "the earliest men,
ton Of china in America says Alice
Morse Earle is the inventory made in
1641 of the property OF Thomas knocker
of Boston-'l chaynie DISH
In 1647 Marth Coteymore. a rich widow
(who afterwards married Governor Win
throp), includes among her wealth i
parcel cheney plate and saucers.'
Now, If the Governor drank beer, flip
or cider from his silver Tipped tankard,
mayhap "his lady cheyney' included
this delicate old specimen. The aues-
ton is, did she drink flip tea or cider
and how much at a sitting, judging by
the size?
All this conjecture is delightful, and
is one OF the many surprises hailed
by passing ships" who narbor for the
winter in this port of Old-World charm
and mystery.
Said by Tiffany to be Bristol china
Surely this honorable firm must know
but how reconcile Chinese decorations.
New England conscience, the encyclo-
paedic fact that Bristol pottery alone
dates to 1903 and last, but not least, how
came this Maynower cargo here in Char
lesion?
This is simply delicious, this study OF
old chlnal Somebody told the truth when
they said:
"China collecting is not mere fancy
it is a complete education
Good fortune awaits our next Visit
to the Library. We capture fresh from
its publishers. Historic Camden, Colonial
and Revolutionary" China study Is one