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WHITE IRONSTONE NOTES
VOLUME 3 No. 1
SUMMER 1996
Second Annual National WICA Convention 1996
An exhibit of compotes, fruit bowls and reticulated pieces was at
WICA’s recent convention. The tree above, left to right: reticulated
fruit bowl (detail on page 10), tall compote (detail on page 6) and
Pankhurst’s three footed Lily Pad, were in that show. In this issue,
along with the review of the convention, is a portfolio of photos and
drawings of only some of over forty pieces brought to Ohio by members. We don’t have room for all of them and hope to add future pages
as we get photos of newly found ones.
These elegant presentation pieces were commonly placed on sideboards and centers of tables sometimes filled with fruits, vegetables or
flowers. The compotes and tazzas could be parts of a desert set including serving dishes. Many of them matched our favorite embossed body
shapes. Some pieces came in several sizes. (ie. Ceres compotes Vol 1
#3, pg. 6) Almost all had pedestals, exception above. The reticulated
or pierced, open-work bowls, could have held fruit, nuts or flowers.
Those with matching open-work under-trays were often called chestnut
bowls or baskets. Pierced open-work, in earlier pieces were cut by
hand. It is speculated that reticulation is not just decorative but was
engineered for air flow around fresh fruit and hot, roasted chestnuts.
All presentation pieces enhance a piece of furniture or a whole room.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
WICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tom Moreland, President
Jim Kerr, Vice President
Olga Moreland, Secretary
Jack Allers, Treasurer
Beverly Dieringer
Patty Spahr Hitt
Fran Kinne
Tom Lautenschlager
Dorothy Noble
Howard Noble
Jill O'Hara
Ed Rigoulot
Honorary Lifetime Member
Jean Wetherbee
The WHITE IRONSTONE CHINA ASSOCIATION, INC. is a not for profit corporation.
WHITE IRONSTONE NOTES is the official
newsletter of the corporation and no article,
photograph or drawing may be reproduced
without express permission of WICA, Inc.
_____________________________________
WHITE IRONSTONE NOTES is published
and edited by Ernie and Bev Dieringer four
times a membership year. Drawings and photos are by Bev and Ernie Dieringer unless otherwise noted. Associate editor Jack
Anspaugh. Please send all news notes, articles,
suggestions, questions and listings for advertising or the spare parts column to: WICA,
Box 536, Redding Ridge, CT 06876. Fax #
203 938 8378.
Three ring notebook cover to save your issues
of WHITE IRONSTONE NOTES is available
at $89 plus $1.50 shipping. Total of $9.50.
Back issues of the newsletter are $5. each.
Volume 1 #1, 2 & 3, Volume 2, #1, 2, 3 & 4.
Make checks payable to WICA and send to
the above address.
_____________________________________
ADVERTISING RATES
Advertisements will be accepted in order of
receipt from WICA members and space allowing from non members.Rates (subject to
change): $20 per column inch (7 lines). Nonmembers, $40 per column inch. Members can
list a single piece for sale free in the Spare
Parts column each issue, space allowing.
Payment in full by check made out to WICA
must accompany each ad. Send to Newsletter
address. Publishing deadlines are, Dec. 1 for
Winter, March 1 for Spring, June 1 for
Summer, Sept 1 for Fall.
_____________________________________
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Send $25. for individual or $30. for two
individuals at the same address with check
made payable to WICA, to: Jim Kerr / Cavern
View Antiques, RD#1-Box 23, Howes Cave,
NY 12092. Please send all ADDRESS
CHANGES to the same address.
I was delighted to have many enthusiastic
comments about WICA’s Second Annual
Convention, which I was forced to miss due
to an impending trial. From all reports (and
despite my absence!) this year’s convention
wa an even greater success than last year’s.
One hundred and fifty members attended,
representing 24 states and Ontario.
This convention marked WICA’s expansion into a full-grown national organization.
Today, we are proud to have nine, albeit
fledgling, regional organization, led by eight
coordinators who have volunteered to steer
WICA activities in their areas. Watch your
mail and the new WICA calendar, which
will appear in every issue of the Newsletter,
to make sure you do not miss a single event
in your own region. And keep in mind that
you will also be welcome at any WICA
regional event anywhere in the U.S.
I am also happy to welcome Patty Spahr
Hitt, Fran Kinne and Harry Lowe, new
Board members, to our very active Board.
When we started out just two years ago, we
were a small, hopeful group from New York
and Connecticut, spurred to action by Jean
Wetherbee and several Tea Leaf activists.
Already, the Board has grown into a diverse
group, with directors from New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas, in addition to
New York and Connecticut. Every Board
member spends hours on committee and
membership-related matters and works to
forge close relationships with WICA members. As we move ahead, we look forward
to involving additional WICA members with
the Board and on the various Committees
that will be at work on WICA business
between Conventions.
I extend my most sincere congratulations
to all members, especially Convention
Committee chair Jane Diemer, who worked
so hard to make the 1996 Convention a
memorable gathering. On to 1997.
Tom Moreland
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
We begin our third year with coverage or our
second national convention and we have the
best job of all. We feel so enriched by all you
members who have added to our passion for
white by sharing your treasures and enthusiasm. We especially want to thank those of
you who have volunteered to work on various
committees. Because of you, there are several
very exciting projects in the works.
This year’s theme was American ironstone
and the Atwood Lake Resort could not have
been more delightful with its proximity to East
Liverpool, Ohio. The sunsets over the lake
viewed from the dining room and the good
food caused instant relaxation and anticipation
of the next day’s activities.
We have a few thoughts to share about what
we learned. Many of us have been guilty in
the past of dismissing American ironstone
because it wasn’t English. It seems that this
has been a perception for over a hundred
years. The housewife in the last half of the
1800’s was also more inclined to buy imported wares because she thought it was better
quality. The American potters developed a
strategy of designing back stamps that mimicked the English lion & unicorn marks. Some
were subtle, reversing the animals or changing
the face of the lion into a smiling pussy cat or
making different animals such as a deer, stand
on either side of a shield. Some were less subtle as in the case of Homer Laughlin, who
after winning a national prize for pottery,
depicted the English lion being vanquished by
the American Eagle. (see page 9)
Our eyes were really opened by the beautifully potted, perfectly glazed and detailed
ironstone produced in Ohio, New Jersey, New
York and other places in the U.S. I don’t think
we will ever again pass up a piece of ironstone
simply because it is American
*************************************
SOME GOOD THINGS
Bob Beacham from Horsham, PA, thought
that those of us who like to plan our travels
with antiquing in mind would find this item an
invaluable resource. The “No Nonsense”
Antiques Mall Directory. There is no advertising, just listings of all the multi-dealer shops
in the U.S. up to date. Addresses, phone numbers, days open, hours open, all listed by State
and City and keyed to Rand McNally’s road
maps. We wish we had had this on our way
and back from the convention. The 1996 edition is $20.50 including postage and if you
mention that you are a member of WICA, it is
$19.50, from:
FDS Antiques, Inc.
62Blue Ridge Dr.
Stamford, CT 06903-4923
*************************************
Harvey Pomroy from La Miranda, CA, sent
us a package of “Quake Hold.” This is a popular product in earthquake areas but the package also recommends its use for other “shakers” in your home, (and you know who you
are.) Harvey also says this product doesn’t
leave marks on wooden surfaces. If you can’t
find it locally, contact TREVCO, 129 East
Colorado Blvd, Suite 462, Monrovia, CA
91016 or call (818) 301 0891.
*************************************
Jean Wetherbee has put together a page of
additions, changes and corrections for the
COLLECTOR’S GUIDE which you can place
in your copy of the book. It starts with P. vii.
The quote is “Working in earth makes men
easy-minded.” We will be happy to send a
free copy to those who are interested. Write to
the newsletter and include a self-addressed
stamped envelope.
2
LETTERS
Got my newsletter. Here’s some information you may be interested in.
Vol. 2 #4 Pg 10, #4 - Knowles, Thomas (?) &
Knowles? Shouldn’t that read Knowles,
Taylor & Knowles? (Yes! Knowles, Taylor &
Knowles.)
Re: Bennett syrup (pg 11, middle photo) the pouring spout is molded inside the lid.
You couldn’t possibly see it in the photo
because the pewter lid covers it. The Patent
date on the bottom does not refer to the pottery -- it refers to the lid (which is either
pewter or Brittany (?) tin or whatever they call
it.) See DeBolt’s Dictionary of American
Marks. Pg 167.
Re: Mark inquiry on Pg 3 - is probably Ohio
China Co. 1902-1912. They were out of East
Palestine, OH. IBID - Pg 180. It’s missing the
lettering but it’s possible that was left off or
doesn’t show in the photo. It’s also on Pg 105.
I’m enclosing a photo of my Mile pattern
sugar bowl - I wondered when I saw that mug
(Vol 2/ #3, Pg 4) how it could be. This is a
really beautiful piece of white ironstone. You
can see the impressed pattern (lily pads) and
the scallop handles.
Julie Rich, Newark, DE
*************************************
While browsing through my conventionacquired copy of White Ironstone, A
Collector’s Guide, I noticed that the beautiful
Nautilus covered dish in photo 9-2 was listed
as being in my collection. Ah, that it were so!
This piece is owned by longtime
collectors/dealers Herb and Eileen White.
While gathering photos and facts for TLCI’s
Handbook of Tea Leaf Body Styles last year, I
visited Herb and Eileen at their Chino Valley,
AZ home where I photographed several pieces
for inclusion in our Handbook. These photos
along with several others from various collections were sent to Jean Wetherbee in our ongoing effort to coordinate body style names.
Since I did not identify the source of the photos, Jean evidently inferred that they were all
3 my treasures. My apologies to Herb and
Eileen and also to Jean for this oversight.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your exception series highlighting various categories of White Ironstone.
I particularly liked your article on shaving
mugs - the definitive drawings and photos are
an excellent resource for the identification of
this very desirable form. Thanks for all your
efforts on behalf of White (and Tea Leaf!)
Ironstone collectors everywhere.
Nancy J. Upchurch, Education Committee
Chair, Tea Leaf Club International.
*************************************
You’ve asked for information concerning
unexpected places where ironstone turns up.
The cover of the June 1996 (Vol. 138 No. 6)
House Beautiful magazine features in the bedroom photograph a white ironstone pitcher
filled with valley lilies. I have this same pitcher and it is marked: Barrington, Ironstone,
Made in England and a standing griffin facing
to the left. Twentieth Century, right? Many
pieces of white ironstone are seen in the feature article. The text only mentions
“Wedgwood” and “creamware.”
Harry Lowe, Culpeper, VA
*************************************
Also in the June issue of VICTORIA magazine, page 40 there is a picture of a collection
of nine figural white ironstone pitchers which
were identified as 19th century Staffordshire.
They belong to fashion designer, Joan Vass of
New York City.
*************************************
A SINCERE THANK YOU!
I would like to send a sincere “thank your!”
to all of you wonderful WICA members who
attended the 2nd annual convention. You were
a wonderful audience and everyone made me
feel so welcome that I just felt right at home.
I need to thank some of the WICA members
who were so kind and brought pieces of
American ironstone for the Saturday morning
display. Many, many thanks to: Harriet
Denton, Bev and ERnie Dieringer, Harry
Lowe, Fran Kinne, Bill Lancaster, Anne
Miller, Olga Moreland, Jill O’Hara, Roxann
Rich, Ray Secrist, Gloria Weatherby, Margery
Watson. Thanks also to Dale Abrams and Jane
Washburn for carrying pieces throughout the
audience as I was speaking.
And special thanks to Jean Wetherbee who
is a wonderful roommate: to Jane Diemer for
all of her arrangements. Most of all - thanks
to a very appreciative audience.
Julie Rich, Newark, DE
*************************************
We recently visited a Crate and Barrel store
in Chicago. They were selling sets of china in
what we would refer to as “high relief.” One
pattern was a floral and the other, a berry or
grape motif. On the back it was marked made
by Davenport as a reissue of a pattern going
back to the 1700’s. It was attractive and suitable for microwave, dishwasher, etc. It is
obvious that white china remains a classic.
NEXT ISSUES:
FALL 1996: T.J. & J. Mayer Classic Gothic
and Prize Bloom Shapes. Plus miscellaneous pieces of interest.
WINTER 1996: A portfolio of ewers. A
profile on Red-Cliff. An index of the
newsletter to date.
SPRING 1997: A portfolio on Lily of the
Valley and Hyacinth.
Summer 1997: Children’s tea sets and
other miniature individual pieces.
Convention coverage.
Also in future issues, we plan to add extra
pages of additional mugs and teapots which
we have gathered. These will be designed
to place with the original profiles in your
past newsletter. We will be reporting on
Education committee projects. We would
love to share your collections with the rest
of the membership so please send us photos
(color or black and white) of any of the
above patterns or teapots, mugs or pewter
lidded pitchers. Please note any marks,
sizes and your name on the photos.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
WICA’s 1995/96 membership year closed
at the end of May with a new high or 459
members representing 36 states, the District
of Columbia, 3 Canadian provinces and
Germany. This is a 15% increase from our
Charter Year 194/95) membership total.
Thanks to the many of you who have
promptly renewed your membership for the
1996/97 year. Please be advised that if your
renewal is not returned by August 1st, this
will be your last issue of “White Ironstone
Notes.” A RED DOT ON YOUR MAILING LABEL INDICATES THAT WE
HAD NOT RECEIVED YOUR RENEWAL AS OF JUNE 5TH.
WICA’s first Membership Directory was
completed this spring and distributed at the
annual convention. All other members
were mailed their copies in mid-April. Two
hundred sixty-one members submitted
information for the 1996 edition which provides a great source for everyone to get to
know each other’s collecting interests.
WANTED: Corn & Oats; E. & F.
Ceres; large decorated handled mugs;
tall pitchers & ewers, especially Gothic.
Perfect condition. Stefan Brecht. May
through
Oct:General
Delivery,Monterey, MA 01245. Nov
through Apr: 222 W 23rd St., New
COMPOTES, FRUIT BOWLES &
RETICULATED CENTER PIECES
FROM MEMBERS’ COLLECTIONS
Above: Framed Leaf by Pankhurst.
To the right: 16 sided compote marked
Anthony Shaw, Staffordshire. (1870’s) 6
by 11 inches. (Harry Lowe)
American Flower Petal shape compote.
(Kathy & Tom Lautenschlager)
Reticulated chestnut bowl with matching
under tray.
Sydenham Oval Compote by T. & R.
Boote. (Dan Overmeyer)
Cameo Gothic made by James Edwards,
Samuel Alcock, J. Wedgwood and Davenport.
(Ernie Dieringer)
Scalloped Decagon/Cambridge Shape by
both Davenport and Wedgwood.
Tall reticulated compote, unknown pattern or This Ceres compote by Elsmore & Forster is
maker. The base is ringed with Sydenham-like very much like a soup tureen bowl but has a
different lip.
shields. (Jane Diemer)
4
Arcaded Square chestnut bowl with matching undertray and missing its handles. (Dan
Overmeyer)
Fruit Garden made by J.F., or Barrow &
Co., or Livelsey & Powell. (Rick and
Suzanne Nielsen)
Virginia Shape by Brougham & Mayer.
Samuel Alcock’s Gothic Decagon. (Tom &
Olga Moreland)
5
Open Flower compote. (Dan Overmeyer)
Reticulated “chestnut basket.” This piece probably has a matching underplate. (Dick and Adele
Armbruster)
(Tom & Kathy Lautenschlager)
New York Shape
Lautenschlager)
Reticulated compote by Anthony Shaw, 11”
high. (Sally & Howard Erdman)
Primary Shape. (Howard Noble)
Reticulated pedestalled compote marked only
“Real Ironstone China.” (Tom & Kathy
Lautenschlager)
(Tom
&
Kathy
Above top: Short octagon compote by J.F. is
8 1/2” by 3” tall. (Ernie Dieringer) Above
bottom: T. J. & J. Mayer Gothic short compote.
Ceres Shape compote sometimes called a
tazza. (Jane Diemer)
Prize Bloom by T. J. & J. Mayer. (Jack &
Janet Allers)
Marked Pankhurst & Co. 10 1/2” wide, 4”
tall. (Carol & Frank Fleischman)
J. & G. Meakin’s Pearl Sydenham comes in
three different heights. (Tom & Kathy
Lautenschlager)
Coral Shape by J. Wedgwood. (Polly Goselin &
Bertica Vasseur)
Fig by Davenport. (Ernie Dieringer)
Berlin Swirl by Mayer & Elliot. (Jill O’Hara)
Wheat & Hops by J. & G. Meakin.
James Edwards made this tall panelled compote (Howard Noble)
Pierced Scroll marked Alcock - Imperial
Ironstone.
Columbia Shape. (Tom & Olga Moreland)
Marked only Real Ironstone, featuring a
petaled skirt on the pedestal. (Rigoulot &
Brockey)
6
TOPS AND BOTTOMS
Five pictures are worth a thousand words. It’s hard to think of where
else there is such a good possibility of finding the lid for that sugar bowl
Aunt Agatha knocked over.
SHOW AND SALE
White, white everywhere. The
Sunday morning convention finale
displayed more tureens, teapots,
pitchers, gravy boats and cups and
saucers, than we have ever seen gathered in one place. These views of
dealers’ tables full of pieces that had
not yet been shown, followed hundreds of pieces the previous day, at
the auction, show and tell, the exhibit
and tops and bottoms and those at the
delightful flea market for $25 or less.
Above: Ted Brockey chats with a customer.
This convention offered a possibility
for everyone to indulge in collecting
at any level.
7
PRE-CONVENTION EVENTS
FRIDAY MORNING
Two trips and a lunch for two groups were
the beginning of the convention weekend. A
tricky job of scheduling the morning with one
group going to the museum and the other to
Homer Laughlin Pottery and then, after lunch,
switching. Here is some of what we got to
see.
A former Post Office building in East
Liverpool, Ohio, which is on the National
Register of Historic Places, houses the
Museum of Ceramics. The high ceiling and a
few columns are reminders of its former use,
but make no mistake, this conversion contains
a first class museum.
There is a small theater with a computerized
slide and light show detailing the history of
potteries in the area from the late 1700’[s to
now. The lighted showcases flow around the
first floor with examples of all the things that
were made in the area including parts for early
electrical and heating systems made of white
ironstone.
Downstairs are many more showcases with
some “knock your socks off” pieces. Ernie
was captivated by a large bowl shaped piece
that was punched randomly with small round
holes and obviously meant to be a colander.
Some other pieces seen: three plain, rounded
children’s tea sets, a mini ewer of unusual
shape, a vanity (a wall hung soap and toothbrush holder), tow soup tureens by American
makers we’ve never seen before and many egg
cups and bowls and mugs and tea pots. We
were told that the collection is rotated at least
once a year to show more of the items in the
collection. Life-size dioramas show pottery
workers at different stages in the process of
making ceramics and selling them. One room
in set up as a ceramics shop and we were curious to see a salesman’s sample case fitted with
full size-place settings of a single pattern, (So
much for miniatures.)
The museum staff prepared especially for us
a small display of their oldest white ironstone
pieces. Most were b adly in need of cleaning
but were a real education in American wares.
Something we learned was that Hall China
manufactured wares for Red-Cliff, which
means that Red-Cliff only did hand decoration
such as Tea Leaf on the china they sold (facts
of which all Tea Leaf members present were
aware.) We would have loved to spend more
time going through the collection. For those
of you that may be in the area, the museum is
open March-Nov: 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Wed.Sat.; 12-5 p.m. Sun. & holidays. 400 East
Fifth Street, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920.
(216) 386-6001.
At lunch, the people at our table were curious to find out who had manufactured the
restaurant’s ironstone ware. We turned over
tuted at the factory. When you thing of it, if
they were still using the clay deposits along
the Ohio river, there would be huge holes created. We were told that they still use some
sand from the river.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Some of the hundreds of white ironstone
pieces on display. Above: a bank. Below: a
juicer big enough for grapefruit with a
strainer built in. Both pieces are probably
turn of the century. (Dorman photo)
the cups and saucers and even though they
were almost indistinguishable, they were
made by both Homer Laughlin and Sterling
Pottery.
The other part of the tour was the Homer
Laughlin China Co. in Newell, West Virginia,
just across the Ohio River from East
Liverpool. We started out in the factory outlet
shop which was filled with among other
things Fiesta ware. We overheard one of our
members who is a chemical engineer comment that the red is not as exciting as it used
to be since uranium was removed from the
formula. We believe his exact words were,
“Oh yes, they were very hot!”
We were given a video lecture on the history
of Homer Laughlin and told that the pottery
factory spans about four miles along the river.
Then we were taken in small groups through
the working factory. The building is immense
and seems to go on for a mile. There are areas
where each process takes place. In one area,
there were crafts people painting gold details
on cups and saucers. The paint was a muddy
brown but when the pieces are put through a
kiln, it turned into gold. We did get to see
plates made from the mixing of the clay, to the
forming, to the glazing and firing. A very
high tech, computerized process for mass production and still there were some pieces that
were hand decorated and finished. I was fascinated to learn that the clay is shipped in
from Venezuela in powder form and reconsti-
Friday night was a busy time. WICA’s first
Flea Market was a rousing success as an “ice
breaker” for the assembling convention goers.
Since the top price for anything was twenty
five dollars, there were some nice bargains to
be had. At the same time, people were registering and getting their packet of information
along with a white ironstone Fiesta mug from
Homer Laughlin with the round WICA seal on
one side. And if that were not enough, Jean
Wetherbee was signing her long awaited
books which had just been hand delivered by
Kyle Husfloen (her editor) to the detriment of
his car’s transmission and suspension.
The Yungingers had an enticing display of
pieces at the Flea Market. We wonder if
someone got that Scallop Decagon gravy boat
we somehow missed. (Dorman photo)
Jean signs a member’s book with a recently
acquired Edwards sauce tureen keeping her
company. (Dorman photo)
WHITE IRONSTONE: A COLLECTOR’S
GUIDE is available from: Parkside Gallery,
17-19 Main Street, Hillsboro, NH 03244.
Check to: Jean Wetherbee for $25.95 + $3.50
for shipping. Total $28.95
8
JULIE RICH KEYNOTE ADDRESS AMERICAN IRONSTONE
When Jim Kerr called me to ask if I would
serve as your Keynoter, I quickly agreed -afraid that if I waited too long, the Board
might change their mind. And then I began
thinking. By now all of you know -- thanks to
White Ironstone Note’s Editors -- that my
main interest is in the collecting of American
Tea Leaf and that until very recently I was
Editor of the Tea Leaf Readings. So you must
suspect that I like my ironstone with a bit of
copper or gold luster trim.
After I walked into the WICA display at your
convention last year and was completely overwhelmed with that display of magnificent
English tureens, I suspected that American
ironstone might not be high on your list of
must haves. I thought I knew how Bill Clinton
would feel if he were asked to address the
Republican Convention or Newt Gingrich
being invited to address the American Civil
Liberties Union.
I would like to lead you on a pottery trail that
primarily encompasses two districts in particular. The first is East Liverpool, Ohio (therein
after known as ELO) and Trenton, NJ. ELO
became known during the late 19th century as
crockery city. Trenton was called during the
same period, the Staffordshire of America.
What decided that these two sites were to
become the two areas in this vast country that
would eventually host 90% of the producing
potteries? Location and availability of clay
were certainly tow important factors.
In its early history ELO had known difficult
days and at one time had been “inhabited by
only six familys and two bachelors.” In 1839
James Bennett -- an English potter -- had
worked his way from England to Jersey City,
to Troy, IN, and -- finally -- to ELO. Bennett’s
first kiln was drawn in 1840. The Bennetts
(James soon was joined by his three brothers)
never looked back. You will not see here or
anywhere, any white ironstone marked James
Bennett. You will find a syrup jar marked
Edwin bennett. Edwin had left his brothers
and built a pottery in Baltimore, MD. You
might be interested to know that Edwin
Bennett lived to be 90 years old and that the
Bennett Pottery continued through three generations of Bennetts until 1936 when it was
closed.
Below are two sides of the same table pitcher. This American pitcher was made in
Steubenville, Ohio. On one side is a geranium and the other side has what looks like
a Chrysanthemum. (Someone called it a Calendium.) Note the high relief amplified
by a background stippling texture. The smooth scalloped edge and the branch handle are reminiscent of the best in English design. Double lion mark below.
9
What needs to be said about Homer
Laughlin which has been in operation from
1877 to the present? We were privileged to
tour the Newell, WVA plant. Originally
known as the Laughlin Brothers, this pottery
had its beginning in ELO. Homer and his
brother Shakespeare (I’m not making that up)
were offered a bonus of $5,000 by a group of
the city fathers of ELO if they would open a
white ironstone factory in the town. They did!
The company was successful and in 1876 won
an outstanding award at the National
Centennial Exhibition. Have you ever wondered about that HL mark with the eagle hovering over a fallen lion? It represents
American Know-how triumphing over British
product.
I would like to make just a few final points.
Many of these potters were born in England
and trained in English potteries but they were
Americans. They really were what America
was all about - good workmanship, good citizens, good businessmen and the ultimate
entrepreneurs.
Please, don’t ever again turn your back on a
piece of American ironstone. It is just as
much a part of your heritage as any of your
English pieces.
*************************************
The above is excerpted from Julie Rich’s
keynote address. The extensive information
about American made ironstone would be
hard to find anywhere. We would like to
believe it’s the beginning of a most important
book yet to be written. She has graciously
supplied us with an eight page transcript of
her program. If you would like a copy including her five page handout of makers and their
marks, please send $5. to cover postage and
printing costs, to WICA in care of this
newsletter.
A popular Victorian pair of hands dish. The potter
used his wife’s hands for the model and she was wearing her wedding ring which can be seen on close examination. The maker is Knowles, Taylor, Knowles, East
Liverpool, Ohio. The mark is shown below.
SHOW AND TELL
This pair of six-sided Cockscomb pieces was discovered by Tom and Kathy Lautenschlager. They are looking for the lid to the tea pot because
this photo was taken with the sugar lid on it. In the middle: Tom and Kathy at Show and tell. (Dorman photo)
Close-up of the mark on the
+ Left:
reticulated bowl on the cover.
Right middle: A lovely 2 piece cheese
keep owned by Gen & Gene Barrett. It
is marked Burgess Burslem. The finial
is Hyacinth and the body has a ribbon
woven around a branch with flowers and
leaves. The base is rimmed with
Sydenham-like shaped “shields.”
Because it was printed over texture, we
were not able to read it until Kyle
Husfloen brought a small plate with the
same mark. Now we know it was imported
for the Brattle House in Cambridge.
(Dieringer coll.)
Right: segmented relish (?) dish
+ owned by Dan Overmeyer.
Right middle: Jill O’Hara and her Full
Ribbed punch bowl. (Dorman photo)
Right below: A magnificent cheese
+ keep cover owned by Ann and Jim
Miller.
Possibly Asia Shape by
Woolscroft. 8 3/4” x 11” high. There are
vent holes under the unusual handle.
+
+ Left: This beautifully sculpted American Eagle
is in the collection of Dick and Adele Armbruster who
found it in Maine three years ago. It stands 13 3/4”
high with an 11” wing span. There are no marks on it
to identify, but we suspect that it was a commemorative piece perhaps celebrating the 100th or 150th
birthday of our nation. (1876 or 1926) It is most definitely American ironstone. Until a catalog from its
maker is found, we won’t know for sure.
10
REGIONAL EVENTS
The following regions have organized events.
Regional Divisions of the
White Ironstone China Association, Inc.
Region 1) Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon,
Washington and British Columbia.
Region 2) Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Alberta and
Saskatchewan. (No members yet in this region.)
Region 3) Indiana, Michigan, Ohio.
Region 4) Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Manitoba.
Region 5) Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas.
Region 6) Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
Region 7) Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania.
Region 8) New York, Ontario, Quebec.
Region 9) Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova
Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
A Region 4 event will be held by Bill and Carol Lancaster
Date:
Saturday, Sept. 7, 1996
Peppercorn Cafe
Location:
180 18th Avenue North
Monroe, WI 53566
Hours:
9 to 4
$15 per person including lunch
There will be show and tell, tops and bottoms and table sales
events. If members wish additional information, they can call
Bill or Carol and (608) 325 5724, evenings.
Due to space limitations, they are trying to limit enrollment
to 50 persons and extend the invitation to all members of the
new District 4 and others who are able to attend.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region 3, Gale Frederick, Toledo, Ohio, October 4-5. Call for
details. (419) 535 5606.
Region 5, Ted Brockey and Ed Rigoulot, Colyville, TX,
November 2nd. Call for details. (817) 354 4644.
Region 7, Sandy Jenkins and Mary Bell, September 21st,
8511 Rayburn Rd., Bethesda, MD. Call for details. (301)
530 7421.
THE AUCTION
After a wonderful banquet dinner Saturday
evening, the auction was a bright and cheerful
event. Tom Lautenschlager did a delightful job
of being auctioneer again this year.
There were 142 consigned pieces, almost
twice as much as at our first convention. Tea
pots did not go as high as last year but children’s tea sets (below) saw very active bidding.
Above and center: Two views of the auction
preview show the variety of quality pieces consigned. Below: A beautiful Paris Soup tureen
by John Alcock.
Wes Diemer holds up a spectacular Gothic
11 Octagon master waste jar by J.F.
Sally Erdman reads a poem printed in Jean
Wetherbee’s book which she embroidered
on a pillow. The pillow was then auctioned
off as a donation to the Association.
SPARE PARTS
WANTED TO BUY:
MOSS ROSE teapot lid, 3 7/8” inside diameter.
Ron Stork (219) 875 5443
------------------------------------------------MUGS! Canada, Potomac, Athens, Morning
Glory, Scalloped Decagon, Laurel Wreath
and others.
Bill Lancaster (608) 325 5724
------------------------------------------------WHEAT & CLOVER sugar bowl lid, 3 7/8”,
Turner and Tompkinson.
Peggy Goodrich (405)237 7371,
Fax 405 242 7033
-------------------------------------------------SYDENHAM gravy boat
Nancy Rajala (810) 239 0272
------------------------------------------------SYDENHAM undertray for gravy tureen
Carol Fleischman (815) 723 0904
-------------------------------------------------WALLED OCTAGON sugar bowl lid, J.F.,
TRENT SHAPE basin by John Alcock.
Murray Russell Smith (304) 728 4387
--------------------------------------------------CALA LILY teapot base and sugar bowl lid,
anything in BERLIN SWIRL, VINTAGE
and PANELLED GRAPE.
Patty Spahr Hitt (614) 447 0730
----------------------------------------------------GIRARD by T. & R. Boote soup tureen
bowl and lid.
Olga Moreland (212) 744 0872
--------------------------------------------------GIRARD, SYDENHAM and/or BALTIC
creamers.
Fran Kinne (201) 567 1202
-----------------------------------------------------Base to vertical SYDENHAM toothbrush
holder or any unusual SYDENHAM pieces.
Jim Kerr (518) 296 8052
-----------------------------------------------------Boote’s 1851 OCTAGON soup tureen lid
and base plate.
Ernie Dieringer (203) 938 3740
----------------------------------------------------SCALLOP DECAGON teapot lid, SYDENHAM decagon potty lid.
Bertica Vasseur (860) 233 2392
---------------------------------------------------Boote’s 1851 OCTAGON soup tureen base
plate.
Ray Secrist (717 235 5874
---------------------------------------------------FIG horizontal toothbrush lid.
Jim Kerr (518) 296 8052
-----------------------------------------------------FORGET -ME-NOT vertical toothbrush
undertray, SYDENHAM oval sauce tureen
lid, MEADOW BOUQUET sugar bowl lid.
Suzanne Nielsen (314) 997 7963
-----------------------------------------------------SYDENHAM, CERES, 1851 OCTAGON,
FIG etc. lids to tea pots, sugars, vegetables.
Please do not pass these up in your travels
because you don’t need one right now.
There are many of our members how need
these lids in particular. Let us know about
the parts you find. We will list them here for
sale.
------------------------------------------------------
FOR SALE:
WHEAT & HOPS 2 piece sauce tureen,
GOTHIC chamber pot and lid.
Bill Lancaster (608) 325 5724
-----------------------------------------------------WHITE IRONSTONE BY DAVENPORT
“FIG” sauce tureen, 8” high, with cover and
under-plate $275.00, “FIG” gravy boat
$95.00, CAKE STAND, 11” d. $175.00.
Bob Davenport (860) 355 4379
COLLECTORS’ SHOWCASE
This Classic Gothic Octagon footbath has a printed mark,
“Pankhurst.” It resides in the home of Jane and Wes Diemer
of Wilmington, Delaware. We think it is one of the grandest,
large pieces of ironstone we have ever seen.
12
Bill Lancaster, Monroe, WI