Some Treasures from Dayboro Day Antiques & Collectables Fair

Last Sunday, I went down to the Dayboro Day Antiques & Collectables Fair. It's only on once a year and although fairly small, I usually find something nice there to add to my collections. I only did a quick visit this time as I wanted to get back home in time to go to church. I did manage, however, to get there well before the 8.30am start and was actually about the third person through the door. Never been that early to any fair before.

At the fair I found six treasures which I very happily brought home with me. Below are a few teaser photos of what I found. Some of these items will be featured in more detail in future posts.

My first purchase was the most unusual and also my favourite find of the day. I bought it from Kate, the owner of one of my favourite, small, antiques shop, "Tikki Boo", at Clontarf. Kate always has something interesting for me in her shop and her prices are also quite reasonable. This time I bought a sewing box (?) made from some old Laurel Kerosene tins, most likely during the Great Depression. A great piece of Australian history. I plan to do a special article in the near future devoted entirely to this most ingenious item.

Next I found an early card game called "CHOOK CHOOK". Apart from some water stains on the outside of the box, it looks as though it has never been used. This game probably dates from the 1930s. 

The next stall belonged to another two favourite dealers of mine, Ash & David. I very seldom pass their stalls without buying something and this Sunday was no exception. They had a very nice hand forged branding iron in a 'fleur de lis' or crown design. A little dearer than I usually pay for a branding iron but the design was worth the extra. One day I will do a special post on all of my branding irons. I just want to fire them up first and brand a piece of wood to see how they all turn out.

Ash & David also had a nice child's trio in a Noah's Ark design which I just had to have to add to my juvenalia collection. This probably dates from the 1950s / 60s and was made by "SYDNEY BRITISH ANCHOR ENGLAND".

The last things that I bought were from a stall owner who usually always has some interesting things at good prices. I have bought a few things from him over the years including my very first piece of Australian domestic pottery, a Diana trough vase. This time I found six Warning signs (4 aluminium and 2 steel) and an old galvanised bucket. I think the signs have probably come from some high tension power line towers as they warn of the dangers of climbing such towers. I wasn't really after this type of sign but how could I refuse when he only wanted $2 each. I intend to hang one or two of them up and then use the rest to make some signs of my own. There is no way that I could have even bought sheets of aluminium or steel this cheaply.

Not sure where I will use the bucket yet but I know it will look great somewhere in my garden.

Overall a very worthwhile visit. Came home with some nice treasures and caught up with a few friends. Looking forward to next year's fair.

My Vintage Jelly Mould Collection

Up until earlier this year, the only jelly moulds that I had in my collection of kitchenalia were two clear glass moulds that I found at the Dayboro Day Antiques and Collectables Fair two years ago.

Then I recently managed to pick up four more moulds for my collection from an Aladdins Collectables Fair. This time they were all white pottery rather than glass. I had always wanted some white pottery moulds and had often looked at them in antique shops but they were always to dear for me.

And even more recently I have acquired three more, bringing my current total to nine. Two of these latest ones are white pottery bought from the Sunshine Coast Antique and Collectables Show last month and one is brown salt glaze stoneware bought from Collectorama in Nambour a week ago.

Some of my jelly moulds

The age of these moulds vary quite considerably. I can only estimate most of their ages, however the two T. G. Green moulds are a little easier to date more precisely.

Beginning with what I believe to be the oldest jelly mould is this small Victorian one. It is impressed on the base with No. 25, 5 and a small star or flower mark. I suppose these are the pattern number and size of the mould. It does however have a few chips and a hairline crack.

Small Victorian jelly mould (13cm long approx.)

Next is another very small, early mould but this time from the Wedgwood factory, probably also from the Victorian era. It is impressed on the side with "WEDGWOOD", 24, 31 and the letter H. Again I assume that the numbers represent the pattern and size. Unfortunately this mould has a rather nasty chip and crack. I only bought it because I had never seen a small Wedgwood mould like this and the price was reasonable considering its poor condition.

Small "WEDGWOOD" jelly mould (just 8cm long approx.)

I believe that the next two moulds could be late Victorian or Edwardian.  The first one is quite a large mould that stands about 14cm high. This would make one impressive jelly. This mould doesn't have any identifying makers marks but at least it is in good condition with just a bit of crazing.

Large Victorian jelly mould (20cm long approx.)

Next is another large mould that is over 23cm in diameter but only 7cm deep internally. It is nicely decorated inside with a pattern of grapes, leaves and other fruit. Again, a jelly or what ever else that would come out of this mould would be most impressive. This mould is clearly marked in green on the base by a circle surrounding the letters V&B over an M. It also has a rather indistinct impressed mark of what I think is "No 249", the letters JH over the number 37 and possibly the number 1 on the side. There are also two holes in the foot rim of this mould enabling it to be hung on the wall for either storage or display. This mould is in very good condition with only a small chip on the rim.

Large V&B M jelly mould (almost 24cm across)

My most recently acquired jelly mould is a lovely, glossy, brown, salt glaze stoneware mould.  It has no markings identifying where it was made but looks very similar to the Bendigo Pottery products (although it could have been made almost anywhere). Dating this mould is rather difficult as it could have been made as early as the mid Victorian era or right up to the early 20th century. Its condition is very good with it only having a few small chips.

Salt glaze stoneware jelly mould (17.5cm long approx.)

The two glass jelly moulds would be more recent than the previous five moulds, probably early to mid 20th century. They are both unmarked and in good condition except for a chip and fracture mark in the first more decorative one. I knew it had a chip but didn't even notice the fracture when I bought it. I was a bit disappointed to find it when I got home. It goes to show that no matter how hard you exam an item before buying, you can still make mistakes. The lighting is not the best around some of the stalls at Aladdins Fair where I bought it from. If you are paying big money for an item, it really should be examined in bright, natural sunlight. Thankfully the stall holder had this mould very reasonably priced which I now understand was due to its condition. When I think back, this mould may have even been marked A/F which usually means "as found". It is a sellers way of letting you know that this is the condition that they got it in. Always examine any item marked A/F very carefully before buying.

Both these moulds probably came from the Crown Crystal Glass Company. This Sydney based company was formed in 1926 and produced glass wares up until the late 60s. It eventually merged with the American company Corning in 1972 to become Crown Corning. 

1st glass jelly mould (17cm long approx.)

2nd glass jelly mould (17cm long approx.)

The last two jelly moulds are both from the company famous for its blue and white Cornishware range, T.G. Green & Co. The first smaller jelly mould is fairly plain and has an early GREEN & Co LTD, GRESLEY, ENGLAND with church mark on the base. I believe this jelly mould would date from the 1930s.

Small GREEN & Co LTD jelly mould (15cm across approx.)

The following jelly mould is the last in my collection and most definitely the youngest in age. It is quite a decorative and good sized mould. It's from the T. G. GREEN LTD "SPECTRUM" series of wares and would date from the 1970s to 80s. Not really very old. I wouldn't normally include an item as late as this in any of my collections except for it being from a well know maker.

T. G. GREEN "SPECTRUM" jelly mould (21cm long approx.)

Well that's my jelly mould collection. I suppose it is now time for me to go and use some of them to make some jellies and see how they actually turn out. Who knows, I may just feature the results in a future post. So fellow collectors, stay tuned for part 2 of "My Vintage Jelly Mould Collection".

Also, as usual, I would appreciate any helpful comments about the items that I post, especially about their age and company of manufacture. Hopefully I will be able to learn a little more about them.

Two Pieces of Australian Pottery

This first vase is another Dayboro Day Antiques & Collectables Fair find.  I was first attracted to it by the colours which looked to me very much like what you would expect to see on mid 20th century Australian pottery.  Upon examination I discovered it to be an example of Diana pottery.  I didn't know much about this pottery except that they produced many different vases as well as kitchen ware that was decorated with dots.  I liked the colours so asked the stall holder how much it was.  The price seemed reasonable so I purchased my first piece of Diana ware.

Diana trough vase measuring approximately 21cm long

This vase was made by Diana Pottery in Marrickville, NSW, probably in the 1950s.  This type of slip cast vase is known as a "trough" vase.  Diana Pottery was in business from about 1940 to 1975.  They began by making utilitarian items during the war, then more decorative items such as vases, bookends and animal figures in the 50s as well as producing a range of decorated oven and kitchen ware. Diana Pottery is considered to be the most important manufacturer of Australian pottery of the 1960s and 70s.

Diana pottery is still readily available and often turns up in antique & collectables fairs.  It makes a great introduction into collecting Australian pottery.  You may even be able to pick up some pieces for under $10 if you are lucky.  More information about Diana Pottery can be found on the Australian Pottery website by Sam Kelly.

Impressed 'Diana AUSTRALIA' mark with 'T6' (probably a pattern number)

The second vase is one that my wife gave to me as a present last Christmas.  It is a drip glazed canoe shaped trough vase made by Bennett Pottery of Adelaide.

Canoe trough vase measuring approximately 29cm long 

I had seen this actual vase for sale a number of times at different collectables fair over the past year and had even discussed buying it from the stall holder (who I knew from my Bottle and Collectables Club).  Each time I couldn't make my mind up to buy it or not.  I'm glad Karen finally decided to buy it for me.

We had seen many similar vases to this one when we lived in Melbourne.  Each antique centre seemed to have one or two somewhere on a shelf.  It almost became an ongoing joke for us as each time we saw one we would say something like "Look! There's another canoe vase."  I am not sure if any of these vases were from Bennett Pottery but I am sure that some were from Bendigo Pottery.  Wish I had bought one now although I don't remember them being as good quality as this Bennetts one.

Underside of vase showing Bennett Adelaide mark (rather indistinct)

Bennett Pottery was founded in 1887.  The Bennett family still operate the pottery on the same site today.  Take a look at the current Bennetts Magill Pottery website.  The company manufactured art pottery only for a short period of time from the 1920s up until 1940 when the pottery suffered a serious fire.  I believe this vase dates from this period.  Glaze specialist Jack Gare worked at Bennetts during this time and it is most likely one of his glazes that adorn this canoe.  Gare had previously worked for Bendigo Pottery until he was sacked for not being willing to disclose his special glaze recipes.

Australian Pokerwork

Found a few interesting items at the Dayboro Day Antiques & Collectables Fair on the weekend.  At least I think they are interesting.  I managed to pick up these three pieces of pokerwork from the one stall.  These are the first pieces of pokerwork that I have ever owned so I was very happy with the purchase.  I was only going to buy the vase but the stall holder kept bringing the prices down until the asking price for all three pieces was too good to pass up.

The waratah vase measures 15.5cm high and 10cm in diameter

The vase is a real piece of Australiana with its nicely worked waratah flower design.  I have seen a number of different Australian designs on this exact same shape and size vase.  Very happy to have this as my first item in my Australian Pokerwork collection.

Uh Oh!  Does this mean I have started a new collection?  Maybe I'll be satisfied with just three pieces (and pigs might fly as well!).  At least Karen likes these pieces as well.

Love the rich colour

The comport (or at least that was what the dealer said it was) doesn't have a specific Australian design on it but does have a lovely deep brown colour (actually a lot deeper than shown in the photos).  Also, the decoration is not as high a standard as that on the vase but still very pleasing in a naive sort of folk art way.

The comport measures 24.5cm across and 13cm high. 

Looks like a crack in the edge but is only a part of deep engraving 

I like the line decoration on the edge

The cutting board has an even more naive design but lovely rich colours.  It must have taken someone quite some time to do all the stippled decoration around the bunches of cherries (if that's what they are).

The cutting board measures 25cm across

I like the way the centre of the board comes out for cleaning and also to protect the decorative work

Alan Carter has an interesting article about pokerwork on his ABC Treasure Hunt website.