Tea Leaf Club International | Additional Tea Leaf OnLine Back Issues
Back Issues - January-March 2003
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TEA LEAF ONLINE
March 30, 2003
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue.
Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES
Welcome new members...
Judith Carroll, (TX) Ruth E. & Lowell R. Mast (OH) Nancy Hinton Email address changes...
Jill Nelson has a new email address Wilma Weisenstein also changes address Undeliverable email addresses...
(These members are being removed from the TLOL mailing list. If anyone has new addresses for them, please let us know ASAP.)
DISCUSSION TOPIC
DISCUSSION TOPIC: TEA LEAF PRICING
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New members have asked on several occasions about a source for Tea Leaf price information. Do you think the club should publish price information? How would the club get the information? Do you have any ideas about a system to share information about prices? Would you be willing to compile pricing information for the Club? Would you consider sending pictures of recent purchases to TLOL?
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Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution
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CLUB AND CONVENTION NEWS
Membership
Current membership count is 809!
Regional Meetings
SEEN ON 
ELSMORE & FORSTER TULIP TWO-BLUES SAUCE TUREEN
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Seller's Description
Elsmore & Forster ironstone Tulip blue & cobalt covered sauce tureen & stand, c.1885. 7 1/2"h x 9 1/4"l. Oval pedestal shape with bands & molded little scrolls painted in blue & cobalt. Closed tulip blossom finial. Molded double leaf & scroll handles. Impressed diamond registry marks on bottoms reading clockwise from top "E, 5, 3, W" for March 5, 1855, parcel 3. Small nick on lip underside edge, shallow flake bottom of foot, 1 1/8" tight hairline in foot, very fine stress hairline from ladle cut in cover (see photos) all minor flaws - a clean, solid, very nice & scarce piece.
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TULIP COPPER LUSTRE PLATE
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Seller's Description
THIS IS A LOVELY TEA LEAF IRONSTONE VARIANT PLATE. IT HAS LEAVES AROUND THE RIM IN BRIGHT COPPER LUSTRE. THE MAKER IS ELSMORE AND FOSTER. NO CHIPS OR CRACKS. THE PLATE IS 8 INCHES.
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WILKINSON MAIDENHAIR FERN SQUARE COVERED VEG
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Seller's Description
This auction is for a vintage iron stone covered square dish by A. J. Wilkinson England. Marked Royal Ironstone China A.J Wilkinson England with the royal stamp. This is a large hard to find statement piece for your collection. Measures 8" x 8". Very nice detail on the handles and the lid. The copper leaf detail is in excellent condition. No chips, cracks or repairs. There is the usual crazing and minimal darkening, some more significant inside the dish.
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SHAW SHIELD COVERED VEG
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Seller's Description
This auction is for a vintage pottery, stone wear, porcelain Anthony Shaw tea leaf round handled covered dish or casserole. This is a large hard to find statement piece for your collection. Measures 10" x 8.5". Very nice detail on the handles and the lid. The copper leaf detail is in excellent condition. The base is marked Anthony Shaw & son England with the coat of arms and a raised stamped number Rd? 122794. There is the usual crazing and minimal darkening.
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INTRODUCTIONS
If you haven't submitted a profile yet, please think about sending one soon.
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Here's a new Tea Leaf OnLine feature for us to try out. Click on your City/State location and leave a brief "Hello" for other TLOLers. Give it a try and keep checking back as more people leave messages.
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LETTERS
A report from the Comptons...
Hope everyone is getting the spring fever and getting outside as we have been.
In February we attended a Blue Ridge show near Louisville, KY, and were so fortunate to stop and see Fonis and Margaret Payne on our return home. Margaret cooked a terrific meal for us and we got to explore their Tea Leaf collection as well as many others. One of the great things about the club is visiting with other members. We also got to visit Marie's first cousin once removed in Seymour and spent an afternoon talking family history.
One of our favorite shows here in St. Charles was a few weeks back and we managed to find a 4 piece complete sauce tureen with ladle in Bamboo. While we don't collect Bamboo, we purchased it just for the ladle (generic Meakin ladle with single stripe) and it was at a very good price so that was fun.
Last weekend we were in Saugatuck, Michigan (Mike is older now) and found a gravy boat and undertray for just $24. Both pieces are mint with some moderate crazing. The gravy is Pagoda by Burgess and the undertray is Maidenhair Fern by Wilkinson. Now that really was a birthday present! Just shows you have to keep looking!
Best to all - get out there and happy hunting!
Mike & Marie
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From Dick Brackin...
I did not respond to the question last week about pricing. My main reason is what Pat just suggested. I think that there are too many variables to be able to publish a really equitable price guide. I know that Bill Durham wrote the price guide for Grandma's Tea Leaf Ironstone originally and I suspect that he would agree that it was not an easy task. I suspect it would be an even more daunting task now. We do publish the prices of items from our annual auction to our members. Even that, I suspect leaves wide variances. Time and Place of purchase, I think are significant factors in determining the price of specific pieces.
The question regarding eBay goes hand in hand with this question, I believe. My collection is to the place where I am looking for rarer pieces...the same ones that others are seeking and I do not win many bids
any more because I am not able to bid as high as some one else. I still look at eBay and drool, even place a bid or two, but as far as Tea Leaf and copper lustre decorated pieces are concerned, I am rarely successful.
I have been being more successful at bidding on Thomas Hughes white ironstone. However, my last purchase is the first one on which I have been "burnt". It was not as advertised, however, it was at a relatively low bid,
so I did not complain or return the piece.
A strange thing happened about two weeks ago, the first time that this has occurred. There was a Thomas Hughes white ironstone pitcher and creamer in Ceres shape on which I was high bidder when the auction closed, however it did not make reserve bid. The consignor e-mailed me and asked if I was really interested, perhaps we could "make a deal". I responded that I certainly was interested. In fact, I wrote three messages, never to hear from the consignor again. It is a disappointment since I really would have liked those pieces... many of my Thomas Hughes white pieces are Ceres shape and these would have been nice additions. Oh, well...
In response to Pat's final wish, we still have great piles of snow left by the snow plows, but it is gone from the fields, the daffodils are pushing up and there are robins galore singing like crazy in southeastern Ohio. It
has been 70 degrees for two days in a row! Hallelujah, Spring is just around the corner! We were promised the floods which the Hansens mentioned, but thankfully, they did not materialize here.
Dick
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Kris Armstrong also comments on the pricing question...
As a new member, I would really appreciate a price guide. However, I also realize that it would be a huge undertaking. Perhaps it would be easier if people were willing to share some of their price data and also the prices from the convention auction. Speaking of prices, I just won an ebay auction for a Shaw basin & pitcher/ewer. I made the first bid for $299 and no one else made a bid - I couldn't believe it! By the way, it's gorgeous and I plan to keep it for the next 40 years or so.
In the same vein, my thanks to Ila for allowing me to purchase a couple of her cable pieces recently. The member only ads on this site are a great idea.
Kris Armstrong
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Carl and Ginger report an interesting addition to their collection...
Fellow TLOLers....
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Can it be that Ginger and I have found a new body style for the Handbook? We purchased a Clementson Teaberry saucer on eBay this week and when it arrived I was shocked when I saw the backstamp. It is indeed a Clementson piece and quite beautiful but plain. The backstamp however marks it as Lafayette Shape. That was unfamiliar to me so I went to the Handbook but couldn't find it there. I couldn't find any pictures of a piece of Lafayette but Jean Wetherbee has a drawing of the pattern for the hollow ware pieces. Wish the saucer had that embossing but it doesn't. Anyway there was no place where I could find it listed as decorated with Teaberry in copper lustre. A fun find. Now we only need the cup to match. Oh yes the teapot, creamer, sugar, waste bowl, milk pitcher, relish, berry dish etc. as well. :^)
Cheers...Carl and Ginger
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[C&G, This is one of the most clear Lafayette marks I've seen. This is a body style that hasn't made it to the Handbook yet but is scheduled to be included in the next update in 2005. I know that Nancy will want to record the Teaberry motif as we would normally only see this body with lustre bands and/or cobalt plumes, not that we see much Lafayette Shape at all! Check out this Lafayette Shape cake plate and pitcher. Also See October 15, 2000 TLOL for more in Lafayette Shape. DA]
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<--- Lafayette Shape Sauce Tureen undertray and detail of handle (purchased at Convention 2002)
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Kim Guzzi also comments on the pricing question...
I think it is a great idea! How about if you are in a shop or at an auction in your area, you report on the prices of items for sale. Then, people will also know regional pricing. Hey, it is not always accurate, but that is how the Kovel's do it. I would love sending pictures of unusual items also.
Kim Guzzi
Pittsburgh
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Margaret Mitchell writes...
Hi from Ohio:
We are all flying our flags and praying for our service men and women. May they come home as soon as possible. Prove to the world that we were indeed correct in our reasons for launching this episode. Loved the remarks from a newcomer, Kris Armstrong, about how she became acquainted with Tea Leaf. Just proves
that things we remember as a youngster stay with us longer than grownups think!! Loved her humor and outlook.
The reason I haven't bought anything on Ebay recently is (1) the prices get too high (2) if it is really unusual, I know it will go high because everyone reads and studies the Antique World--TV programs etc. keep us educated. (3) Lastly, high priced items don't mean that much to me.
The fun is in finding a bargain and hunting for it. I enjoy Antique Dealers. They are so kind in giving you information and sharing their experiences. When we have moved around this country and I was lonely, all I had to do was go to an Antique Show or Antique Shop and enjoy talking to all the dealers. Sure there are "stinkers"
in every area, but as a whole they made me feel welcome in every part of the country. That is what makes this Country so great!! We are a great and generous people.
Sincerely,
Margaret
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From Linda McElwee comes this contribution...
Greetings, Tea Leaf family from dry north MO.
We are just waiting for spring and by golly I think it's here. Huge flocks of geese are flying over and Ron got stuck cleaning out a pond. It has long been a family joke that when Dad gets stuck the first time in the year, spring is here! We are enjoying the baby calves and their antics. We haven't bought any TL:, but are very pleased with the pieces we have recently had repaired. It is good to have someone fairly close to home that does good work.
To the discussion question, we put everyday TL in the dishwasher. I have put a piece in after baking to clean it well, but usually do it all by hand. I also line the sink with towels in case of slippery hands (Bev does also, I read). Having a soft landing place has saved me grief several times.
As to Carl's question about eBay: We still look a lot, but our "want list" has narrowed and we are looking for things that will fill out some groups. I also like to look at and feel the TL I'm buying. That's one of the things that is so great about the convention and auction. We get to really look the items over (as well as the adrenaline rush!!).
I am anxious to see you at the regional and again soon. I'm homesick for our good visits and fellowship.
Linda
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Denny Kear shares these observations regarding the eBay question...
Regarding the topic of eBay and where have all the Tea Leafers gone. There may be several reasons 1) Buyers have been stung by misrepresentation to many times. 2) Damage during shipment and the trouble it takes to get reimbursed. 3) Sellers setting unreasonable reserves. 4) To many items being offered with some sort of damage. 5) High cost of shipment by USPS. 6) Undetermined handling and packing material charges. 6) To many unrelated items mixed in with Tea Leaf china, such as Mary Kay, soaps, herbal tea etc.) It's getting to be just like mall shopping - plates and platters all over the place. 8) Rare or unusual pieces get caught up in a bidding frenzy, and often end up in the hands of a select few 9) Economy is down and money for collections may be harder to come by. 10) People like to inspect before buying. There are ten reasons, and I am sure there are a lot more.
These are my observations but I think a lot of people still watch items and keep up on prices being paid. It is a great place for new collectors to add pieces to their collections. I still enjoy seeing what is being offered on eBay and once in awhile I even win a bid. All this said, I still think ebay is fun but our annual convention is the best place to see and buy Tea Leaf.
Happy Tea Leafing,
Denny Kear
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Finally, a note from Virginia Beakey...
I too have been very ill, first with the flu and then with an upper respiratory problem that was drug-resistant. One month was enough of that, I'm back to work and back to tealeafing. I think I have emailed once before about how I wash tea leaf, and said that if I serve dinners on it I just put it in the dishwasher like Bev and Ernie say and drench it with hot water and wash it at my leisure with Dove liquid by hand. I do have one piece, a Meakin Fishhook relish that I use every day for a butter dish and that has been washed with dishwasher liquid on a regular cycle for umppety dozen times with no bad results. So much for washing. However, I would NEVER put my Lily of the Valley in a regular diswasher cycle!
I have shared my method of cleaning tea leaf and white ironstone with more than two dozen members over the years. It was shared with me by the Hansens, Julie Rich, and Woody Birch. If anyone on TLOL would like the directions, they can email me at swanhollow@xxx.xxx and I will be happy to share with them.
Now. to the last issue that Carl Hansen brings up about tealeafers not bidding on much anymore on ebay, I only have this to offer. It's not the prices, it's the deep pocket sniping that has put many of us off. Items at the convention were truly wonderful and sold at what I considered fair pricing for extraordinary items. There have not been many of those listed on ebay since then. I know TLCI members who have not renewed their club memberships because of their frustration at last second ebay sniping on worthwhile tea leaf pieces. I personally have started looking at my very old favorite collectables, copper lustreware, and amber Fostoria American. One can still get good buys for lovely items in these categories. The bottom line is most of us cannot compete with super deep pockets and don't either don't know how to, or want to do, last second sniping and don't bother to bid at all I hope this does not offend anyone in the club, but it's true. Bear in mind that I will mortgage the farm if a LOV butter dish comes up for bid, so as Kris and Bruce said last week, "watch out." Hope everyone is finally ready for Spring and a new outlook. I know I am.
Virginia
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That's it for letters for the week. I will publish a new edition next week only if sufficient letters are received to make for an interesting issue. I hope you'll take a moment to send a contribution to the next TLOL.
Contributions should be sent to TLOL@aol.com.
Dale
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Publication/Club Schedule
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April 5 - Heartland Regional (MO)
April 6 - TLOL
April 12 - Tea Leaf Board Meeting - No TLOL
April 20 - TLOL
April 26 - Southcentral Regional (TX)
April 27 - TLOL
May 2-4 WICA Convention - No TLOL
May 10 - Connersville Auction
May 11 - TLOL
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TEA LEAF ONLINE
March 16, 2003
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue.
Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Thanks to those who sent letters this week. We received some very interesting emails, although not nearly as many as I would have expected regarding the Discussion Topic. Please let us know your opinions regarding the pricing question.
Carl Hansen and the Technology Committee have provided us with another historical educational article this week. At the Club's 1993 convention, four presenters discussed
Tea Leaf: The Early AncestorsTea Leaf of the 1850s and 1860sTea Leaf of the 1870s and 1880sTea Leaf of the 1890s and BeyondThe first of the above articles is now online (click on it to go to the EdArticle page). Carl is converting all four of these presentations.
Ila reminded us last week that Classified Ads do work. The Classifieds are available ONLY to current Club members and are a benefit of your membership. Use them to buy or sell Tea Leaf treasures.
TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES
Welcome new members...
Lynn Gray (TX) Barbara A Gilani (NY) Cheryl L. Todd (IL) Jan Cook (Canada) Email address changes...
Undeliverable email addresses...
(These members are being removed from the TLOL mailing list. If anyone has new addresses for them, please let us know ASAP.)
DISCUSSION TOPIC
DISCUSSION TOPIC: TEA LEAF PRICING
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New members have asked on several occasions about a source for Tea Leaf price information. Do you think the club should publish price information? How would the club get the information? Do you have any ideas about a system to share information about prices? Would you be willing to compile pricing information for the Club? Would you consider sending pictures of recent purchases to TLOL?
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Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution
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CLUB AND CONVENTION NEWS
Membership
Current membership count is 800!
Regional Meetings
SEEN ON
QUARTERED ROSE JUG WITH LUSTRE BANDS, PINSTRIPES AND PLUMES
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Seller's Description
Stunning copper lustre white ironstone pitcher with cobalt and red and blue trims, I think this style is referred to as "Tulip?".....Gorgeous deep bold embossing, crisp beautiful lustre. The piece stands 8" high. It is in great condition with the exception of the faint tiny star shape hairline on bottom pictured (does not "go through") and a teeny manufacturer's clay separation on interior, insignificant, but mentioned for full disclosure. NO chips, cracks, restorations, crazing, or discolor! A magnificent example, and a rarely seen form and style.
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ELSMORE & FORSTER PORTLAND SHAPE MORNING GLORY JUG
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Seller's Description
This wonderful old ironstone milk pitcher is 6.5" tall with a lovely hexagonal shape flowing up to a scalloped rim with a leaf pattern molded into the underside of the spout and both ends of the handle. It is unmarked but has the shape associated with turn of the century Staffordshire. There is a beautifully applied copper luster design outlining the leaves, around the bowl, foot and rim and in a simple floral spray on the sides..very much like the "tea leaf" pattern and perhaps by the same maker. There is overall crazing and one pinhead sized fleabite on the inside rim (see pic 1) but no chips, cracks or repairs. This pitcher has survived in fabulous condition and displays extremely well.
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WILKINSON FOOTED COMPOTE
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Seller's Description
Tea Leaf Ironstone Compote A.J. Wilkinson This Copper Lustre Compote contributed to Arthur J. Wilkinson measures 9 1/16” in diameter and 4 1/8” in height. The copper is brilliant. There are no cracks, crazing or chips, but does have wear around the edge of rim. Mark reads, Arthur J. Wilkinson, Late R. Alcock, Burslem, England.
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WEDGWOOD FLEUR-DE-LYS CHAIN GRAVY BOAT
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Seller's Description
Gorgeous! Chip and crack free. "Royalstone China Wedgwood & Co. England". Measures 8 1/2" spout to handle, 4 1/8" to top of handle and 3 3/8" wide. A couple of mild brown stains on side edge shown in one of the photos.
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INTRODUCTIONS
If you haven't submitted a profile yet, please think about sending one soon.
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Here's a new Tea Leaf OnLine feature for us to try out. Click on your City/State location and leave a brief "Hello" for other TLOLers. Give it a try and keep checking back as more people leave messages.
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LETTERS
We received a very informative letter this week from Bev & Ernie...
We White Ironstoners are always asked the same questions about its care and maintenance. As collectors we all should be responsible caretakers for future generations. But many of us started collecting because we like to surround ourselves with and USE beautiful things.
First -- know your Ironstone. Make sure it is not repaired or restored. NEVER put any repaired or restored ironstone in a dishwasher, a microwave or an oven. It will ruin the restoration. Also there is a difference in the maintenance of luster decorated ironstone. The luster seems to wear off with use. So we have been told never to put it in the dishwasher and certainly not the microwave. But non decorated White Ironstone (plates bowls and platers) have been washed in the dishwasher and put in the microwave in our home for thirty years. We bought it because we wanted to USE it. And a few older collectors we know (including Frances Hills) have been using theirs daily for 50 or more years in a dishwasher with no apparent harm. We wash all covered pieces by hand and have been known to use a Rubbermaid mat or a towel in the bottom of the sink to avoid accidents. We never bake in it. Even if not lustered those oval and round bowls called bakers (that come in graduated sizes) were probably not intended for baking but rather for serving. The form and its name was borrowed from earlier red or yellow bake wear.
We have been known to reheat a bowl of soup in the microwave and we make mugs of coffee in it. We use restraint when putting it in the microwave (on medium high -- rarely for more than for 2 minutes and on a rotary tray). We do heat plates before diner in the microwave or the oven on low setting. It keeps the food warm for a longer time. And in the oven we never use temperatures over 225 degrees for five to ten min.. Remember that a lot of Ironstone has been cleaned in peroxide and later sweat in an electric oven at 225 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes to finish the cleaning.
When serving soup or stews or gravies in our special tureens we warm them up first (including the ladles) with a bath of medium-hot water as we do the teapots. It helps to avoid cracking from sudden extreme changes of temperature. A lesson learned with our first teapot. We heard it pop as the boiling water from the kettle was poured in. A crack circling just above the foot appeared. The White Ironstone we use is Sydenham Shape and early Gothic. It is made well and has been chosen with NO crazing! We believe that crazed pieces would be ruined if regularly subjected to the dishwasher and microwave. A good test for using a piece is to soak it in tepid water for a couple of hours -- If it turns gray or shows crazing we would not use it since the glaze has been compromised possibly in poor manufacturing or exposure to heat or chemicals. (If so, we wouldn't even buy it.)
Ivory Liquid has been our soap of choice.
Ernie & Bev
[B&E, Thanks for the wonderful care tips! DA]
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Walt Stevens wrote with...
It's a disappointment when we don't receive a TLOL, as occurred 2 weeks ago, because of a lack of letters. Happily that was rectified last week. I'm sure people are sometimes hesitant to write because they feel that their opinion doesn't count. It does.
One advantage of submitting the discussion topics is that we can suggest one about which we something to say. We try to make the subjects general enough to elicit responses from everyone, from beginning collector to charter members. You may note that many of the topics are about things the club might do. It's your club and we want to provide the services that you want. The current topic falls into this category.
In regard to providing price information, the club does. It provides many market prices. The primary source is listing the prices paid at the Convention auction. This is a great guide. Perhaps the club could publish Some of the prices paid at table sales. A form could be printed asking for a brief description of the item, its condition and price paid. Each seller could do this for 2 or 3 items and submit it anonymously. This information could be published in Readings.
TLOL also is a source of information about auction prices and individual purchases. Although in the latter case I have a feeling we tend to hear more about bargains than paying too much for an item. I will admit that I have been guilty of paying too much on more than one occasion. Probably the first piece of “old” Tea Leaf (vs. Adams) I bought as a gift for Pat was a Shaw soup dish. I bought it from a museum shop in Saint Louis and paid $40 because the clerk told me that this was among the earliest and rarest pieces of Tea Leaf. If we had been members of the club and been to a Convention I don't think I would have bought it at that price. Knowledge about Tea Leaf is the best help in determining appropriate values. The club is the educational vehicle to obtain that knowledge.
Sure hope that this topic will spark enough interest to cause many of you to send something to TLOL. I would be very interested in learning about ways of sharing price information.
Walt Stevens
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Carl and Ginger send this report...
Hello fellow TLOL members - As my brother Allen mentioned last week he sent us off on an estate sale
auction adventure.
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Advertised were 40 pieces of copper lustre Ceres plus much more blue and green. When we got there we were amazed to see the quantity laid out. The pictures show an over all picture of the blue and some of the green. We went home with the pieces of copper lustre seen in the other picture. We have been looking for a Ceres creamer for many many years plus we were missing the small sugar so took it as well. The covered vege was just too beautiful to pass on and the small berry dish too cute and complements the other berry dishes in our collection. The plates were one of those caught up in the excitement of bidding things - we really didn't need them but......... All the pieces had adhesive tape on their bottoms with writing indicating they had been acquired in the late 1960s.
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The third photo shows one of the strangest things I've come across. The owner, in need of a teapot lid, GROUND DOWN a large sugar bowl lid.
Absolutely amazing - though it did fit perfectly after he was done.
We have been enjoying the snow though Ginger isn't happy because school has been closed for an entire week. Today and yesterday it has been raining very hard on top of the heavy snow so they are predicting flooding now. We are high and dry just house bound by the lousy weather.
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I have a suggestion for a discussion topic. In the past year or so I've noticed fewer and fewer of the regular club members, friends of ours, who have been purchasing TL items on eBay. What is/are the reasons? Do you already have all the TL you want? Are prices on eBay too high? Do you just plain hate eBay? Have you been burned on eBay once too often? or are there other reasons???
Cheers....Carl, Ginger and Kazan the Huckleberry Hound
[C/G, Great new Discussion Topic. I've certainly been burned by lots of recent purchases not being as described. Wonder why so many previous eBay buyers now seem to have abandoned it. DA]
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Nancy Upchurch sends...
Two messages in two weeks from me - unbelievable! Last week I mentioned, tongue-in-cheek, that Dale would chide me if I didn't contribute, I was joking. But let's face it: Dale is certainly entitled to chide us if he doesn't receive enough contributions to publish TLOL weekly. He spends time and energy compiling TLOL (as well as many other club activities). To make TLOL the informative club organ that it has become, he needs our input. Let's not disappoint him!
I was heartened to see how many of you answered the Clementson question by mentioning that you checked the Handbook and found that the Tea Leaf motif was not listed in the Elegance info. This is the type of update material that we need. I have printed the information and filed it away ready to include in the next Update scheduled for 2005. Some of you have been very faithful reporting such finds. I need everybody's input. If you find a motif not listed for the body style, let me know! If you find a service not listed in the Handbook, let me know! If you find a body style decorated with copper lustre that's not presently in the Handbook, let me know. This is the type of information to be compiled. Send me all the details you can - body style, maker, date marks, and a photo if at all possible. Dale can't publish TLOL without our cooperation. I can't compile the Update without your cooperation.
My mailing address is 230 Rosemary Lane, Burnsville NC 28714. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
Nancy U.
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Bill Smith answers a question I asked last week...
 Cumbow or R.S.?
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I AM POSITIVE THAT THE VASE IS CUMBOW CHINA. CUMBOW USED THE 3 DOT DASH TRIM ON SEVERAL ITEMS DURING WW 2.
BILL SMITH
[Bill, You're right. The three dots and a dash are Morse Code for "V" and adorn lots of Cumbow items. V for Victory was apparently a theme of Cumbow's and they also made some lustre decorated items specifically as patriotic pieces. The three small Cumbow pitchers (right) are from my small WWII collection, all dated 1942. DA]
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Kris Armstrong sends this profile...
I've been beset by the flu so as a new member, I've have spent my downtime perusing the archived TLOL material. Wow! Tons of great info! I'm also starting to put together names with ebay member names - those would be the people who outbid me on a regular basis. Or used to. Now that I'm more aware of the value of Tea Leaf, my bids are going up, so look out. I look forward to reading TLOL every week now and discovering the personalities of the membership - what a fun group!
I also thought that I'd go ahead and submit a member profile. We (my husband Bruce & I), live in Bloomington, IL. I first discovered Tea Leaf at my grandfather's house. I was still in college (1986 or 87) when Grandpa moved to an assisted living facility and his house and most of it's contents were sold. He had a lot of stuff. My grandparent's moved into town (Heyworth) from the farm in 1951. While cleaning out the kitchen cupboards, I discovered some old dishes, mostly plates, saucers and covered veggies. I liked 'em. My aunt told me that those were just the old farm china that had been part of Great-Great Grandma's dishes. The stuff had not been touched since my Grandmother died in 1963 - before I was born! Since each of us got to pick something out, I chose the Tea Leaf - I did want the Stickley bookcase, but since I didn't have a house - I was overruled. So, the Tea Leaf was boxed up & went back home to the farm (Mom & Dad's) where it had started out almost one hundred fifty years ago.
Several years later, I was out of school, had a job and heard about a huge auction coming up. A local woman, Fairy Martin, with a penchant for collecting EVERYTHING, had passed away, and her estate was so large that the only place big enough to hold it was the McLean County Fairgrounds. My Dad informed me that Mrs. Martin had purchased the Tea Leaf pieces that my great uncle Walter had inherited (the rest of the family collection), at his estate auction 25-30 years before. Well by golly, as a grown up, I was going to purchase all of the remaining family pieces and restore them to their rightful home - mine. So, I ventured forth to the auction. The first Tea Leaf piece that came up was the basin & ewer. It sold for $750 dollars before I could even open my mouth! Holy Ned - I almost fell over onto the hay wagon holding the stuff. Which would have been awful because I'm 6'1" and would have smashed more Tea Leaf then I could afford. They auctioned off a few more pieces for high dollar before I came back to my senses when the cable-bodied coffee pot came up for bid. I thought come hell or high water, it was mine. And it was for $250 & to this day, it is the favorite specimen in my small collection. Anyway, after winning the bid, I paid the bill and got the heck out of Dodge.
I'm filling in my cable collection slowly but surely, however, if I see a piece I like, I'll try to buy it regardless of the design. Although I love Tea Leaf, I've recently been noticing the White Ironstone available on ebay. Hmmm, we may have to buy a bigger house. See ya online.
Kris Armstrong
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Mae Jean spots Tea Leaf...
I received today the summer edition of Country Collectibles and in it is article about collecting the best of both worlds. Christine LeFever of Oregon has decorated her home in many English items including TEA LEAF. Lets recruit her as a member. Mae Jean
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Always a pleasure to hear from Pat & Dale...
We were sure happy to see a new TLOL this week. I feel sort of like the guilty kid who hasn't done his homework. I think some kind of pricing guide would be good but would be quite an undertaking. It would take a lot of research to get a well rounded idea of prices. Sometimes just the area an item is sold in has a say in its price. Perhaps if many members could share info of what they see out there it could be compiled to give an idea. But one would need to have a good, accurate description of the condition of the piece. Have often wondered about where authors of "price guides" get their numbers.
We'll be doing a couple of shows in Iowa the next two weeks so hope to see some club members along the way.
Thanks Dale for all the work you do.TLOL may be written by the members but none of us would ever be reading it if it weren't for Dale.
Hope all the snow is gone and robins are singing by the time we get back.
Pat and Dale
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That's it for letters for the week. I will publish a new edition next week only if sufficient letters are received to make for an interesting issue. I hope you'll take a moment to send a contribution to the next TLOL.
Contributions should be sent to TLOL@aol.com.
Dale
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Publication Schedule
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March 23, 30
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TEA LEAF ONLINE
March 9, 2003
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue.
Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Thanks to those who sent letters this week. We went from only two replies to over 20 giving us enough contributions to compile an interesting issue. Remember, our readers write Tea Leaf OnLine and we compile it. Without your emails and photos, we don't publish. Please see our interesting new Discussion Topic and let us know your opinions.
CLEMENTSON BROS. JUG
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This jug, recently sold on eBay, is highly unusual and
will require us to update the Tea Leaf Handbook
with this new discovery.
Do you know why?
Lots of replies to this discovery. Ernie notes in his email "The Elegance pitcher is only given a lustre Teaberry listing in the Handbook. So the leaf motif is new." This is, indeed, the first time we've seen a Clementson Elegance piece with a Tea Leaf instead of a Teaberry.
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TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES
Welcome new members...
Welcome to Sandy and Dan Widder, Sr. Jennifer Fox, MN Maxi Fitzjarrald, IL Email address changes...
Undeliverable email addresses...
(These members are being removed from the TLOL mailing list. If anyone has new addresses for them, please let us know ASAP.)
DISCUSSION TOPIC
DISCUSSION TOPIC: TEA LEAF PRICING
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New members have asked on several occasions about a source for Tea Leaf price information. Do you think the club should publish price information? How would the club get the information? Do you have any ideas about a system to share information about prices? Would you be willing to compile pricing information for the Club? Would you consider sending pictures of recent purchases to TLOL?
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Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution
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CLUB AND CONVENTION NEWS
Membership
Current membership count is 774.
Regional Meetings
SEEN ON
EDWARD WALLEY NIAGARA SHAPE PRE-TEA LEAF COFFEEPOT
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Seller's Description
Edward Walley, British pottery manufacturer in the middle 1800's. This beautiful teapot has a design registration mark used 1842-1867. It speaks for itself. As you can tell from the picture there is also a number 17 on the bottom and the number 349 which appears to be painted on in the same paint as the Tea Leaf pattern. The teapot is 10 inches from the bottom to the top of the knob and about 10 1/2 inches from handle to spout. It looks to be in very good condition to me although I don't know much about these things. There is one small chip on the inside rim of the teapot shown in picture. Also there looks like some sort of faded red mark (small) on the handle and also on the lid. I didn't try to remove it so perhaps it is removable. Where the handle connects there is a little line but it doesn't look like an actual crack.
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ELSMORE & FORSTER TOBACCO LEAF COVERED VEG
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Seller's Description
This is the most wonderful piece for any collection and particularly for the collector of tobacco leaf pattern. This is a covered vegetable tureen in tobacco leaf with the "Fanfare" pattern which is seen around the finial of the lid and each handle on the body. This tureen measures approximately 12 inches in length x 8 1/2" wide and approximately 7" in height to the top of the finial. There is no damage or repairs to the finial or handles. There is one very small area on the rim of the tureen which appears to be a glaze flake ( ~ 3/8") and can be seen in the photo attached. Other than this minor flake, there are no chips, cracks or discoloration. There is no maker mark; however, I am sure that it was made by Elsmore & Forster.
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TEA LEAF VASE - CUMBOW(?) RS(?)
CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY FOR SURE?
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Seller's Description
This auction is for a Vintage Ironstone Vase. It is in Very Good Condition. This vase is made of Ironstone and has the luster Tea Leaf decoration. This item is signed on the bottom, see picture. I am unfamiliar with this mark. This item stands 6 7/8" tall, has handles on both sides much like a trophy cup. It has decoration on the front, back, handles, and along the upper top edge. There is a small chip along the upper edge, see picture, which goes into the inside with a small hairline. This item has overall crazing, which is darker on the inside of the vase.
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ANTHONY SHAW CABLE PITCHER & BOWL SET
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Seller's Description
SUPERB ANTHONY SHAW IRONSTONE PITCHER/ BOWL SET - CA. 1850-60. I HAVE NEVER HAD NOR SEEN A SET IN THIS CONDITION - NO CHIPS OR CRACKS - SOME CRAZING CONSISTENT WITH AGE. TEALEAF COPPER LUSTER DECORATION IN WONDERFUL CONDITION. Pitcher MEASURES 12 1/2" IN HEIGHT - MAXIMUM DIAMETER 7". BOWL MEASURES 14 1/4" ACROSS - 4 5/8" IN HEIGHT.
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INTRODUCTIONS
If you haven't submitted a profile yet, please think about sending one soon.
LETTERS
Giftique Chair Marie writes...
Thanks to the contribution of Diana Corl the Giftique has some convention memorabilia to offer to Club members. While most of the Tea Leaf from her parents (Margaret & Harold Wyand) estate was sold last summer, there were a few odds and ends left over. One of the things left were convention mugs. Diana donated those to the Giftique and now I'm able to offer them up for sale. She also donated publications but I have not yet had the time to go through them.
The mugs along with other one-of-a-kind items are offered for sale in this supplement to the Giftique catalog.
Anyone wishing to order items from the supplement may write them in on a regular Giftique catalog form or contact me via email (comptonmw@aol.com). Please refer to the catalog for the associated shipping fees.
We still have plenty of 2003 Antique Trader calendars for anyone who didn't get one. Order yours today!
We certainly appreciate everyone who supports the Club through their Giftique purchase!
Marie W. Compton
Tea Leaf Club, Int. Giftique Chair
815 Sterling Avenue
Geneva, IL 60134-3946
630-262-1377
[The Giftique Supplement has been posted to the Giftique Page on the Members-Only section of the Club's website. DA]
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What an informative letter we got this week from the Stoolmans...
Thought we would send a new profile from CHILLY (-8 below this a.m.!!!) Minnesota since this is our new state of residence. Dale and I are living in Lino Lakes, a far-northern suburb of St. Paul. We live on the lower level of a house we share with our son Daniel (you know, the mortician) and his family. It is one of three, 5 acre lots left between two large new housing developments. We have 3 horses, 9 chickens, 2 cats, 4 dogs, except when the one insists on having puppies again! Thankfully all but one of the dogs belong to the loved ones who reside on the upper level and we are only called upon for occasional "pet-sitting". Dale spends a large amount of his free time filling the bird feeders for the birds in the daytime and the two baby fawns and their mothers that visit the back yard feeder most nites. They are sure neat to watch. No hunters here I'm afraid.
We are still antique dealers and we deal mainly in books, primarily children's books. Dale says what we really search for and sell is "memories". We still do a few shows but have really cut back on the travel and distance. We do more things on the internet than in person any more.
Because of the move from a two story, four bedroom house to a one bedroom, apartment size space our tea leaf collection is undergoing some major changes. Dale collects the"Chelsea Grape"and all of that found cupboard space. But most of the rest seems to be destined for that great big world of Tea Leafers out there. However,so far I seem to be having a big problem with going from "making the decision" to actually doing the deed. Some of these pieces of tea leaf have been with me longer than Dale!!I. Almost like parting with friends.
Parting with good friends is one of the really bad parts of this getting older stage. Jim Barrett was definitely one of those people. How many memories I have of Jim and most are even good ones! There was one time I do remember when he presented me with "the presidential alarm clock" and the "one of a kind, bottomless Lily of the Valley pitcher and matching rimless bowl", which we still proudly display for all visitors to see. There's also a stack of chipped and repaired butterpats that I'm sure Betty wished she'd never have to wrap up again. I can't remember my days as a Club officer without thinking of Jim Barrett. I fully agree with Dick Bracken that it was thanks to Jim Barrett's steady guidance we both got through our presidencies without any great mishaps. I'll never see or hear "Robert's Rules of Order" without remembering a very special person.
Enough of my rambling for one day. Keep warm and think spring !
Dale and Pat Stoolman
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Regarding the care of Tea Leaf, Julie writes...
Want to make sure that you get a letter telling about the care, cleaning of Tea Leaf to answer new member Kim's questions. Welcome to the Tea Leaf family, Kim.
Since Tea Leaf has been a part of my life for a very long time, I've seen a lot of dishes with copper lustre washed in my lifetime (which, fortunately has been a very long time). My mother's TL was washed the good old fashioned way - by hand. Mine is still washed that way but I think the soap is gentler than the kind used so long ago.
After cleaning (and I'll get around to that later), I sometimes put a load of TL in the dishwasher but do not use any soap and just put it through a clear water wash.
Cleaning of TL is done with commercial peroxide, Kim. Something that is getting harder to obtain but we can get it here in Delaware with no trouble. Can't send it but if you want to make a trip here, will provide you with the name of my source and bed/breakfast (on TL, of course). That is a little extreme but please do not use that obnoxious Clorox. It's very bad! I have used 3% peroxide on lightly stained pieces, putting them in a ceramic bowl and putting in the oven at low heat. It takes a long time but it can be done. Commercial peroxide is better.
Baking/cooking in my TL. Yes, I bake dressing with Rock Cornish on top in a large Shaw bowl but it does leave traces. I've also baked a special broccoli dish in a TL baker. I'm sure that people originally used TL to bake in but I think that most of us nowadays just use our bakers/covered vegs after the food is cooked and serve it at table that way. Most of my TL and variants have been cleaned and I'm not sure whether the peroxide leaves traces of taste that may come through.
I wanted to get up early and send this off on Sunday before Dale is up because I'd hate to see TLOL become a thing of the past. It brings too much information and enjoyment to so many of us. Come on, TL friends, you can add a line or two.
Thanks again for the many cards and messages you have sent me, Much appreciated.
Julie
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From Walt & Pat comes this observation...
The picture looks to be an Elegance pitcher but with a Tea Leaf. Our handbook says that the "treatment" for Elegance is "Copper Lustre Teaberry" A Tea Leaf motif was not mentioned.
We have received questions about cleaning Tea Leaf. and usually refer people to the 2 excellent articles that appeared in Readings. One by Anne Miller in 2002 & an earlier one by Carl Hansen.. We have cleaned old Tea Leaf using whatever hydrogen peroxide we could find. Usually from beauty salons. I believe that Anne Miller discourages using beauty salon peroxide but we did our cleaning before her article.. One of our new members told me of a new source of hydrogen peroxide. They bought some that was used for cleaning septic tanks. Has anyone used this?
Regarding Tea Leaf and dishwasher. We regularly use" old " Tea Leaf dishes and clean them in the dishwasher. We know others say always wash Tea Leaf by hand. Know this to be true for Adams 1960s Tea Leaf but we haven' had any problem with 19th century pieces.
The Stevens
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I mentioned last issue that several Classified Ads were being posted to the Club's members-only area. Ila observes...
As you have noticed, I have placed several classified ads. I have had several inquires that have resulted in some nice sales.
You may pass the word if you like, that I am selling some of my collection. Thanks
Ila
[See...Classified ads do work. Think about taking advantage of this members-only perk. DA]
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Kimmey also answers the Clementson question...
Well, I'll try to solve the problem of the unusual jug. First, isn't most Clementson Teaberry? And the decoration on the handle and around a first for this very pretty curved line is new, although the body style is very plain.
In answer to the use and cleaning, I have always hand-washed all my tea leaf and have not baked with it; I'd like to preserve it, and if it has "lived" this long, I am going to help it along.
Also, one other comment--of the "Seen on Ebay" two out of four are not really tea leaf'; I know it is ironstone, but no TL on the L& P and still ??? the Chelsea Grape. Hope we have an issue next week!! We do have so many TLOLers--let's contribute!!!
Kimmey
[Kimmey, I appreciate your mentioning the "Seen on eBay" contents. The new Club guidelines include many Variants (i.e., Chelsea Grape, Grindley and Meakin Moss Rose, Ceres, etc.) as well as items with Copper Lustre banding. It's not TL, but it's definitely in the family. Thanks for your observation. DA]
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Dan & Julie Widder send...
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Recently my wife and I were curtain shopping when she spotted this Bamboo milk pitcher on page 637 of 2003 JCPenny's Spring Catalog. I wonder if they ever sold it as sets in years long past?
Dan and Julie
PS I BELIEVE THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS THE MOTIF. A REGULAR TEA LEAF ON AN ELEGANCE PITCHER. DAN
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The Schillings write...
Since I was left without my TLOL fix this afternoon, I took up Dale's suggestion to answer the question of why an update would be needed in the handbook. I looked in the handbook for the Clementson Bros. body style Elegance, which the pitcher on eBay appeared to be. The difference from the pitcher on eBay with the plain tea leaf and the one in the handbook is the Copper Lustre Teaberry motif. The handbook currently says that the Teaberry motif is the only one used on Elegance. As for how I wash Tea Leaf, alas, only by hand.
I haven't done much Tea Leaf shopping since a fruitless trip to Wisconsin's Door County in October, but right in my own back yard (West Des Moines' Valley Junction, the suburb's revitalized historical district) I found a large Kitchen Kraft mixing bowl in decent shape, lustre a little worn but no cracks or chips. There is a matching smaller bowl on eBay this week. I better go put a bid in on it!
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Auctioneer Terrell reports...
Wow! I never realized just how good bare ground and grass could look, but that's what we found upon arriving at the Ruth and Keith Wilcox home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Since last November Connersville has been bombarded with 42'' of snow......that's more white stuff than we've seen in the past 5 years combined.
It was a great trip and the highlight was seeing Ruth in such good spirits after having completed her chemo and radiation treatments. Keith, who had received his pace maker in late June, keeps busy in his woodworking shop and tending to civic and church activities.
The Wilcox are a year and a half from moving to their new home, and needless to say, with a 21 room home.......they have their work cut out. They felt the first step was to disperse their large Tea Leaf collection, one they put together over a 20 year time frame.
We drove to Cedar Falls on a Tuesday, visited with Ruth and Keith that evening, then returned early the next morning and began the seven hour packing of Tea Leaf. We had quite a load as we finished with 19 TIGHTLY packed LARGE boxes. We spent Wed. night on the Iowa/Ill border, 1155 miles round trip. Some detours in order to make some antique stops......why I don't know, because the only thing we had room for would have been buttons.We saw very little Tea Leaf and purchased none.
We all know how rare Tea Leaf hot water pitchers are to come by. The Wilcox have 2....a Bow Knot and a Basketweave. The Basketweave is shaped like the Ewer. It's a real sweetheart. Once owned by Nancy Upchurch. I must also mention a shaving mug rack hand crafted by Keith.It's made of old oak with Greek key detail. The Beautiful rack and hundreds of pieces of Tea Leaf will be in the Wilcox Auction. Plan to be in Connersville, May10, at 10 A.M. Don't wait too late to book your Motel room. Woodridge Inn 765-825-4800. Mention Tea Leaf Auction for discount rate.
Our road trip to Iowa, 2nights and 3 long days with zilch amount of Tea Leaf to buy, inspires the following message...........If you want to see and buy Tea Leaf, be in Connersville, May 10th.
Thanks, Terrell
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The Burgers send this report on the Florida Regional meeting.
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On Feb. 8th there were 25 Tea Leafers present at the Florida regional held at the Lions Club House in Lorida. There was a presentation by Gene on hot water pitchers versus table service pitchers.
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A bbq lunch was served by the Lions Club then we all went over to the Burgers open house where further discussions and viewing of different type water pitchers. We had an unexpected visitor -- I'll include his photo.
Gene
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 This is a picture of a wild lynx that climbed up a telephone pole while we were having our meeting he really was a very large cat. hope you do something with this gave us some added entertainment that is a hard act to follow. |
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[Wow, what an awesome display of pitchers. You should get some more photos and submit then to Chris are a Readings article! DA]
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Eleanor Washburn speculates in the Clementson TL pitcher...
Well, that is an unusual piece...the one I have has Teaberry Motif...Don't we wonder what the decorator was thinking? and how long did he keep his job??? or maybe he or she had just changed potteries...from Meakin to Clementson.... a very special piece....
Eleanor
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Glenda Deal asks the "dishwasher" question...do you or don't you?
Wouldn't the dishwasher eventually be harmful to the copper, as it is to gold or china paint after repeatedly being subjected to the hard spray? A few times probably wouldn't hurt it.
Just a thought.
Glenda Deal
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Dick Brackin has definite dishwasher opinions...
It is unfair for me to comment on the Clementson piece, but since I did recognize the significance of it and did bid on it early on in the auction, I guess I can take the chance of being unfair. It is the only piece of Clementson Elegance that I have ever seen with a Tea Leaf rather than Teaberry.
The second question, is easy for me. I hand wash all my Tea Leaf. I do not put it in the dishwasher...although I may do so when I unpack all of it once I am in my new house--it will avoid a LOT of handwashing. I however will not put any dishwasher detergent in the machine...just hot water.
I found in my car today, a piece of Alfred Meakin plain white ironstone in an embossed shape that I had never seen before. I bought it in Baltimore when I was over there in October. It was sort of hidden under the front seat and fortunately had not been broken. Even though I did not sign up for show and tell at WICA, I will take it along just to see if it is really rare or not. If it is not rare in plain white, there just may be a piece or two of it out there with a Tea Leaf on it.
I am sick of winter...I am ready for Spring...I have threatened to return to Hong Kong and STAY there!
Should I do that however, I would return to the States each September for TLCI. :-)
Dick
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Texans Lona & Tinker sent...
Hi to you all, I love TLOL , and I also miss it a bunch so I decided I better get my back end in gear and write a letter.
Last week we met Dan and Sandy Widder and Evelyn Boyd for a wonderful Chinese lunch. Yes, we talked Tea Leaf and Variants the whole time, so much fun. We took them their regional gifts we had saved for them because they were not able to make it to our regional last year. They also brought us the Adams T/L empress pitcher that we had bought from them on ebay. We also received a special gift from them (wowwowwowwow) an Alfred Meakin clover plate. We shall cherish it forever. Anyway, it was a very special visit with such wonderful friends. We truly love Evelyn and Sandy and Dan, they are so neat.
As far as the cleaning the ironstone, I have been a big chicken on trying the cleaning, so afraid I would ruin a piece. But after talking to Dan and Sandy Widder I think we will bite the bullet and give it a try. Denny and Connie had showed us how they do their cleaning when they had the regional at their place. But I was at that time even a bigger chicken. So in a few months we will get the things we need and start cleaning.
As far as the jug and why it is going to be updated in the handbook, I have no idea why. I wish I knew my Tea Leaf better, but I have soooooo much to learn. I will never learn it all. So I guess I am saying I am just enjoying the pieces we get , the club and the members. I do a lot of looking up things, but I still get totally confused which is nothing unusual for me.
The Chinese variation educational was so fantastic, yes, thank you for all who put it together.
WOW, what a awesome calendar, love it and will order one.
I wrote another song for the convention this year, what a hoot it is. I have been trying to get it memorized. Anyway, one night we was in bed and I was singing my song to myself so I would not disturb Tinker. But what I did not realize was I was doing the actions for my song while I was singing my song. Tinker a few minutes later said "honey , are you ok, are you cold" ????? " I said "no, why???????". He said, " well you are shaking and shivering". I busted up laughing so hard. So I finally told him "no I was not cold I was singing my song" . He cracked up like " you really need help". It really was funny, I guess with me dancing in bed, it really did look funny. Oh well, that is my funny for the day.
We finally have bought a couple of Tea Leaf items on ebay, for a while we was not getting any Tea Leaf on ebay.We bought a Powell and Bishop large large platter and the Adams pitcher we bought from the Widders. But another reason we was not buying much was the new computer we had to buy for the cabin a few months ago because the other one crashed two times on us. Then my sweety surprised me with a Dell Latitude laptop yesterday, wowowowowow, talk about get emotional. I downloaded 8.0 AOL all by myself, I am so proud of ME. Now when we go on trips and are gone a month I can still bid on ebay (hee hee) and check and answer my emails, just to coooooooooooooooool, I feel so spoiled and so loved.
Julie, we sure hope you are feeling better. Any one else that has been sick, hope you are feeling better also.
Karen Larson, you are just too cool. It will be so great to finally get to meet you in July (God willing). We are going to California in July to our son's wedding and on our way we are going to spend some time with Karen Larson and her hubby and dad. We have tried to make this trip a few times and had to cancel every time so hopefully we will do it this time.
Well, I know there is more I could say but I will close for now,
Love you all, take care, be warm and God Bless,
Tinker and Lona
Texas
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Nancy Upchurch comments on the Clementson pitcher...
Re the question about the Clementson pitcher: Obviously the difference is the Tea Leaf motif rather than a Teaberry. There have been one or two other examples of Clementson wares with the traditional Tea Leaf but they are rare. Looking at the Tea Leaf, I wonder if it could have been added subsequent to the potting. Sometimes a housewife would have such a piece decorated to match her other pieces. Case in point: I have a Grindley Favorite soap dish - it's blue and white with great big Tea Leaf motifs over the original paint. In the Silber & Fleming catalog, ca 1880, it states "Monograms, Crests, Masonic Devices, Regimental, Hotel, and other Badges printed or painted on each piece of ware to order". I realize that they are referring to large institutional orders - but maybe some potters would add decoration to order if requested to do so. Or, as I first suggested, it was done at a later time. Interesting find!
I don't contribute often to TLOL because there is just nothing going on to write about! I haven't been antiquing in a month of Sundays. So no finds to report. Once I get back on the road, perhaps I can contribute something of interest.
Nancy Upchurch
P.S. (a week later). Re: Clementson - I just remembered that I once had a marked Clementson Plain Round pitcher decorated with a gold cloverleaf. I purchased it in Maine and would guess that it probably came from Canada where this decoration was quite plentiful. Another bit of evidence that some pieces were decorated to order according to the demand.
Re the Grindley soap dish mentioned in my prior message: the blue paint and the huge copper motifs are all underglaze - I presume it was done at the pottery, not later.
Finally some relief from cabin fever. This past week, Don and I attended a Clum auction in Ohio. The attraction was skater's lanterns, miniature lamps and cap bombs for Don - no Tea Leaf. We were fairly successful so the trip was worth while. The highlight of our week was a delightful evening spent with Dale and Elliot in Columbus. I think one of the unsung benefits of TLCI membership is the friendships we form with folks near and far. It's a real pleasure to visit friends who "talk Tea Leaf"!
A request: Does anyone out there in Tea Leaf land have a New York Shape sauce or soup tureen with the original ladle. If so, please send me a photo of the ladle, particularly the embossing on the stem. I need this for ID purposes (much as I'd like to, I'm not going to try to talk you out of it!). It doesn't matter if the ladle is all white, copper lustred or flow blue; just so the embossing is visible. Bev & Ernie - any chance you would have one or know of a photo of one? I would very much appreciate any help you can provide.
That's it for this week. I'll try to send more messages in the future so Dale doesn't have an excuse to chide me. I think we all need to get on the bandwagon and provide more material for TLOL. I know I certainly enjoy reading it. How about you?
Nancy U.
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Always a pleasure to hear from Margaret Mitchell...
Hi from Dayton, Ohio:
Sorry I haven't written for some time. My husband had three surgeries on his foot these past 3 1/2 months, so I have been a true R.N... He had a bunion removed, then surgery because of a staph infection with oral edication, then a third operation because the staph infection went into the bone. So he landed in the hospital with IV's in his arm for 4 weeks. Finally he had a cast removed after 3 1/2 months. All of this so he could play golf with me next summer and go to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to our next Tea Leaf Convention!!! I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa--so that is home!!!
The question about the new creamer just means we have a new design to invent for the Clementson pottery. It is beautiful and imagine we will see it at the next Tea Leaf Convention Auction. Needless to say, I haven't been antiquing these past few months, but I did buy a Meakin Tea Leaf butter pat this week at a house sale. So you never know when Tea Leaf will appear in your life. A happy Advent season, and Passover season to everyone. Spring will not be far behind.
Sincerely, Margaret Mitchell
[M, I can assure you that the Clementson Tea Leaf creamer will NOT make an appearance at the next TL auction ;) DA]
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An update from Rebecca (McElwee) Hodges...
Greetings! Just wanted to keep everyone updated on happenings! Married life continues to be wonderful, we are both very happy and are just having the best time! We went home in January for a late holiday visit to his family and antiqued along the way! His family lives in Mississippi, mostly around Jackson, but, we ventured to Natchez as well. I felt kinda sorry for Mike as I think he felt he could find Tea Leaf just laying around in any shop, but, alas that wasn't the case! We did find a lovely Heavy Square Teaberry Ewer in Canton Mississippi, it had a pretty bad crack in the side, and was 350.00, we already have one we bought from Dale that is in MUCH better condition, so we passed that one up. WE also saw a few bowls and plates and such around Mississippi, but, we are still holding out hope that some day we will hit the mother load in Mississippi!!!
If you have never been to Natchez Mississippi I would so recommend it! They have just dozens of Southern mansions to tour! Very unique and wonderful architecture! Longwood is our favorite, it was never completely finished and still stands as a sad reminder of the war between the states! If you go, I would also recommend Auburn, it has a lovely spiral staircase, free standing, very unique AND...it has tea leaf!!!!!!!!!!! Just one beat up sugar bowl in the parlor, it is marked Clementson but, has a tea LEAF not a tea berry on it and appears to
look like the body style sold recently on ebay........hum............ I did get pictures, but, we haven't gotten them developed yet! Just beware, if your NOT from the South, you are STILL a Yankee! :)
ANOTHER quirky tea leaf spotting. I was watching the movie "Coyote Ugly", not the best movie in the world, BUT, DOES have tea leaf in it if you watch closely! There is a scene when the recently moved daughter calls back to talk to her dad and behind him in the china hutch was a Maidenhair Fern covered veggie! I got very excited and made Mike freeze frame it for me! *imagine his joy at that!* Just thought I would let ya know that if you are bored one evening and can endure a poor movie JUST to see Tea leaf for a second or two! :)
Welp, not much else going on. Hope every has prepared in case something bad happens in this county with terrorism! You can't be to prepared!
Hope everyone is well Happy Tea Leafing and God Bless America!!!
Rebecca Hodges
[Rebecca, Isn't it intriguing that we're discussing the first discovery of an Elegance piece decorated with a TL and you spot another one? Please send the photo when you get it developed. DA]
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That's it for letters for the week. I will publish a new edition next week only if sufficient letters are received to make for an interesting issue. I hope you'll take a moment to send a contribution to the next TLOL.
Contributions should be sent to TLOL@aol.com.
Dale
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Publication Schedule
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March 16, 23, 30
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TEA LEAF ONLINE
February 23, 2003
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue.
Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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CLEMENTSON BROS. JUG
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This jug, recently sold on eBay, is highly unusual and
will require us to update the Tea Leaf Handbook
with this new discovery.
Do you know why?
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Have you visited the Club's Classified Ads section lately? Many new ads were placed in the last two weeks. Use of the classifieds feature is FREE to Club members. Access the ads from the Members-Only page.
TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES
Welcome new members...
Email address changes...
Undeliverable email addresses...
(These members are being removed from the TLOL mailing list. If anyone has new addresses for them, please let us know ASAP.)
DISCUSSION TOPIC
DISCUSSION TOPIC: OPEN DISCUSSION
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No special topic this week
Please use this opportunity to make observations,
share news and ask Tea Leaf questions.
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Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution
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CLUB AND CONVENTION NEWS
Membership
Current membership count is 774.
Regional Meetings
SEEN ON
LIVESLEY & POWELL RING OF HEARTS SOUP TUREEN - 3 PC.
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Seller's Description
Very large, very grand, very beautiful tea leaf ironstone three piece soup tureen with tureen, lid and underplate - all with boldly painted copper lustre banding. The lid has a very attractive tulip shape finial. The tureen is many sided and has embossed decoration, including a sunburst motif and spokes. A very kind ebayer has told me that this is the Ring O'Hearts pattern-thank you. Measures approx. 13 inches high, 15 inches long,and 11 1/2inches wide. Made circa 1855 by Livesley Powell & Co. There is an impressed mark on both tureen and the underplate with registration marks and the name "LIVESLEY POWELL & CO". Apparently much of their production was exported and they seem to have exhibited at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London. Condition is very good. The finial has been reglued and there is one tiny fleabite on the lid rim. There is some crazing on all three pieces. Some of the copper has oxidized, particularly on the underplate. However, these faults are minor and the tureen is a major, stunning, dramatic piece of tea leaf ironstone that has seen little if any use. The white is bright, as is the copper and there few signs of wear on this heroic piece of English ironstone.
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CHELSEA GRAPE PITCHER & BOWL
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Seller's Description
Beautiful, large Staffordshire pitcher and bowl , embossed copper clusters of grapes & leaves. Bowl is 13.75" in diameter and 4.5" tall. There is a one-inch hairline at the rim, staining on (underside) base, and a one-inch chip under the rim (see photos). Pitcher is 8.5" from tip of spout to edge of handle, 12.5" tall. It has a 1" by 1.5" repair at spout and a repair in the body. Both pieces have slight crazing, due to age. The only marking is the letters "PS" stamped into the bottom. This was my Grandmothers and I don't know a lot about it, but it is a really nice piece -- great detail. From another ebay listing, I gather the pattern name is "GRAPES" or "VINTAGE" by an unknown maker, c1840-60.
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BETTER HOMES & GARDENS TABLE SETTING FEATURING TL
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Seller's Description
Here is a Better Homes & Gardens Table Settings book from 1968. On page 16 it features plates and butter dishes in Tea Leaf Ironstone as a Romantic themes to salute brides tablesetting.
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3 MUGS - EDWARDS PEERLESS, WILKINSON, SHAW CABLE
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Seller's Description
The Anthony Shaw mug has a 3/4" X 1/4" chip on the bottom rim, the rest is perfect.
The Arthur J. Wilkinson mug has a 3" line going down from the top, the rest is perfect.
The John Edwards mug has a 3 1/8" line going down from the top, also the rest is perfect.
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INTRODUCTIONS
If you haven't submitted a profile yet, please think about sending one soon.
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Here's a new Tea Leaf OnLine feature for us to try out. Click on your City/State location and leave a brief "Hello" for other TLOLers. Give it a try and keep checking back as more people leave messages.
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LETTERS
We have two letters this week inquiring about basic Tea Leaf care. The first, from new member Kris, asks...
I recently joined the club and was wondering if you all could recommend a starting point for care & maintenance information. For example, how does one remove stains from ironstone? Can or should ironstone be cleaned in a dishwasher? Thanks for your help and advice.
Kris
The second letter, from Louise Miner, comments...
Love this issue and all the pictures. How common was it to use TeaLeaf for baking? Did they actually put the pieces in the oven?
Thanks for all your work, Louise Miner
[Can we help out these members? Do you bake in your Tea Leaf? Put it in the dishwasher? How about tips for basic care? DA]
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Maxine & Gerald write...
We were excited with the dialogue regarding the Chinese Shape variations in the last issue of TLOL. It was very educational & thanks to everyone who participated. After reading last week's issue, we're sure the new members to TLOL are impressed with our thirst for knowledge & our eagerness to share our views with one another.
We now have 774 members. Mike Compton is mailing the reminder letter to those who have not yet renewed & Dale sent email reminders to those online. The directory has gone to press so it will arrive with the March issue of Readings. I have plenty of membership brochures, so if anyone needs them, please contact me. Happy Tea Leafing.
G & M
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A Giftique Special from Marie...
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2003 Calendar Offer from Giftique
Thanks to Kyle Husfloen the Giftique is able to extend a terrific offer to the members of Club. We have Antique Trader 2003 calendars for sale. Each month features a charming photo of a different antique. It is truly a walk down memory lane. Included in the photo on the cover of the calendar is a Tea Leaf Bamboo teapot. What a delight for the Tea Leaf lover in all of us! Fully opened the calendar measures 16-1/2 inches tall by 12 inches across.
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Each calendar is $5.00. If only calendars are ordered, no shipping fee is necessary. If you are ordering the calendar along with other Giftique items, regular shipping fees apply (see the Giftique catalog).
To reserve your calendar, you may email me at comptonmw@aol.com or simply write to me at the address below.
Marie W. Compton
Tea Leaf Club Giftique Chair
815 Sterling Avenue
Geneva, Illinois 60134-3946
630-262-1377
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That's it for letters for the week.
I know you all will have noticed how few letters there were. For next week we have both a puzzler question that most of you will be able to answer with a few minutes research, plus questions about care and use of your Tea Leaf. You don't have to be an expert to participate in Tea Leaf OnLine. I will publish new editions only if sufficient letters are received to make for an interesting issue.
I hope you'll take a moment to send a contribution to the next TLOL.
Contributions should be sent to TLOL@aol.com.
Dale
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Publication Schedule
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March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
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TEA LEAF ONLINE
February 16, 2003
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue.
Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Anthony Shaw Chinese Shape Serving Pieces
Round Punch Bowl (L), Soup Tureen (Rear),
Chowder Tureen (R, Sauce Tureen (Front)
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In the last issue of Tea Leaf OnLine, Walt Stevens asked about the noticeable differences seen in Shaw's Chinese Shape pieces. This week, with the help of Bev & Ernie Dieringer, white ironstone experts, we explore even more Chinese Shape varieties. For example, in the photo above, there is no question that these Shaw pieces are all Chinese Shape. While the rosebud finials and oak leaf embossments are identical on all the lids, only the Punch Bowl has full panels, while the other three pieces have embossed panels which meet up with a horizontal band about an inch below the lid. See more variations later in this newsletter.
We have nearly 100 new Tea Leaf OnLine members starting with this issue -- WELCOME TO YOU ALL! The Club's website has a wealth of valuable information and resources for you. We are actively publishing historical educational publications to the website. There are over 3,800 photos on the site, primarily in current and old issues of Tea Leaf Online. Club officers and committee chairs are listed, along with copies of our constitution and bylaws. There are Classified Ads to explore and use to post your own Wants and For Sale items. Check out the schedule of Regional Meetings. Take advantage of the Annise Heaivilin Research Library. Check out Giftique specials and download the current catalog. And, starting this year, we are now printing Tea Leaf Readings to the website in addition to mailing it out to all members.
TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES
Welcome new members...
We have added nearly 100 new Tea Leaf OnLine members this week! The abrupt increase is due to the number of members who provided us with email addresses on their renewal forms. We have also added nearly 30 new Club members this year, many of whom are new TLOL participants. Email address changes...
Undeliverable email addresses...
(These members are being removed from the TLOL mailing list. If anyone has new addresses for them, please let us know ASAP.)
Unfortunately, we have also lost some members because of non-renewal. I bet we'll still get some of them back when they learn that their memberships have lapsed.DISCUSSION TOPIC
DISCUSSION TOPIC: OPEN DISCUSSION
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No special topic this week
Please use this opportunity to make observations,
share news and ask Tea Leaf questions.
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Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution
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CLUB AND CONVENTION NEWS
Membership
Current membership count is 764.
Regional Meetings
Charla Warner reports that a date has been selected for another region...
I have received email from Karl and Peg Schilling stating that they had set June 14 as the date for the North Central Regional.
I would also like to encourage someone from the South Eastern, Golden West and the New England/Capitol Edition Regions to consider being a host. It's a little work but also a whole lot of fun getting a group of Tea Leaf addicts together.
Thanks
Charla
SEEN ON
DAVENPORT FIG COUSIN EWER
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Seller's Description
Tea Leaf 11" PITCHER Copper Luster Ironstone. This is a very old ironstone pitcher made by Davenport. It has a copper luster tea leaf on the sides. It is also decorated with oak leaves and nuts, they are in the mold and highlighted with luster. It is 11" tall. There is a large spider vain on the bottom that is under the glaze and doesn't catch my fingernail. There is some staining on the top 1/3. The handle has been broken and glued back together in three places. There is an additional crack on the top edge under the handle. There is a chip on one of the cracks but the other are fairly clean. It isn't in pristine condition anymore, however it is a hard to find item and still displays wonderfully.
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ANTHONY SHAW MASTER CUSPIDOR(?) URN(?) WASTE JAR(?)
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Seller's Description
THE VASE IS 11.5" HIGH AND 8" WIDE AT THE TOP.IT MEASURES 26.5" AROUND.IT IS FULLY MARKED.IT HAS A 4",5" AND A 6" HAIRLINE,OTHERWISE IT'S MINT.
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ANTHONY SHAW CHINESE SHAPE BRUSH BOX
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Seller's Description
This is a real beauty, one of the most desirable of tea leaf patterns by the outstanding maker, Anthony Shaw. A brush box which measures approx. 8" in length with divided interior. There are no chips, finial appears to be intact. There is a hairline on the end of the bottom piece as shown in the photo. This will be a knockout for any collector of tea leaf Chinese pattern. It is properly marked on the bottom
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EDWARD WALLEY SCROLL COFFEEPOT
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Seller's Description
STAFFORDSHIRE SCROLL PATTERN TRANSFER TEAPOT MFG. BY EDWARD WALLEY, VILLA POTTERY, COBRIDGE, STAFFORDSHIRE POTTERIES 1845-56. TEAPOT HAS MAINLY GREEN & RED COLORING WITH COPPER LUSTER HIGHLIGHTS AND OVERALL COLORING IS OUTSTANDING. THE TEAPOT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, THERE IS A PIN HEAD GLAZE SKIP UNDER THE SPOUT AND IT HAS HAD THE FINIAL PROFESSIONALLY REATTACHED AFTER A CLEAN BREAK WHICH IS UNDETECTABLE HOWEVER IS BEING REPORTED FOR PURPOSES OF ACCURACY ONLY. OTHERWISE NO CHIPS, CRACKS OR OTHER DAMAGE OF ANY TYPE.
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INTRODUCTIONS
A new profile from Ann Derner was received this week...
I enjoy gardening, reading, writing, (story in Angels magazine) genealogy, searching the following names....Fischer, Mentz, Langendorfer, Berner , Bender, Luss, Eichner, Minkel, Swartz.
I collect Shaw, Meakin, Burgess, I have almost a complete collection except I would like to exchange a potty I have for a Fishhook one. And I am looking for any pieces in E& F to fill out a set...I particularly would like to find a creamer....also the auxiliary, pitcher that goes with a bath set to complete it....
Ann Derner
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Here's a new Tea Leaf OnLine feature for us to try out. Click on your City/State location and leave a brief "Hello" for other TLOLers. Give it a try and keep checking back as more people leave messages.
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LETTERS
A final reminiscence from Nancy about Jim Barrett...
Remembering Jim Barrett: When I was a fledgling Tea Leafer in the late 80s (the year, not my age!), Jim was Parliamentarian and I was the Recording Secretary. At my first Board meeting, I dutifully took notes in order to write up the Minutes when I got home. At the meeting, Jim announced that he no longer wanted to serve as the Parliamentarian. So, naive me, wrote in the Minutes that he had resigned the post. I soon got a phone call
from Jim. I was mistaken. He had asked not to be reappointed, he had not resigned. At the time I thought it was nit-picking but I soon learned differently. Officers, chairs, etc. including the Parliamentarian are elected or appointed for a one year period. They must be re-elected or reappointed every year. It is not the same as a Director elected for a three-year period, resigning after only one or two years. Being a left-brained math major,
I soon saw the logic of Jim's position. His engineering mind demanded accuracy and precision. Indeed, the Minutes must be accurate and I was glad to make the correction.
Since then, Jim, Betty and I have become good friends. We shared our experiences after our separate visits to the potteries at Stoke-on-Trent. While there, I saw the video of the last bottle oven operation. The video graphically shows the steps involved in producing our pottery. When I found out that Jim had secured a copy of that video for the club library, I was elated. Many of you have had the opportunity to view this video - you can
thank Jim for that privilege.
Jim often called to comment on the educational articles I had written for Readings. He even wrote an article at my request. This pointed out the not-so-nice elements of 19th century potting techniques: child labor, exposure to lead and other toxic substances, the deplorable working conditions of Dickens' England.
It is with heavy hearts that Don and I say “Goodbye old friend, you will be sorely missed.”
Nancy Upchurch
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The Gwins wrote this week to say...
Ever since Jerry and I got home from the convention in Nashville, we've intended to write to let everyone know how much we enjoyed the event. Now we'll know what to expect at Cedar Rapids! Our enthusiasm for tea leaf has really grown! We came home and looked more seriously and critically at our assortment of tea leaf pieces. And we're especially thankful to have learned about proper cleaning methods.
I though we should share the recent find that our son discovered (and purchased on our behalf) in an antique shop in Dothan, Alabama. All four pieces of the Powell & Bishop sauce set are in almost mint condition! The ladle shows slight signs of wear on the gold, about where the thumb would press when in use.
We haven't converted our son to tea leaf collecting, but through the years he's seen our interest and his grandmother's collection enough to train his eyes to watch for it when he's shopping.
I really enjoy TLOL -- and now that we have met so many members, the names and faces have real meaning to us. What a great group!
See you in September in Cedar Rapids.
Gaylon and Jerry Gwin
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New member Kim Guzzi writes...
I just want to say hello to everyone and let you know how excited I am to be a new member of the group. I was so happy when you helped me with my cinquefoil toothbrush holder, my first piece of tea leaf, that I new I would enjoy the group. I have been a member of other national clubs, and none have had the resources and organization of this group. I am very impressed. I am hoping to attend at least a regional meeting this year, and if anyone is near Pittsburgh, PA, drop me a line. Thanks,
Kim Guzzi
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An inquiry in a recent TLOL regarding the term "nappy" results in the following definition from Bev & Ernie...
Hello All, To answer Diane -- We looked up nappy in an English Dictionary of Ceramic Terms. Because we also have wondered what they were.
Nappy (1) A small shallow bowl placed on the table into which a glass of nappy (a strong foaming ale) was placed, so that the foam spilled into it. Some with a scalloped rim were made in Leeds Creamware. (2) A small oval or circular dish with a flat bottom and sloping sides; used for baking.
The second definition seems appropriate for 19th Century Ironstone China.
Ernie & Bev
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The Widders report on the same Tea Leaf sighting that Maxine discovered...
Long time no email. Recently my wife and I were curtain shopping when she spotted this Bamboo milk pitcher on page 637 of JCPenney's Spring Catalog. I wonder if they ever sold it as sets in years long past?
Dan and Julie
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From Suzi & Allen...
Not much to write about from this area. No, we didn't go to the auction in Maine but sure would have tried had we known about it. We still think that auctions are the best sources in this part of the country -- at least to get pieces at a reasonable price. These pieces have all been on eBay with low starting prices so the dealer must have gotten the lot at a pretty reasonable price. Some of the items have gone very reasonably but there does seem to be a lot of damage.
We 'sent' Carl and Ginger to another auction. It is a large auction (in New Jersey?) that we had read about. In fact, as I type this, they should be getting all sorts of great deals--at least we hope so. The auction has 180 Ceres pieces, 100 in green, 40 in blue, and 40 in copper. They really looked like super pieces with sauce tureens, coffee and tea pots, creamers, sugars, etc. The collector must have really focused on Ceres. Thought it is particularly interesting having learned that Arene Burgess is doing "Amber Waves of Grain in the Bread Basket of America: E&F CERES Shape" at the next convention. Wish we could have gone...
We still haven't received our latest edition of Readings. We're REALLY glad that we could download it from the Club website.
Our only recent find is a nice Portland Morning Glory, handled cup and saucer. First one we had ever seen so we grabbed it up. And that's it from Massachusetts. We are enjoying a cold, snowy winter. It will make Spring all the more appreciated!
Suzi & Allen
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Tinker and Lona write...
Hi to you all,
OK, Chris, it would help if I would of looked at your Christmas tree real close, those were nappies hanging on your tree. When I realized it, I felt like a fool. So I am telling you all, I need help or new glasses, lol lol lol.
Julie, we pray you are feeling better, we are thinking of you a lot. Get well soon dear dear friend.
With what happened today with the shuttle exploding and loosing those wonderful people, just too sad and we hurt for the families. It is days like this that is very hard to get through, but we will. There has been a lot of tears here today though. I was going to write a lot but right now I really am at a loss for words.
So I will just say, Happy Tea Leafing, We love you all,
Tinker and Lona
Bastrop, Texas
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CHINESE SHAPE -- MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS?
Last issue of TLOL, Walt Stevens sent in the following photos and questions, reprinted here directly from the January 26 TLOL:
Walt wrote...We have known that there are two types of Shaw's Chinese handleless cups, one with the tea leaf inside the cup and one on the outside. We didn't know that there were two types of waste bowls with the same
characteristics. We had a waste bowl with the tea leaf inside that matched the rest of our Chinese tea service but the proportion didn't seem right. Make your own judgment. We bought a smaller waste bowl (right pic) on Ebay. This waste bowl has the tea leaf on the outside. It seems more in proportion to the other pieces.
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However, there are slight differences on the arches. Compare the waste bowl with the cream pitcher.
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Now compare the bowl with the inside tea leaf with the pitcher. It
seems to us that the inside tea leaf matches closer.
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However, the proportion is wrong as shown in this picture. The smaller bowl seems more in proportion. By the way all pieces have the Shaw, Burslem mark.
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The two waste bowls match up very well with the two handleless cups.
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Chinese is a shape presumably named by a potter. What we wonder, were there two Chinese shapes or are these slight differences in the same shape by design? If the later, why?
Walt & Pat
[W&P, You have noticed an interesting variation in the Chinese Shape pieces. In fact there are at least three different Chinese styles, not just the two you've pointed out. There is an even more unusual body with Chinese handles and finials, but NO PANELS. So let me add some photos from my own collection...
Handleless cups with interior Tea Leaf. Note, some cups have the horizontal divide and others don't.
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Rarest of the Chinese varieties is this piece with no panels at all.
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Interestingly enough, in my experience, there are two sizes of sugar bowls, two sizes and styles of creamers but only one size coffeepot. The waste bowls are definitely in proportion to the sugars and creamers. There are two size footed compotes, several sizes of covered vegetable bowls and multiple sizes of nested bakers.
This would make for a great research article. Perhaps Bev & Ernie have noticed the same in Chinese Shape white ironstone. DA]
This week, Walt comments...
Last issue Dale commented about the different Chinese coffee sets and suggested an educational follow up. Dale is too modest. He and Gale Frederick wrote an outstanding article in the late 80s (before we were members of the Club), about Shaw's Chinese shape. It's well worth reading and can be accessed by clicking on this link. I'm ashamed to admit that I had not read it until after I had sent our pictures. It does bring up the old adage “When all else fails, read the directions”.
There is a lot of wonderful material on our web page. Too often I go right to TLOL and don't read the rest of the page. Periodically I go back to see if anything new has been added but I don't do it often enough.
By the way I would like to remind you to use the “Ask Walt” feature if you have any ideas about improving the club or are unhappy with some of our present policies.
Walt Stevens
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Education Committee Chair Adele Armbruster also comments on the Chinese Shape question...
Hi Wally, Thanks for the great photos. Your excitement is great and your observations are quite interesting. Perhaps you are on your way to amassing a collection in Shaw's Chinese.
We have had cups with saucers and waste/tea bowls that have had a single tea leaf on the inside of the cup or waste/tea bowl and in the center of the saucer. We have also had sets where there were two tea leaves on
the cup, waste/tea bowl, and the saucer. The important thing is that cups and saucers and waste/tea bowls with two tea leaves are not matched with items that have one Tea Leaf. The waste/tea bowls came in different sizes, we have had them.
I have not previously seen the waste bowl with the horizontal embossment in the middle of the exterior of the bowl. I think Dale Abrams has cup examples.
I think everything in your photos is in the Chinese Shape and that care should be taken to match the cups, saucers, and waste/tea bowls by body style and luster decoration. We should remember that there were
variations in molds and that there were mold makers from whom the potters purchased the molds. If you start looking at creamers and pitchers, you will also note variations in lip and handle treatments.
Perhaps it is time to do an article on Shaw's Chinese and the variations in body style, luster treatment, sizes of similar articles, etc.
Adele Armbruster
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The Dieringers contribute a wonderful piece of Chinese Shape research...
Hello to all, We are interested in the different Shaw Chinese Shape body styles that Walt noticed and those that Dale added. It seems unfair that Shaw omitted the horizontal line on some of the cups and waste bowls. It was a distinguishing detail that helped us identify the many unmarked white Chinese cups by other potters. There are no horizontal lines on the white Chinese shape teas sets by other potters.
We have started to research Chinese Shape . Anthony Shaw registered it on April 7, 1856. (Godden records it as four designs for dinner and tea sets.) T&R Boote registered their version two years and nine months later on Dec.8, 1858 -- (Godden writes that three different body styles were registered by T&R Boote that day.) We have since found that the three with that registry date on them are Atlantic, New Granade and Chinese Shape. Since a patent registry protected a body style for three years we wonder why the Patent Registry Office accepted a new T&R Boote registry before the three years were completed. Or before Shaw had a chance to reregister Chinese shape for another three years (as we know TJ&J Mayer and others had done with earlier shapes). Perhaps the answer is that the modeler of Chinese shape was an independent and licensed the use of the body style to other potters. And possibly as with other modelers, may have even made design changes in the subsequent Chinese Shapes for other potters. In Baltic Shape the modeler even let other potters rename the shape using the same registry mark.
John Alcock's version of Chinese is identical to T&R Boote's, which is to be expected since they shared other body styles during the 1840s and 50s. We haven't found a registry date on an Alcock piece. Also no white examples of J. Clementson's Chinese Shape have come up yet, but a great example of a teapot and sugar with luster Teaberry are in the TL Handbook. Has anyone found a Clementson Chinese piece with a registry date?
Our next profile in WICA's Notes is on Columbia shape. In Columbia shape (as in Chinese Shape) most of the tea and chamber set pieces have inverted panels and the dinner set pieces are oval or round without panels. Causing Jean Wetherbee and others to think of them as two different shapes and named them Paneled Columbia & Columbia Shape! So we weren't surprised when Dale showed a plain oval Chinese tureen without panels. Are some of Shaw's tureens paneled?
We have an unmarked Chinese soup tureen with twelve incised lines indicating panels but they are not fluted panels like the tea set and chamber set. Who Made It? And as Wetherbee says never say never or always. We found a Chinese Shape ROUND teapot by Henry Alcock who took over John Alcocks pottery.
Also the Shaw plate is completely different from the Boote & Alcock plates.
Ernie & Bev
Bev sent photos below to illustrate some of these observations, combined with some photos provided by Dale Abrams.
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From Dale: Two Anthony Shaw soup tureens. On the left is a panelless lustre banded tureen. Unusual because it has no panels, is one of the few Shaw examples of lustre banding (as opposed to pieces with Tea Leaf decorations), and has a more domed lid. To the right is the traditional soup tureen with panels and rosebud finial.
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From Bev & Ernie: Anthony Shaw large white ironstone soup tureen. The incised panel lines repeat those on Shaw's plates and platters. Dale has one with a rose bud finial, by Shaw. Jean W. says it has also been seen marked T. & R. Boote. However, while we would expect Shaw's WI tureen to be identical to the Tea Leaf one only without the lustre, it's completely different.
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From Bev & Ernie: John Alcock made this large round soup or toddy. Doesn't look at all like Shaw's Chinese Shape, does it?
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Only two Staffordshire potters produced Chinese Shape decorated with copper luster -- Anthony Shaw and J. Clementson. Additionally, the American Red Cliff China Company reproduced Shaw's Tea Leaf pieces in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Red Cliff Tea Leaf (L) and Shaw Tea Leaf (R)
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Two copper lustre treatments by Clementson. Note that the Shaw and Clementson body styles are nearly identical.
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From B&E: A. Shaw, showing horizontal line at hip and a sharper plateau, divided lid with rose bud finial.
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From B&E: Elaborate John Alcock & T. & R. Boote made this later version, registered Dec. 8, 1858.
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Chinese by Alcock: Henry Alcock, later, after 1861.
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From B&E: Shaw Plate
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From Dale: Shaw Plate
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From B&E: T. & R. Boote, John Alcock and possibly J. Clementson.
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From B&E: Chinese, Boote: T. & R. Boote, note the different deeply scalloped rim and full panels, unlike the Shaw and Clementson pieces which have a horizontal embossment towards the bottom.
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From B&E: A. Shaw, note the horizontal hip line and the rim at the top has a more subtle scallop with a decorative double rim.
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From Dale: Clementson Chinese Shape large pitchers.
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From B&E: Boote Lid
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From B&E: : 10-sided potty lid by T. & R. Boote. Same chamber set as the 14-sided toothbrush box shown here
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From Dale: Anthony Shaw punch bowl lid.
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<<< Anthony Shaw soup tureen lids. The one without panels on the left is more domed than the traditional panelled lid on the right.
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Wow...we can definitely use additional research on this topic, can't we?
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That's it for letters for the last two weeks.
Club leadership has been very busy this month. Chris Weinbrenner completed and sent to the printer the March issue of Tea Leaf Readings and the 2002 Membership Directory. Maxine Johnson, Peg Schilling and Fran Miller have been busy updating membership records and processing renewals. Walt has been obsessing over budget issues. The convention committee has been working on plans for our September meeting. Julie Rich had a pacemaker installed. AND MORE!
The mid-year meeting of the Board and Officers is scheduled for April in St. Louis and agenda items are being solicited. If you've got issues you'd like to add to the agenda, go back to the Members-Only web page and Ask Walt.
I hope you'll take a moment to send a contribution to the next TLOL.
Contributions should be sent to TLOL@aol.com.
Dale
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Publication Schedule
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February 23
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TEA LEAF ONLINE
January 26, 2003
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue.
Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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If you have not renewed your Tea Leaf Club membership, this is your last issue of Tea Leaf OnLine. Renewal information can be found in the Membership section below. If you have renewed, you will receive an email with the new Members-Only password in about two weeks. Also, February 1 is the renewal deadline to be included in the Club's new Membership Directory, to be distributed with the next Tea Leaf Readings.
I didn't get to participate, but learned about an auction in Maine this past week with Tea Leaf. The auctioneer sent me these photos. Looks like there were some nice items. Anyone go to the sale and know anything about prices?
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TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES
Welcome new members...
Diane Wadsworth Bob & Marilyn Barrett Email address changes...
Marcia Balloun and Annise Heaivilin have a new email address Jane Washburn also reports an email change Undeliverable email addresses...
(These members are being removed from the TLOL mailing list. If anyone has new addresses for them, please let us know ASAP.)
DISCUSSION TOPIC
DISCUSSION TOPIC: OPEN DISCUSSION
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No special topic this week
Please use this opportunity to make observations,
share news and ask Tea Leaf questions.
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Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution
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CLUB AND CONVENTION NEWS
Membership
The TeaLeafClub.com password will be changing in February and you will be provided with the new passwords only if you renew your membership by that date. Renewal forms were mailed to all members around Thanksgiving. If you have not returned yours, please do it now. If you have misplaced your membership form and need renewal instructions, quickly contact
Peg Schilling, TLCI Membership Records
3120 East Titus Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50320
515-256-3866
Regional Meetings
Many 2003 Regional Dates are Now Available! Please review this regional schedule and let Regional Chair Charla Warner know if you'd like to select a date or volunteer to host a meeting for your region.
SEEN ON 
ALCOCK BLANKET STITCH PLATTER
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Seller's Description
This platter is approximately 14 inches long and 10 1/4 inches wide. The mark on the bottom is Royal Ironstone China by H. Alcock & Co., England. It has a “piecrust” edging embossed in the white just inside the brown on the rim of the platter. It is a very nice piece! There are no chips or cracks but there are some light spots and wear.
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MELLOR-TAYLOR HEARTS SOAP DISH
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Seller's Description
This Tea Leaf Ironstone Soap Dish is a great find for your collection! It's in excellent condition with no damage or repairs or staining and only fine age crazing. Also the drainer piece is missing. The trim lines and Tea Leaf decoration are strong and solid! It's 2"H to the top of the base X 5"L and has a footed base and a ribbed design around the base and on the lid. It has the MT-17 mark.
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HAND-DECORATED TL DINNER BELL
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Seller's Description
This little bell looks to be hand painted under the glaze. Has a few scraped places underneath the glaze. Nothing major to detract. Stands 2 7/8 inches tall. The clapper is intact and it has a very pretty ring to it. The hand painted design looks very similar to Tea Leaf dinnerware. Invite your dinner guests to listen while you ring for the next course!
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GRINDLEY FAVORITE SHAPE WASTE JAR BASE
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Seller's Description
IRONSTONE WASTE JAR " SORRY NO LID ". COPPER LUSTER TEA LEAF BY W.H. GRINDLEY & CO. THIS WASTE JAR IS IN ALMOST MINT CONDITION. NO CHIPS, CRACKS OR REPAIRS. THE LUSTER IS PERFECT. NICE RIBBED BOTTOM PATTERN. MARKED ON BOTTOM. EXCELLENT COLOR AND NO LUSTER WEAR. PERFECT GLAZE. ALSO NICE RIBBED HANDLES WITH THE LUSTER ON THEM. SIZE 11" TALL AND INSIDE OPENING FOR LID 5 3/4 THAT IS THE ACTUAL HOLE SIZE FOR THE LID TO FIT INTO.
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INTRODUCTIONS
If you haven't submitted a profile yet, please think about sending one soon.
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Here's a new Tea Leaf OnLine feature for us to try out. Click on your City/State location and leave a brief "Hello" for other TLOLers. Give it a try and keep checking back as more people leave messages.
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LETTERS
A wonderful tribute to Jim from Dick Brackin...
I am feeling quite sad at the loss of my good friend of nearly 25 years, Jim Barrett. I am not certain whether he and Betty are charter members, but I know that we met pretty quickly after the Club was formed. I believe that he wrote the Constitution and By-Laws for the Club.
Betty and Jim Barrett were a welcomed and welcoming presence at every Tea Leaf Club function which they were able to attend. They were both full of fun and always were ready for a good time. Tea Leaf was a
significant part of their good time. When we first were getting to know Jim, we thought that he was an attorney--he knew Robert's Rules of Order forward and backward--but he wasn't, he was an engineer. I believe that his sense of order from his professional life transferred into his personal and social life. There was a right way and a wrong way to do things and as president, I could always count on Jim being at my elbow to guide me to the right way. Thankfully, I took Jim's wise counsel and as a result made far fewer mistakes than I might have had it not been for his sage guidance. I believe that Pat Stoolman would agree that it was thanks to Jim Barrett's steady guidance that got us both through ourpresidencies without any great mishap.
Not only was Jim a loyal participant in TLCI, he was one grand gentleman. He and Betty were just great fun folks. Jim and I enjoyed a spot of good single malt Scotch on occasion, and I believe that it was in the last e-mail exchange that we had that he reminded me how sorry he was that we missed that chance in Nashville, but that we would "catch up" in Cedar Rapids. He also reminded me that I am retired now and that I had no reason that I could not drive over to Tipp City to visit them. He assured me that Betty would bake me a home made grape pie...the old fasioned way. I regret that I did not make that short trip.
Darla, Betty and Jim's daughter-in-law, informed me of Jim's illness and kept me informed of his condition and I appreciate that. I know how sad I feel at his sudden death, but I cannot begin to imagine the depth of their shock and grief. My heart goes out to Betty and all of their family. Though his illness was brief and his sudden death a shock, there is comfort in knowing that he was not required to suffer long. I hope that soon their grief will dissolve and they will remember all the wonderful, great fun they shared.
Dick
[Dick, Thanks for your lovely words. I, too, will miss Jim's friendship and counsel. He was very kind to me and I always looked forward to seeing him and Betty at Tea Leaf functions. Jim had a wonderful sense of humor and I frequently found myself on the receiving end of one of his embarrassing stories.
Many years ago, Jim started to send me a letter after every convention telling me what he liked about each meeting and what could have been done to improve each one. I so looked forward to Jim's recap that a convention was never really over for me until I had received his letter. He always had a kind word for the efforts of everyone who worked so hard to make the Club a success and I know he took pride in being a part of TLCI.
We will all miss the smiling face and sage advice of our wonderful friend. DA]
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First time TLOL contributor Diane Wadsworth from Oregon had a question for the group...
Hi, I've been a Tea Leaf member for some time and this is my first e-mail to you with a great find and a question. My friend recently gave me a nappy in great condition ,she found it at a garage sale for .............$.05 yes a nickel!! I was amazed. I came home and looked up what it was a nappy ..... but now .......what is it used for??
Thanks for your help. Diane
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Julie Rich is in the hospital again this week but sent this note last weekend...
We will indeed miss Jim Barrett. He has been there for us so many times. He helped officers, he helped me when I was Editor of Readings, he was great at Conventions and what I admired most was that he was never afraid of speaking his mind when he thought we were headed in the wrong directions. Jim was just a good person, sometimes very blunt in his observations but they were generally right on target and very straight forward. And he did have that dry sense of humor. We have lost a good member and a good friend. Old and faithful friends and members are leaving us too soon.
Julie
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Annise's daughter Marcia sends...
Mother is doing quite well and seems to enjoy her leisure time reading. When I came home from work on Friday, she had a stack of Tea Leaf Readings next to her favorite chair. As she would say, "No telling what she's up to."
We hope 2003 is starting off in grand style and that good health and prosperity prevail.
Thank you.
Marcia Balloun
Annise Heaivilin
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Lona and Tinker write...
Hello Tea Leafers,
First we want to say how sorry we are for the Barrett family. It is such a sad time for Betty and all their family , our hearts and prayers are with them all. Tinker and I both lost our mates many years ago, so we truly understand their loss. Betty, I wish we were closer so we could hold you and give you a big hug.
Margaret and Fonis, we are so sorry for the loss of your cousin Bill. When you get to Texas tell your brother and his wife we said " HI ".
We received our Tea Leaf Readings today in the mail and we loved it all.The pictures of Chris Weinbrenners home and Tea Leaf (wowwowwow) . Chris, the Tea Leaf ornaments you had on your tree, what were they???? Did you make them??????
All the articles about members and Tea Leaf were great as usual. We look so forward to getting the Readings in the mail. We also look forward to every TLOL.
If you do not have one of the Tea Leaf bags, you reallllllllly need to get one. They are tooooo cute and I love the saying on it " I bee a Tea Leafer". I have one bag and I want a couple more, hee hee heeeeee.
I feel bad that I have not sent much in to TLOL, I think I am brain dead lately, I have not been able to think of much to write about. ((((( BAD BAD LONA))))) .
We want to welcome all the new members. Hope you enjoy the club and members (family) as much as we do. This is the best club ever.
Bob and Evelyn Marsh, we are sooooooooo excited about the regional and we will be there. I am already looking forward to coming.
Congratulations Peg and Vic on getting your Tea Leaf childs set of dishes. We love our little sets, they are just so tiny and so cute.
We have not bought any Tea Leaf in a long time, we also have not seen any Tea Leaf here and around our area ( woe is us ). But one of these days it will happen, we will walk into a shop and see some, other than plates and platters. I will be in the slow motion mode trying to get to it ( like you see in the movies when two lovers are running towards each other on the beach and they are in slow motion) ,my arms will be stretched out, inch by inch, step by step I will go , trying to get to the Tea Leaf, I will reach the pieces, I will hold them like they are my child, I will lay them down, then I will have a fit, I will throw myself on the floor where Tinker is at, I will grab Tinkers leg and look up at Tinker with my big eyes and will ( POUT ) and will not move till Tinker says " YES ", and if that does not work I will (POUT) some more. I can cry loud tooooo, but I hope it never comes to that, LOL LOL. If he tries to get away I will not let go of his leg, he will have to drag me, I will beg and beg in front of all the people in the shop. Tinker will be so embarrassed that he will get the T/L for me just to get out of the shop. Then he will have me committed into the nut house. " HE Loves ME ".
You all take care, be safe, be warm, be happy, be well and all that good stuff.
We love you,
Tinker and Lona
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Suzi and Allen write...
Haven't received our latest Readings but Allen was able to download it at work and print it out. It's great to be able to see it when everyone else does but we're still looking forward to 'the real thing'. It sure beats having people on TLOL talk about the articles for two week before we get to see what they're talking about! And, as always, a great issue with lots of info and news.
We are sure glad to see John M. back on line. Well, maybe we're not so glad to hear that he's finding all the neat pieces in New England. Naw, we hope we run into him again on on of our quests. The last time we did, it brought us good luck! Welcome 'back', John.
We really haven't had any spectacular finds lately. But there is still some TL out there. Allen picked up a pretty Cumbow coffeepot and, last weekend, we found a lustre band creamer and a Fanfare, Tobacco Leaf sauce base priced very reasonably. Anybody out there want to trade a Tobacco Leaf lid for a Shaw Cable sauce base? We're also looking for an Adams, Empress sauce tureen lid.
The only other pieces we've gotten came with a bit of a story. One of our best friends, who makes all sorts of teddy bears, surprised Suzi last week with a very old tandem bicycle. It's about two feet long and looks as though it may have been part of a store sign or display. She had made two teddy bears, outfitted them with helmets, 'Bike-a-neer' riding jerseys, and sneakers and mounted them on the bicycle seats. In the jersey pockets of each bear she had placed a plastic banana, a miniature water bottle, and a TL child's mug - the mug presented at the 1989 TLCI convention. She and her husband had found them in a shop in Las Vegas while on vacation last year. Which of you out there in TL-land lost so much at the slot machines that you had to hock your cute little mugs?
We wish everyone a great year, filled with good health, wonderful memories, and lots of Tea Leaf.
Suzidee & Allen
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There may be TL out there, but at what price? Gerald & Maxine saw some TL this week...
We went to a toy show today. Gerald bought two toy tractors. After that we went to a couple of antique malls. We found a bamboo 8" pitcher for $445.00 & a bamboo teapot for $245.00. Needless to say, we passed, or should I say we nearly passed out!!!! What are these people thinking of? Just thought you would get a kick out of that.
Thanks again for keeping all of us informed about our tea leaf family.
Gerald & Maxine
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Walt and Pat ask about Chinese Shape pieces...
We have known that there are two types of Shaw's Chinese handleless cups, one with the tea leaf inside the cup and one on the outside. We didn't know that there were two types of waste bowls with the same
characteristics. We had a waste bowl with the tea leaf inside that matched the rest of our Chinese tea service but the proportion didn't seem right. Make your own judgment. We bought a smaller waste bowl (right pic) on E-bay. This waste bowl has the tea leaf on the outside. It seems more in proportion to the other pieces.
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However, there are slight differences on the arches. Compare the waste bowl with the cream pitcher.
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Now compare the bowl with the inside tea leaf with the pitcher. It
seems to us that the inside tea leaf matches closer.
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However, the proportion is wrong as shown in this picture. The smaller bowl seems more in proportion. By the way all pieces have the Shaw, Burslem mark.
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The two waste bowls match up very well with the two handleless cups.
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Chinese is a shape presumably named by a potter. What we wonder, were there two Chinese shapes or are these slight differences in the same shape by design? If the later, why?
Walt & Pat
[W&P, You have noticed an interesting variation in the Chinese Shape pieces. In fact there are at least three different Chinese styles, not just the two you've pointed out. There is an even more unusual body with Chinese handles and finials, but NO PANELS. So let me add some photos from my own collection...
Handleless cups with interior Tea Leaf. Note, some cups have the horizontal divide and others don't.
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Rarest of the Chinese varieties is this piece with no panels at all.
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Interestingly enough, in my experience, there are two sizes of sugar bowls, two sizes and styles of creamers but only one size coffeepot. The waste bowls are definitely in proportion to the sugars and creamers. There are two size footed compotes, several sizes of covered vegetable bowls and multiple sizes of nested bakers.
This would make for a great research article. Perhaps Bev & Ernie have noticed the same in Chinese Shape white ironstone. DA]
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Semi-retired Linda McElwee sends...
Greetings, Tea Leaf Family, from frigid north Missouri. I certainly admired the lovely decorating with TL pictures from Nancy and Pat. What wonderful displays!
We will truly miss Jim Barrett. I remember his presentation of TL baked in the bottle kilns and how spellbound we were at his knowledge. His kind and gentle nature was a delight to us and our hearts go out to Betty and the family.
Please rest assured that when Maxine and I battle over TL there is no bloodletting nor rolling on the floor. I don't remember the sugar bowl, but at that time I was buying TL for the JC Penney Boyhood Home museum and probably had a sugar bowl on the list. If you are ever in Hamilton, please stop in and look at his boyhood home. The Questor group was able to have the house moved into town and restored. There are several pieces of TL there, including a veg base with the gold TL Julie asked about in Readings. I bought the piece at an auction in Sedalia and I think the potter is a Wilkinson - I'll go and look it over again.
I haven't been out looking for TL for a while, but now that I'm semi-retired, I will be out and about. It is so strange not to have to scurry around each morning to get to work. Ron is enjoying homemade rolls, pies, etc. I still am working at the health dept part time and have a contract with another dept doing research for them.
Hope to see you all soon,
Linda
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Bob and Anita Montgomery share...
I'm not very good at this type of tribute. However, Jim worked for many years at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton OH. I also was in the Air Force for 28 years. So Jim and I had another common interest other than Tea Leaf. I enjoyed his company both at conventions as well as regionals.
I used to be quite a smoker. To put it mildly, I was a "chimney". I finally quit in 1995 and Jim was very supportive about my abstinence. However, the one thing I will always remember about Jim was every time he met me, the first thing he would always ask was, "Hey Bob, Do you have a cigarette?" I'll miss that. But more importantly, I'll miss Jim. God must have a good place for him.
Anita and I both send our best to Betty, and we ask all Tea Leafers to remember Jim - a great man, a great tea Leafer, but most importantly a gentleman of the first degree.
Our best,
Anita and Bob Montgomery
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I want to share Jim Barrett's obituary from this week's Dayton Daily News:
BARRETT James C. Age 84 of Tipp City died Friday January 17 2003 in Springmeade Nursing Center in Tipp City. Born January 4 1919 in Burlington Junction MO to Floyd and Joda (Suttle) Barrett. A retired Technical Director at the Jet Propulsion Lab at W.P.A.F.B. with 33 years of service. Graduate Engineer from the University of Missouri active member of the Tipp City United Methodist Church 60 year member of the Tipp City Mason Lodge and was a 33 degree Mason. Jim took an active part in many organizations. Preceded in death by his parents and sister Elinor Gurnon. Survived by his wife Betty J. (Perkins) Barrett whom he married in July of 1946; one daughter Jo and one son and daughter-in-law Greg and Darla; three grandchildren Billy Rachel and Keith; two great-grandchildren Isaac and Bethany. Graveside memorial service will be held at a later date at Maple Hill Cemetery in Tipp City. Contributions may be made to Hospice of Miami County, Tipp City United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice. Services in care of FRINGS & BAYLIFF FUNERAL HOME in Tipp City .
That's it for letters for the last two weeks. Next TLOL is February 16. I hope you'll take a moment to send a contribution to the next TLOL.
Contributions should be sent to TLOL@aol.com.
Dale
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Publication Schedule
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February 16 - New Password will be in effect
February 23
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TEA LEAF ONLINE
January 19, 2003
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue.
Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Some sad news to report this week with the passing of Jim Barrett. We received this email Friday, January 17...
This email is from Darla, Jim's daughter-in-law. I am sorry to tell you that Jim died in his sleep early this morning. The family had help from Hospice so Jim was comfortable and not in any pain. He had been at Springmeade nursing home in Tipp City and Betty felt they took wonderful care of him. He had been unconscious for the last 2 days.
At this time there are no services planned. Betty does not wish for people to spend money on flowers but any donations in Jim's name to the American Cancer Society would be appreciated. Betty would also appreciate any cards or emails. Their grandson, Bill Stull, has been making copies of all emails and giving them to Betty.
I am sure you will miss Jim as much as we will. He touched a lot of people's lives.
Darla Barrett
Jim was a major force in the Tea Leaf Club, Exceptional Service Award winner and one of our more active members. Although he and Betty were unable to attend the 2002 convention, they missed very few opportunities to share good times with Tea Leafers over the last 25 years. Jim was a contributor to Readings, Tea Leaf OnLine, an avid researcher into the working and manufacturing conditions in the English potteries, Club Parliamentarian, Convention presenter and served on numerous committees. We will all miss Jim's smiling face, sense of humor and guidance. Betty can be contacted at the following address:
Betty Barrett
415 Bowman Avenue
Tipp City, Ohio 45371
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Thanks to Tea Leaf Readings Editor, Chris Weinbrenner, the January issue of Readings is in the mail. Perhaps you have already received your copy, but if you live in one of those areas of the country where delivery is delayed, all issues of Readings will now be available online, too. To access Readings, return to the Members-Only page, select Tea Leaf Readings and enjoy. Please remember that you need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the newslettter and educational articles.
TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES
Welcome new members...
Welcome to lots of new 2003 members!
John Eberhart, IL Annie Laurie James, VA Bevery Gustafson, MN Kimberly & Anthony Guzzi, PA Ardis Copple Email address changes...
Ed &Cheryl Payne Ann Hayner Gale Frederick Undeliverable email addresses...
(These members are being removed from the TLOL mailing list. If anyone has new addresses for them, please let us know ASAP.)
Nancy HintonDISCUSSION TOPIC
DISCUSSION TOPIC: OPEN DISCUSSION
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No special topic this week, although I'm certain that many of us will want to share Jim Barrett memories and stories. Please use this opportunity to make observations, share news and ask Tea Leaf questions.
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Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution
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CLUB AND CONVENTION NEWS
Membership
The TeaLeafClub.com password will be changing on February 1 and you will be provided with the new passwords only if you renew your membership by that date. Renewal forms were mailed to all members around Thanksgiving. If you have not returned yours, please do it now. If you have misplaced your membership form and need renewal instructions, quickly contact
Peg Schilling, TLCI Membership Records
3120 East Titus Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50320
515-256-3866
Regional Meetings
Several 2003 Regional Dates are Now Available! Mark your calendars now. Please review this regional schedule and let Regional Chair Charla Warner know if you'd like to select a date or volunteer to host a meeting for your region.
Region
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2003 Date
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Host
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Location
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Contact Info
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Florida
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February 8
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Gene & Betty Burger
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Lorida, FL
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Please check your Membership Directory for Host contact information or contact Regional Chair Charla Warner.
Remember, you are invited to attend ALL Regional Meetings, not just those in your own area. If you're traveling or close to another region, please feel free to RSVP and attend!
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Heartland
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April 5
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Gerry Nelson
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Hannibal, MO
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Southcentral
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April 26
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Bob & Evelyn Marsh
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Tyler, TX
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Hoosier
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May 17
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Vic & Peggy Regnaud
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Perry Park, KY
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Prairie
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May 17
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Mike & Marie Compton
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Geneva, IL
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Mountain States
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June 7
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Vivian Zazzaretti
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Colorado Springs, CO
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Great Lakes
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June 21
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Lowell & Diana Youngen
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Sugar Creek, OH
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Great Northwest
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August
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Audrey Gruger
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Camano Island, WA
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North Central
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TBA
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Karl & Peg Schilling
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Des Moines,
IA
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Golden West
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Still need host and date
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Southeast
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Still need host and date
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New England & Capital Edition
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Still need host and date
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SEEN ON
ELSMORE & FORSTER TOBACCO LEAF MILK JUG
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Seller's Description
This listing is for an 8 1/2" tall pitcher,no marking but from the same set as the other pieces-go figure.In very good cond. save some crazing and discoloration ONLY on the inside.
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ANTHONY SHAW SOUP LADLE
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Seller's Description
You are bidding on a hard to find piece of tea leaf china. This ladle is approximately 11" long and has a 4" diameter. The ladle is for the large tureen (also on auction this week). The copper lustre is in good condition. There is a bit of crazing on the ladle as is expected of pieces of this age. There is a slight bit of darkening where the handle meets the base. No maker's mark.
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ANTHONY SHAW CABLE SOUP TUREEN
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Seller's Description
You are bidding on a hard to find piece of tea leaf china. This tureen is in excellent condition. It measures approx 10" high; 16" from handle to handle and 7" across the base. The lid has some crazing along the top which is common in pieces of this age. Anthony Shaw is the maker and, if I am correct, he produced from about 1850-1900, so this piece dates to that time period.
The bottom portion of the tureen is in excellent conditon, slight crazing is difficult to see. This piece is in the cable style and has the space for the soup ladle (also on auction this week). The copper lustre is in good condition.
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WALLEY NIAGARA SHAPE SAUCE TUREEN
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Seller's Description
EXCELLENT Three Piece Sauce Tureen by Edward Walley (1848-1858) in the Niagra Shape (Registered November 1856). Tureen measures 7" to top of finial, has scrolled and foiliated embossed design, with a detailed split pod Finial top. Underplate measures 9 1/4" long, is fully marked E Walley Niagra Shape with the English Registry mark (pic). Tureen base has matching English registry mark. Lid to tureen is trimmed in Copper Luster with a green over trim. Underplate and tureen base have Copper Luster trim with some touches of Green color trim overlay. Condition: One nick to bottom of tureen footing, some crazing, otherwise Excellent Bright and Clean
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INTRODUCTIONS
If you haven't submitted a profile yet, please think about sending one soon.
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Here's a new Tea Leaf OnLine feature for us to try out. Click on your City/State location and leave a brief "Hello" for other TLOLers. Give it a try and keep checking back as more people leave messages.
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LETTERS
From Margaret Payne...
New Year's Greetings to all of you and good wishes for the best year yet--especially one filled with tea leaf. I do apologize for a long absence and failing to contribute to TLOL, tho', like so many others, I always read it. Once I had a job--and some free time. Now I have no job, but no free time either.
We hope to be heading for TX soon, but have had several delays. Fonis had doctors appointments early in the year and seems to be doing well---except for his out-of-control blood sugar. Thanks to so many of you for your
interest and inquiries.
Many of you met my cousin Bill who was with us for the banquet at the Nashville Convention. I am sad to tell you that she had a massive stroke last Friday and died on Wednesday afternoon. There was some communication
with her on Saturday and Sunday, so I felt better to know that she knew I was with her. She was the neatest lady and had a wonderful time at the auction--open-mouthed at the prices, however. Every day, she used her TL mug for her morning coffee and thought it was great, but she most especially enjoyed meeting so many of our TL friends. April 18 would have been her 90th birthday.
There has been very little TL in my life--none under the tree, but some $$ which could convert into TL. My Red Hat Society group met at my house last night and they were immediate TL fans. One even called me tonight to tell me that she had seen some at an antique shop nearby. She did not remember the cost of the covered veggie--but there was a $98 "serving tray"--would you guess that this is a $98 platter? Probably a plain Meakin.
Don't forget to get your dues in (with maybe a copper luster membership) and support new Regional Coordinator Charla Warner by scheduling your meetings early..
MJP
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Julie writes....
Haven't been very good about corresponding lately but I do have some thoughts about the current question: Should we advertise? As an old Marketing Director, I'm very convinced that advertising is an essential part of any organization. How should we advertise and how often? I think there should be ads placed in the antique publications that reach the largest number of collectors and sellers across the country. Perhaps Kyle can help us choose one on the East Coast, one in Middle America and one on the West Coast. I know that advertising can be very expensive in any publication but the returns should more than make up for the expense. I think that we should advertise the Club, not just conventions but ads letting collectors and dealers about our Club, the extent of membership, the length of time we've been in operation, our Educational publications and policies and publications. When we receive response to those ads, our Membership Committee can then follow up. We must have some advertising experts in the Club and we know that Chris and Kyle are certainly two of them. There must be more. Perhaps a series of different ads could be planned.
A second thought on how we can get information out about the Club - I've been approached by several different Questors Clubs to do programs on Tea Leaf. If there is a central organization of all Questors Clubs, contact with them could be a means of offering the services of members to do programs. Antique Clubs are always looking for people to do programs. And even though not all the people at the Questors organizations where I presented programs were not interested in Tea Leaf per se, they were interested in the history and a display of my most interesting pieces. I'm sure there are many more Clubs out there that TLOL readers know about that could be approached. How about offering to do displays at Historical Organizations and libraries in different areas that our members know about or belong to? Print is a wonderful way of communicating (I'm still old fashioned enough to believe that) but word of mouth and displays are too.
Each display should be accompanied by a professionally done poster telling about the Club - just a few short sentences - and how to get in touch. I know that local libraries frequently have displays of many different antiques, etc. so it's worth a try to contact them.
Julie
P.S. Nancy, your photos of your Christmas displays are beautiful. Those are mighty wonderful pieces even without your beautiful arrangements.
Pat and Walt, you are no slouches either when it comes to decorating. I envy all of you artistic people. And thank you for sharing your photos. Would like to see more.
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That's it for letters for the last two weeks. Next TLOL is next week - January 26. I hope you'll take a moment to send a contribution to the next TLOL. I will not publish a new edition until I have at least a half dozen new letters.
Contributions should be sent to TLOL@aol.com.
Dale
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Publication Schedule
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January 26 - Last Issue for Non-Renewers
February 16 - New Password will be in effect
February 23
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TEA LEAF ONLINE
January 5, 2003
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue.
Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Welcome to another year of Tea Leaf OnLine. You might be interested to know that Tea Leaf OnLine is now being sent to 365 email addresses. Considering that many of those are going to 2-member households, we are able to reach 500-600 members online. As we've said before, we might collect 150-year old china, but we communicate at the modern-day speed of the internet.
Speaking of the internet, we have lots of improvements in store for the website this year. The Technology Committee promises to continue its efforts to publish at least four more historical educational articles to the web and -- BIG NEWS -- for those who just can't wait to get their Tea Leaf Readings in the mail, new issues will be posted (as PDF files) to the website the same time they are mailed from the printer. So you'll get your printed copy as always, but be able to access Readings online, too. Thanks to Chris Weinbrenner, Readings Editor, for making this happen!
BUT, the TeaLeafClub.com password will be changing on February 1 and you will only be provided with the new passwords if you renew your membership by that date. Renewal forms were mailed to all members around Thanksgiving. If you have not returned yours, please DO IT NOW. If you have misplaced your membership form and need renewal instructions, quickly contact
Peg Schilling, TLCI Membership Records
3615 SW 13th St.
Des Moines, IA 50315
515-282-7778
TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES
Welcome new members...
Welcome to lots of new 2003 members!
David Menke, OH Maggie Kennedy, OH Louis & Mary Beth Jung Ganser, CT Janice & Joseph Spaulding, IN Frank & Amy Huber, WI Email address changes...
Jeanette Allard's current email address Undeliverable email addresses...
(These members are being removed from the TLOL mailing list. If anyone has new addresses for them, please let us know ASAP.)
DISCUSSION TOPIC
DISCUSSION TOPIC: CLUB PUBLICITY
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Kyle Husfloen our Publicity Chair sends press releases about our Convention to many national magazines. One of the magazines asked Kyle if we ever advertise the Convention. The cost of a small ad was not prohibitive. Do you think the club should advertise? What should be featured in an ad? The Convention? The club by itself? Special events such as a club auction or estate sale? What information should be included in the ad? How much should the club spend on advertising?
Do you have any ideas about publicizing the club?
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Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution
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CLUB AND CONVENTION NEWS
Membership
See above regarding renewals.
Regional Meetings
Several 2003 Regional Dates are Now Available! Mark your calendars now. Please review this regional schedule and let Regional Chair Charla Warner know if you'd like to select a date or volunteer to host a meeting for your region.
SEEN ON
HUGE TEABERRY PUNCH BOWL
(UNMARKED, PROBABLY JF - JACOB FURNIVAL)
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Seller's Description
This large unusual 6 x 10" bowl is panelled and in good condition. There is a tight line that runs 2.5" into the base and 3.5" across the base.
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MEAKIN FISHHOOK SAUCE TUREEN AND LADLE (NO STAND)
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Seller's Description
This "Tea Leaf" ironstone sauce tureen and ladle was potted by Alfred Meakin, c1890, in the fishhook body shape. The tureen measures 6" long (7 3/4" with the handles) and stands 4 1/2" high. The matching ladle measures 5 5/8" at the handle, with a cup of 2 5/8" diameter. The set is in excellent condition. There is a very faint 1/2" hairline at the opening of the lid that does not go through to the underside. The base and ladle are without chips or cracks. The copper lustre is intact on the lid although there is some loss on the base and ladle. There are areas of fine crazing, barely visible. Altogether a wonderful set!
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ELSMORE & FORSTER TWO-BLUES CERES SUGAR BOWL
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Seller's Description
I am not sure if this is a cracker jar, I hope someone in ebay world will help with this piece, wonderful ebayer informed me this is a piece from Staffordshire England and is a sugar bowl from the 1850's. It measures 8 1/2" tall to top of lid, and handle to handle is about 8". This is more of a pottery but goes with flow blue to a tee. The bottom mark is a circle with a rope around it and in the edge it says Elsmore & Forster and under that it says Ceres shape on the bottom of the circle it has Tunstall, in the center it has the English registry mark as seen in the Kovels book of marks. The top of the English mark it has the circle IV which is material=ceramic, on the left of the diamond it has the letter K which is month and that is November, top of the diamond has the letter m which is 1859, on the right of the diamond it has the #2 which is the day, and the bottom of the diamond has a 3 which is the code for the person or company that registered the piece.. so according to this mark this piece was registered on November 2, 1859 was when this piece was registered. I do hope all that makes since. Also so on the bottom it has the # 11 and the #4 impressed. This piece does have some staining and a chip on the inside edge where the lid goes, cannot be seen with lid on. Still nice shape for being over a hundred years old. The handles have no cracks nor does the lid top. The blues are wonderful. Great Victorian piece.
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CLEMENTSON ELEGANCE TEABERRY EWER
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Seller's Description
This is a real beauty—graceful and nicely adorned. It has a copper luster Tea Leaf pattern on both sides, a wide copper luster band around the top and a smaller one around the bottom, in addition to the raised pattern and copper luster decoration on the handle. The mark on the bottom reads: “Royal Ironstone, Clementson Brothers, England.” It stands 12.5 inches high at the lip and at the tip of the handle. At the widest part of the body, and at the widest part of the handle, it is 8 inches wide. There are no chips or cracks, but it is crazed all over and has some discoloration. The base has some shelf wear.
Originally, this would have stood in a basin on a wash stand in the guest bedroom. Too bad the basin didn't survive. I can't trace the entire history, but I know where it's been for about 50 years. I'm certain that it was already an antique when it went into storage. My best guess is that it is somewhere between 100 and 150 years old.
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INTRODUCTIONS
If you haven't submitted a profile yet, please think about sending one soon.
|
Here's a new Tea Leaf OnLine feature for us to try out. Click on your City/State location and leave a brief "Hello" for other TLOLers. Give it a try and keep checking back as more people leave messages.
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LETTERS
New Year greetings from Nancy, plus she's posted an interesting classified ad...
Greetings to our Tea Leafy friends. We wish you a happy and healthy new year and peace and prosperity for our country. Not much going on in the Upchurch household. No recent Tea Leaf finds to report. We went to Williamsburg (not a source of Tea Leaf!) a couple of weeks before Christmas. Williamsburg is one of our favorite haunts, we've been visiting there since the 1950s. Having seen all the buildings and shops many times in the past, we now purchase museum-only tickets. I love the changing ceramics exhibits at the DeWitt Wallace Museum; Don's favorite is the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum. While at the DeWitt Wallace, we attended a demonstration on how the special holiday decorations are made. Being inspired, I bought a book on the subject and tried it out at home. Since I couldn't count on Burnsville grocery stores stocking baby pineapples and tiny lady apples, I purchased these in Williamsburg. Here's the results:
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In my Thistle & Berry and Pinwheel tureen bases, I thought the designs looked pretty nice for an amateur! Sorry the photo is so dark - there's alot of wood in our little mountain retreat.
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My only great find this past fall was a Clementson 4 pc. soup tureen in the New York Shape body style. It's decorated with cobalt plumes and copper lustre and it's a real showpiece. Alas, I must sell it so I've listed it in the TLOL classified section. If this description sparks your interest, please check out the ad. The price is negotiable.
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Oh yes, I did make one other purchase last October. I've been looking for a Gothic Teaberry sugar bowl for years and years. Lo and behold, I found one in a mall in Eastern North Carolina, an area not known as a source for Tea Leaf. It's damaged but that doesn't bother me because it looks so beautiful with the teapot and creamer that I've had for years. Occasionally, you do win one!
Nancy
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We received an email this week from the National Association of Collectors and the Association
of Collecting Clubs...
We are pleased to inform you that the Tea Leaf Club International is currently our featured club website on the home page of http://collectors.org - the official website of the National Association of Collectors and the Association of Collecting Clubs.
Larry Krug & Rick Moses
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Maxine & Gerald send...
Happy New Year to our Tea Leaf Family.
The renewals are still arriving & as of 12/27/02 our total membership is 464 including 13 new members. I've had several requests for membership brochures which means we are getting the word out to the public. Approximately 3 years ago I sent a membership brochure to an editor of a magazine because she had written an article mentioning her small collection of Tea Leaf. Guess what. I received her membership application last week. She found our website & I was delighted even if it did take 3 years to gain her membership.
Remember, Dale will change the user ID & password to TLOL Feb. 1, 2003. I know you don't want to miss a single issue of TLOL so please send your renewal today.
Santa was very good to me. Just a few of the things he gave me was cookware (hint, hint, always looking out for his tummy) & the most exciting gift was a Hill Shape (Medallion Scroll) sugar bowl. Thank you Santa!!!. A surprise package from very good friends in Iowa arrived at our door right before Christmas & it was the lid to our Johnson Bros. Acanthus butter dish. Linda McElwee & I battled over that butter bottom a few years ago at an auction & now it is complete.
Happy New Year.
Gerald & Maxine
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Nice to hear from John M...
I would like to wish everyone a most happy and prosperous New Year! Also, thank you to all for the many good wishes and prayers that were sent my way over the past year...they were very much appreciated. I'm back to working a full time schedule and have been given a clean bill of health by my doctors...life is normal again.
The idea of combining a Tea Leaf auction with a with a white ironstone auction makes a lot of sense to me. I also agree that they should be held at two opposite times of the year so as not to interfere with each other.
There has been very little Tea Leaf to see around these parts, but I did recently find a Tobacco Leaf covered vegetable with a tiny chip at a flea market for approx. $20.00. The man said he did not know what it was but he
was sure that it was old!
Happy Hunting to All in 2003,
John Meneghini
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Right before the holidays, Vic & Peggy wrote...
This letter is a little early as we are off to Florida right after Christmas. We wanted to inform you of the loss of one of our members, Ruby Webb of Cincinnati, who passed away October 16. From going through her Readings it looked like she had been a member since 1996 and attended at least two conventions and may not have renewed her membership for 2002. We know nothing about her other than she is survived by at least one son, Jim Matacia. She had a modest collection of Tea Leaf that was sold at the estate auction we attended recently. No other Tea Leaf members were there, so we came home with a few pieces. But our most prized possession from the estate was a beautiful large walnut cupboard/secretary that now holds our Tobacco Leaf and Pepper Leaf collection.
Best wishes to all in the New Year and may it be filled with Tea Leaf,
Peggy & Vic Regnaud
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Received some wonderful holiday photos from the Stevens...
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Here are a few pictures of Tea Leaf in a Christmas mode. The first picture is a centerpiece of two compotes, one atop the other in an under tray. The second picture is a Chinese tea set, Note the difference in the two waste bowls. They are different sizes, one has the Tea Leaf on the inside and the shapes are slightly different. Which bowl matches the set? The larger one seems closer in shape but it's size is out of proportion. The third picture is of a Livesly & Powell Wrapped Sydenham tea set and in the background a Laurel Wreath. Fourth picture is Tea Leaf in the tree.
Walt
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Regarding the Discussion Topic, Mae Jean observes...
Yes,Yes, Yes, There have to be many out there that have little or no knowledge of Tea Leaf Club. This just another way of spreading the word.
Mae Jean
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And, finally, an auction announcement from Terrell...
On May 10, 2003 Keith and Ruth Wilcox will be offering at public auction, their complete collection of Tea Leaf.
Moving from their thirty room Iowa home necessitates the 800 to 1000 piece dispersal. Auction to be held at our city park building. The banquet room is not available so we will be in the air-conditioned recreation room. Lots of space, nice restrooms, lunch counter and plenty of seating and tables.
A preview will be held on Friday the 9th from 1 PM to 4:45. Also inspection beginning 7:30 day of sale. Auction will begin at 10 AM Indiana time. Woodridge Inn motel, 765-825-4800, mention Tea Leaf auction for reduced rate. Also available is a reasonable older motel, The Heim, 765-825-5118. This is north of the Woodridge. More information will be available in the March Readings. Updates will be posted on TLOL as it becomes available.
Ruth attended her first convention in 1987. She and Keith have also hosted regionals, therefore, some of you are aware of what this auction has to offer. Plan now to attend and support our Tea Leaf family! The Wilcoxs extends a personal invitation to all of you. They themselves have attended 3 of 4 of our members public auctions in the past 4 years.
Thank you, Terrell Medd
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That's it for letters for the week. Next TLOL is in two weeks - January 19. I hope you'll take a moment to send a contribution to the next TLOL. Contributions should be sent to TLOL@aol.com.
Dale
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Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.
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Publication Schedule
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January 19
January 26 - Last Issue for Non-Renewers
February 16 - New Password will be in effect
February 23
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