NEWHALL
It is often hard to tell a certain class of Newhall from Bristol common or cottage china, and Newhall seems to have turned out many qualities of work without using any mark. The only pieces I have which are marked are the bowl on “Grandfather Helm” and the teapot in [Plate XLII], Shelf 3.
Old China.
| Shelf 4. | French Porcelain. |
| ” 3. | Newhall (3), Plymouth Cup, Bristol Saucer, Mug and Teapot, “Dresden” Duds (2). |
| ” 2. | Bristol Cottage China. |
| ” 1. | Plates: Minton, Worcester, Chamberlain’s Worcester, Cups and Saucers: Minton, Leeds, Caughley, Newhall. |
Plate XLII.
Old Horse Amulets. Group 1.
Plate XLIII.
In regard to the bowl I am about to reveal a secret known to very few outside my own family circle. The bowl was given (not thrown) in with several other things I had bought, as it had a piece broken out. It is gaudily painted inside, and having the letter “N” on the bottom I determined to make the most of it. I had a wooden block cut, grooved to just fit the jagged edge when the bowl was on its side, and fitted with a back support which took in the bottom, then a piece of wire holds the bowl always in position. This is a bit of camouflage that has only been noticed by one collector visitor, and the bowl has often been admired. On the top shelf, [Plate XLI], you will see two teapots very similar in decoration, the practically perfect one is Newhall and soft; the other, without a handle, is Chinese and very hard. I bought the latter to demonstrate how nearly the English artist copied the Oriental, but the faces always give the show away; the fact is, you cannot make a Chinese mug out of an English face. When I bought this broken pot the following remarks were exchanged:
“I never thought anyone would be soft enough to buy that thing.”
“Ah! but I collect teapots without handles; then they cannot be broken off when they are used at home.”
“But how can they pour the tea out when it’s hot?”
“Pump it out with a strainer.”
“How?”
“Now you are pumping. If you get any more without handles, will you save them for me? Good day.”
DERBY (SHELF 4, [PLATE XXXIX])
The cup and saucer on the right are richly decorated in heavy gold only, and are marked. Those at the left end are painted with rural scenery, and I was surprised to find they were Derby. The part-set of handsome Crown Derby will be easily identified by the typical handwork, which is of good early production.
SPODE (SHELVES 2 AND 3, [PLATE XXXIX])
I give several specimens representing this prolific factory, and although none of them is marked, I feel sure they are correctly classified. There is a substantial portion of a family tea service of old Spode on the third shelf, to which I have added some cups and saucers of the same design, but whiter in the body. These all have the well-known Mandarin design as decoration with the typical bright green in evidence. The teapot, sugar bowl, and specimen cups and saucers on the shelf below call for no special comment.