by Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson
Scripps Howard News Service
Dear Helaine and Joe: Please determine, if you can, the age and value of this water pitcher. It is 9 inches tall and 7 1/2 inches wide and was supposedly bought by my great-great grandmother in 1841.
--E. B., Lake Orion, Mich.
Dear E. B.: The mark on the bottom of this pitcher is enough to get some novice collectors very excited. It reads "Sevres," a name that brings to mind the French porcelain manufacturer that at one time belonged to the kings of France.
The predecessor of Sevres was founded in 1738 and was located in a riding school in the town of Vincennes. In 1753 the factory moved to Sevres and pieces began being marked with the monogram of King Louis XV, which consisted of two intertwined "L's." This new facility was located near the palace of Madame de Pompadour, and there she entertained the king in a winter garden made from Sevres porcelain flowers.
Unfortunately, the pitcher belonging to E. B. has very little to do with the famous Sevres factory in France. Instead, it was made by the less romantic Sevres China Company of East Liverpool, Ohio. Family history says that this pitcher was bought in 1841, but unfortunately, that is impossible because the company that made it did not go into business until 1900.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, American makers of pottery and porcelain had a difficult time because American buyers wanted European wares and considered the items made in this country to be, for the most part, below par. In response, some makers of American pottery and porcelain began marking their wares with words such as "Dresden," "Sevres," "Berlin," "Paris White," or with representations of the British royal coat of arms to lead customers to believe the wares were European-made.
The Sevres China Company--despite its lofty name and ambitious pretensions--did not exist for very long. It made semi-porcelain and hotel wares and was out of business sometime between 1908 and 1910. This company was primarily known for making dinner ware and toilet sets, and the pitcher in today's question might once have been part of a larger pitcher and bowl set that could have included everything from a large basin to a toothbrush holder and soap dish.
However, this pitcher is rather small for this purpose and it probably was intended to be a serving pitcher for water or some other beverage. The cherry decoration on the front is transfer printed, not hand-painted, and it appears that one of the cherries is rather worn (although this may just be glare from the camera).
Pitchers such as this have a rather modest monetary value, and for insurance purposes, this one should be insured for between $75 and $100. We know for sure its sentimental value is much greater.
(Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson are the authors of Treasures in Your Atti c. Questions can by mailed to them at P.O. Box 12208, Knoxville, TN 37912-0208.)
Resources Treasures In Your Attic
by Joe L. Rosson, Helaine Fendelman (ISBN: 0060198273)
Subtitled: An entertaining, informative, down-to-earth guide to a wide range of collectibles and antiques from the hosts of the popular television show seen on PBS stations.
(Harper Resource, April 2001)
Order this
title.
Treasures In Your Attic
c/o WSJK/WKOP-TV
1611 E. Magnolia Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37917
Phone: 865-595-0220
Fax: 865-595-0300
Email:
elaine_tomber@wsjk.pbs.org
URL:
www.treasuresinyourattic.org
)
