Here Be Dragons!

This elaborate antique pewter tea set from China is intricately engraved with dragons flying amidst exotic flowers and swirling waters.  

Pewter is an alloy of tin and lead. The softness of the metal makes it malleable and it can be polished to a soft sheen. Pewter appeared in China some 2,000 years ago. Tea caddies made of pewter were preferred for storing the valuable tea leaves and some tea connoisseurs argued that pewter tea pots made 

for superior brewing. 

In addition to the Chinese markings, the set is also stamped "Kut Hing Pewter Swatow." The City of Swatow, now known as Shantou, was opened as a foreign port in 1860 and quickly became an important export market, with many local artisans creating wares for the foreign trade. Beginning in the late 19th century, a number of workshops produced elaborate pewter items for the Western market, including everything from traditional tea sets to modern cocktail sets, often covered in intricate engraving. The Kut Hing company was one of the prominent pewter makers of the era.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

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Fantastic Fenton

This beautiful glass vase in glowing yellow is delicately painted with a chinoiserie landscape bordered by blossoms. It sits on a black glass base molded to look like carved Asian lacquer.  

This set is a scarce work of deco art glass created by the Fenton Art Glass Company in the 1930s. Founded in 1905 by brothers Frank and John Fenton in Martins Ferry, Ohio, the company originally decorated glassware purchased from other manufacturers. In 1907, the brothers opened the Fenton Art Glass factory in Williamstown, West Virginia, producing their own glass and introducing "iridescent ware," now known as "carnival glass." Inspired by the glass artistry of Tiffany and Steuben, Fenton produced a variety of colorful handmade glass objects, many enhanced with hand painting by the company's skilled artists. During the Depression era, Fenton added more practical items to its production, such as mixing bowls. The company ceased glass production in 2011, but its brightly-colored glassware, especially its earlier objects, are very popular with collectors.

The footed base is marked "Pat Pending."

 All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

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Casting a Lovely Light

These large lavishly decorated porcelain pieces are from China and are known as wedding lanterns. The  piercings or reticulations worked into the extravagant designs would let out a glowing light, On each edge of the hexagonal lanterns is a stylized bat. Bats were revered in China as symbol of good luck and happiness. In Chinese, the word for bat is "fu" and is pronounced the same as the word for good fortune. Bats, like the ones on these lovely lanterns, were often depicted in red, the color representing joy. Dangling from each bat's mouth is a representation of a red paper lantern, a symbol of joy and peace. Below the bat in red is a stylized symbol called "Shou," representing longevity.

Each lantern comes in two pieces, a candlestick base with the matching shade. The fact that these delicate pieces survived intact and together all these decades certainly suggests that they are indeed imbued with good fortune!

Every inch of the surface of each lantern is covered with elaborate enamel designs. On each side is a round medallion, either portraying a bird perched near a lushly blooming peony. . . 

. . . or a young boy at play.

Peonies represent wealth and prosperity. The bird is a magpie, is a symbol of happiness. 

In traditional Chinese culture, having sons to carry on the family name was vital. Depictions of young boys at play were signs of good fortune. No doubt these lanterns were intended to bless the happy couple with many sons.

 All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

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