In the early part of 1919 business called me to London on several occasions, and as many readers will have had unpleasant experiences of the hotel accommodation there at that time they will not be surprised to hear that I made arrangements with friends who live in a fine old town umpteen miles from the City to take me in. On a visit in June I was walking to the station to catch the morning train to take me to London when I passed a broker’s shop and of course stopped. Among a lot of furniture and odds and ends I noticed “the piece,” and I thought at first it was a brass water bottle from India, but on further consideration I felt sure it was pewter, so I essayed to walk in, but locks, bolts and bars defied resistance, while no one took heed of the noise I was making. In the end I had to rush for the train. Business over I returned and was met at the station by a lady friend. I am afraid I hurried her along to the shop where I saw “the piece” still perched. I tried the door again, but it was still fastened, so I started knocking. My friend then informed me it was no use as it was the half holiday, but I was determined to get in if I rattled all night. At length I was admitted, found “the piece” was real old pewter, was informed they had had it a fortnight, and that it was a ROSE VASE, but they didn’t know where it came from. There are antique shops in that town, and this was just the sort of thing they could have done with, so my picking it up when on a flying visit was most fortunate.
Bed Pan which has been converted into the Faked “Alms-Dish.”
On returning to my real home “the piece” was much admired for its antique appearance and I was told I should spoil it if I had anything done to it, so I had it photographed in the state I found it. It bore no maker’s marks and the shape was quite unknown to me, so I wrote to three pewter connoisseurs sending them each a photograph giving dimensions and weight and asking them to give me its name and age. These are the opinions I received:
“Your VESSEL seems to be a VASE and latish. I have never seen one like it.” And later he kindly wrote: “The more I think of your pewter JAR the more convinced I am that it dates about 1750.”