Back Issues - January-March 2001

Tea Leaf Club International | Additional Tea Leaf OnLine Back Issues

	TEA LEAF ONLINE March 25, 2001
	Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.

A couple more member profiles this week but there are still over 100 of you who haven't sent yours in yet!

TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES

New email address for Don & Bev Ament

The Tea Leaf Club now has 905 members worldwide

Help us reach our goal of 1,001 in 2001

One way you can help is to convert your Single membership to a Family membership.

If you paid $20 to join the Club or renew your membership, did you know that for $5 more,

your spouse or significant other can be listed as a member, too.

Even at $25, your membership is still a bargain!

Contact membership chair Maxine Johnson to upgrade your membership.

DISCUSSION TOPIC

TOPIC: INTRODUCTIONS
Please write a brief paragraph introducing yourself to the Tea Leaf OnLine group. Items might include where you're from, when and why you started collecting, favorite Tea Leaf items, most wanted piece(s), best Tea Leaf memories, etc. If you have a photo you'd like to include with your intro please feel free to forward it.	Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution

TEA LEAF PUZZLER

Maxine Johnson sends this week's Puzzler...

Seen on eBay this week...a Tea Leaf Lid

Can you identify the potter and the body style?

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

"Country Living: Children's China"

By Bruce Johnson

http://countryliving.women.com/cl/collecting/cabinet/99kids11.htm

SEEN ON

FURNIVAL "ROOSTER" GRAVY BOAT

Seller's Description

Rectangular shape tea leaf gravy boat with an almost serpent like handle finial. Nice tipped up lip and six small tab feet.

Condition is great with no crazing or chipping and only small pin point size "rust" dots. Not many of those either.

Base has large lion and unicorn mark with T. Furnival & sons England in banners.

Good lustre but they made a small smear to the rim on one side. It does not detract from the looks of the piece at all.

FURNIVAL "ROOSTER" COVERED VEG
	Seller's Description This small tureen or covered vegetable is a mate to the Furnival gravy boat I have listed this week. Double dolphin head handles on the sides and on the lid. All over fine underglaze crazing with some staining to the inside rim of the base. Lustre is good with little wear. Measurements are: 10 1/8" handle to handle, 6" wide and 4 1/2" high with lid on.

ADAMS MICRATEX EGG CUPS
	Seller's Description These 4" tall pieces are in excellent condition. They are marked on the bottom: ADAMS MICRATEX ENGLAND. Buyer pays S/H. Please view my other TEA LEAF auctions and save on shipping.

FIVE TOBACCO LEAF BREAD & BUTTER PLATES

Seller's Description

Tea Leaf Lustre Dessert Plates.

You are bidding on five (5) Tobacco Leaf Lustre Desert Plates. They measure 7.5" in diameter. The Tobacco Leaf pattern measures 2" across. Two have the logo "Elsmore & Forster, Gothic Shape, Tunstall". The other three have a logo that says "Elsmore & Forster, Tunstall". They are in nice condition, with some discoloration.

This is an interesting lot, because of the Gothic Shape attribution. We've not seen this mark before on Tobacco Leaf pieces and, in fact, we've not formerly attributed this shape to Elsmore & Forster at all. So here's another update for your Tea leaf Handbook. I wrote to the seller who was kind enough to send a photo of the mark.

This is interesting not only to Tea Leaf collectors, but Bev & Ernie are interested in the find for white ironstone collectors, too. They write...

On eBay, we checked out the Elsmore & Forster tobacco leaf luster plates that are marked Gothic Shape. As far as we (including Jean Wetherbee) knew there was no Gothic shape by E&F! Also they appear to be plain round. Cockson & Chetwynd did a plain round shape and named it Gothic shape. Those potters could not have known or cared how they were "diddling" with our minds by naming plain round ironstone China Gothic shape. Having said that, has any one seen Gothic shaped covered pieces by E&F? With or without luster, we would like photos.

Ernie & Bev

eBay Misnomer of the Week...

Seller wrote:

RARE TEA LEAF IRONSTONE (6) CHILDREN'S PLATES

"Recently purchased from the estate of a 93 year old retired antiques dealer I am auctioning these six rare TEA LEAF ironstone 3 1/2" children's plates all for one price. They ARE NOT BUTTER PATS."

[They may not be butter pats, but they're not children's dishes either! I wrote to the seller telling him that these were cup plates, not child's plates, and he thanked me for the info and promised to correct the listing. Unfortunately, he didn't. Fortunately, just last week in TLOL we wrote about cup plates vs. children's plates so TLOLers shouldn't be fooled by the seller's description. DA]

LETTERS

Hi, we're Walt & Pat Stevens

Hi. We are the Stevens from Spamtown USA. To find us on the map follow Interstate 90 halfway between La Crosse WI and Sioux Falls SD until you see Austin MN. Our tea Leaf collecting started when Pat's mother suggested Adams reproduction Tea Leaf as our china. We periodically bought place settings of Adams until they stopped producing it. At this point Tea Leaf was just something we ate from on Sundays. The next stop on our journey to being collectors was an opportunity to buy 75 assorted pieces of 19th Century Tea Leaf from a dealer. We did and though ourselves fortunate to have so much TL. Our collecting epiphany came in 1990 when we attended our 1st Convention, which was held in Kansas City. We had no idea that there was so many varieties of Tea Leaf and that there was so much for sale. This experience put us on the path of being active Tea Leaf collectors and members of the Club. We have been early participants of TLOL. We try to send messages with some regularity because we know that TLOL depends on input from all.

The Stevens

Hi, I'm Julie Rich

I feel kind of funny writing to tell you who I am because I've been around for so long and sound off so much, I thought everyone knew who Julie Rich is. However, I've several times encountered people who say "Julie Who??". This is kind of bruising to my ego but I recover. I have been a member since l981 and just missed Charter Member by 3 months. It's been the bane of my existence ever since. I attended my first Convention in Rockford, Ill in l981 and have not missed one since. At that one I was made Corresponding Secretary which also included editing the newsletter. At that Convention the newsletter was named - Tea Leaf Readings. Later, the Editor became an entity aside from the secretary position. Editor Chris Weinbrenner succeeded me in 1996 but they made me Editor Emeritus. Tea Leaf and the Tea Leaf Club have become my passion. My collection really started with my mother back in the late 1920's. I was an only child and inherited her collection to add to my own. It's just grown and grown and grown! My expertise is American Tea Leaf. Annise introduced me to it at my first Convention and has guided me ever since, bestowing all of her American information on me when she semi-retired from active participation in collecting, writing and working with the Club.

Hi, I'm Margaret Mitchell

Hi: From Margaret Mitchell, Dayton, Ohio.

I joined Tea Leaf International in l985. Found an article about Tea Leaf in the Antique Week newspaper and gave it to my friend, Tina Lotz, because I knew she collected Tea Leaf ironstone. She immediately joined the group and when she showed me a copy of her Tea Leaf Readings, I was impressed with all the valuable

information contained in her copy--so I joined also. I'm originally from Des Moines, Iowa and truly wanted to go to the convention the first time it was held in Cedar Rapids. However, my husbands business convention coincided with the same time of the year that Tea Leaf had their convention, so we couldn't attend. When Ken retired from Sales in the Automotive Aftermarket field, we finally attended our first

convention in Columbus, Ohio in l998. We were "off and running" and have attended since then with our friends, Dave and Tina Lotz and plan to be at French Lick. We have lived in Oklahoma, Texas, California, Chicago, Toledo and finally Dayton. Ohio has always felt like my life in Iowa--friendly people and the Tea

Leafers are no exception. We have twin daughters (one lives in Atlanta and has four children, her sister lives in Cincinnati and is a CPA), and a son and daughter-in-law that live in Washington, D.C..Hope the new members on line (and off) enjoy the group as much as we do.

Sincerely, Margaret

Hi, we're Bev & Ernie Dieringer

We are Ernie and Bev Dieringer. Most know us as the editors of the White Ironstone Notes. We, along with a dozen other Easterners are Founding Members of WICA. Eight years ago Jean Wetherbee suggested we call Dale Abrams for guidance on how to organize it. He made it so much easier for us, with extensive advice and by sending a copy of the TLCI Officers Manual. ( Also we were added to the extensive list of TLCI members Dale has recruited). Bill Byers, William Miller, Chris Weinbrenner and most of all Julie Rich were essential advisers on how to do a newsletter. We are so grateful to all the TLCI members who were encouraging and became Charter Members of WICA. Years ago in Chicago (1958) Ernie brought plain White Ironstone to the marriage. He also knew people that had collections of tea leaf. One, whose name escapes us, lived in an early Victorian Frank Lloyd Wright house on Chicago's south side. It looked great with all the Craftsman style woodwork and furniture. We bought Tea Leaf then and brought it east with us to NYC where we lived raising three daughters and worked as artists for 10 years. After moving to CT into real antique country we couldn't find Tea leaf but were overwhelmed by all of the wonderful white shapes. There were no Tea Leaf collectors in CT. We sold it all (70 pieces) in 1988 for 1958 prices after it sat in a friends shop for three years. The White stuff we gathered till we became dealers, and till our children got married. A set of two hundred and fifty pieces if E&F Ceres went to one and another got as many Pieces of LOV as part of their dowry. We also collect flow-blue brushstroke and have a few pieces of copper luster, mulberry, transfer ware, quilts and Thonet bentwood furniture.

Hi, we're Woody Birch, Lee Reineke and Glen Tull

Hello, I'm Woody Birch, there are actually three Tea Leafers at this address. Myself, Lee Reineke and Glen Tull. We all three work in the same business here in Creston Iowa. While we all collect tea leaf in some form or other, we also collect lots of other things. We live in the "home of compulsive behavior" as those of you who attended regional here last year observed.

I began my tea leaf adventure with my great grandmother's Meakin Bamboo, I now have almost a full set for twelve inc. serving pieces and a bath set. Along the way I've become sort of a tea set collector, I now have fourteen sets of at least teapot, sugar and creamer in different tea leaf or copper lustre types and quite a few more teapots to complete. Glen likes children's pieces and pitchers. Lee's favorite right now is pinwheel, which he and his mother are working hard to collect for her kitchen. The three of us are in charge of the gravy boat display at French Lick Springs this Sept. and would like to take this opportunity to ask all of you to help. If you have gravy boats (or "sauce boats" since we're puttin' on the ritz) you would like to share for this display please let us know and bring them with you to convention. We hope to make this an interesting and fun display for everyone to enjoy and with your help we will. We can be contacted at wbirch@xxx.xxx thanks for your help.

Hi, we're Bev & Don Ament

We are Don and Bev. Ament from Yorkville, IL. Our ancestors go back more than 150 yrs. in Kendall county. We joined the Tea Leaf Club in 1986 having a collection of 1 egg cup purchased at a cousins auction. You will usually find us helping out in the Giftique and of late one of us with registration. By the way our new e-mail address is now DonBev5@xxx.xxx. See you all in French Lick in Sept. We have made our reservations have you???

Hi, I'm Dale Abrams

I'm a Charter Member of the Tea Leaf Club and, along with Dick Brackin, am one of two Tea Leafers with perfect Convention attendance -- 21 in all...and counting. I've been involved with the Tea Leaf Club in a variety of positions -- board member, officer, inaugural Giftique chair, ESA selection committee, Education Committee member and former Chair, and have had intimate involvement with every single one of the last 20 conventions. Oh, and webmaster. Who would have thought 21 years ago that there would even be such a thing as the Internet?

I first became interested in Tea Leaf because of Dick's passion for this wonderful china. As long as I was tagging along to conventions and regional meetings with Dick I decided I'd like to collect, too. Early in my collecting career I discovered Variants and am glad I started buying them when others weren't as interested. While I do have a fairly extensive collection of early Tea Leaf, most of my collection is devoted to Variants. The focus of my collecting is on Tea Leaf of the early years (1850s and 1860s). In fact, I'm probably one of the only Tea Leafers who doesn't won a single piece of Alfred Meakin's later wares. The only body style that I'm trying to build a full set of is Shaw's Chinese Shape.

I live in Columbus, Ohio, right at the crossroads of I70 (East/West) and I71 (North/South) and am always interested in having Tea Leafers visit on their travels. While I do sell some TL, I'm not by any means a full-time dealer. My "day job" is as a computer consultant to nonprofit organizations, designing and implementing computerized database systems to manage clients, donors, volunteers, members, subscribers, etc.

I think Tea Leaf is wonderful, but as much as the dishes, I appreciate all the wonderful collectors I've met and friends I've made over the last two decades. Come visit!

- - - - - - - - - -

Marie teased us last week with the mention of an auction, and writes...

Okay, okay... here's the real scoop. We did go to an auction in Sedalia, Missouri where they had BOTH Tea Leaf & Blue Ridge. We did see Sandy & Dan Widder, Dan's sister Vivian Moore, a new member with the last name of Myer (but I'm not sure how it's spelled and I can't find anything in the copy of the directory I have), and another couple who I believe are in the club but I don't know their names. As always, it was good to see fellow Tea Leaf lovers and we had a good time talking to everyone.

Only a few good items were up for auction and none of them were in the spectacular category. Nearly everything had some damage ranging from minor to disastrous. None of this stopped us from coming home with a box full of goodies. Our favorites were a cable sugar bowl that is bigger than the one we had at home and a Rooster platter.

The Blue Ridge wasn't spectacular either, but we also bought for resale. I did get one beautiful cabin plate for a meager $5.00 which was the highlight of the auction for me.

We had a terrific time as we do anytime we get to buy Tea Leaf! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Due to Mike's business travel plans, I won't be coming with him to the midyear meeting. I'll miss seeing you all but I hope to catch up at the Heartland Regional in April.

See you soon,

Marie

- - - - - - - - - -

Bev & Ernie have discovered a new reference book...

We have just been given a Shire Pub. (pocket size) book by Robert Copeland, Titled Ceramic Bygones and unusual domestic pottery. It answers so many questions about their use and why particular ceramic things were made. The spoon warmer was made to keep the fat from the gravy from congealing on the cold silver ladle. Hot water plates were part of dinner sets and were regularly used for slow eaters to keep their food warm. Well & Tree platers were for serving the juice of the roast meats, but those meat dishes (platers) with liners were for boiled meats or fish from which the drained water was not served.

A Columbia Shape well & tree plater is shown with a liner in Jean Wetherbee book showing the efficient combination of the two by the mid nineteenth century. Those crescent shape bone dishes we always put with the serving of fish were salad dishes shaped to keep the salad separate from the main course and fitted to the edge of the plate! Those reticulated Chestnut bowls were also strawberry servers (Dresden Baskets) especially if the bottom had drainer holes and a (stand) undertray. Small flatter reticulated dishes with stands were watercress or strawberry servers.

There are so many more interesting things for the serving and making of food, and also for the library, bedroom, sick room, the dairy, the conservatory. Did you know that the drawing room was previously called a withdrawing room, to which ladies withdrew from the table after dinner? To quote Copeland, "A parlor maid would bring in a tray of chamber pots (covered with a cloth) and lay them out on the floor in a semi circle for the ladies to squat while they talked. (Maybe this is the origin of the ladies' circle.) Then a ewer and basin were provided for them to wash their hands. Meanwhile a similar ritual was performed in the dining room by the gentlemen."

The ewers, basins and chamber pots used in the drawing room were much more richly decorated and not for under a bed but for the dining or drawing room and would match that of the "garniture" i.e. Fancy side board vases for potpourri and flowers. Obviously incense burners abound as well as potpourri. We should all give thanks every day for bathrooms. We highly recommend this little book. Shire Publications, Cromwell House, Church Street, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire HP27 9AA,UK or Email: http://www.shirebooks.co.uk/

Ernie & Bev

PS got the TLReadings just now and thank Nancy, Dale and Chris for the Education publications in this issue. Nancy, we loved the Pouring Vessels nomenclature. And the Tobacco/Pepper Leaf questions we have been carrying around in our heads were all answered!

- - - - - - - - - -

That's it for letters this week.

Remember, there's no TLOL next week. The Officers and Board members of the Club are meeting on March 31 in Indianapolis. If you've got any pressing items you'd like discussed, please contact Club President Denny Kear and ask him to put it on the agenda. You can find Denny's email address on the Officers page of the Tea Leaf Club Members-Only section.

Next TLOL is Sunday, April 8.

Dale

Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.

Publication Schedule

April 1- NO TLOL

April 8 - Yes

April 15 - Yes

April 22 - Yes

April 29 - Yes

	TEA LEAF ONLINE March 18, 2001
	Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.

A couple more member profiles this week but there are still over 100 of you who haven't sent yours in yet!

Please take a moment to introduce yourself to the group and help make Tea Leaf OnLine interesting and valuable. I think these bios are so interesting that I've added a permanent new TLOL page to make this information more readily available.

TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES

Donna Turner has a new email address

David Kile has a new email address

Terrell and Phyllis Medd are now online

A special welcome to our very first Hawaiian Tea Leaf OnLiner Diane Radcliffe

Also new to our OnLine group this week are Lou & Dwayne Burhans (OH), Stan Vogelsang (CA), Vicki Ross (OH), Lib & Tom McPherson (NC) and Shirley Brown (OH), Mary Deppe & Jim Gnade (WI) and Jane & Gerald Berwald (IA). WELCOME ONE AND ALL!

Not only is the Tea Leaf OnLine membership growing, but the Club is well on its way to meeting it's goal of 1001 members in 2001.

The Tea Leaf Club now has 905 members worldwide

DISCUSSION TOPIC

TOPIC: INTRODUCTIONS
Please write a brief paragraph introducing yourself to the Tea Leaf OnLine group. Items might include where you're from, when and why you started collecting, favorite Tea Leaf items, most wanted piece(s), best Tea Leaf memories, etc. If you have a photo you'd like to include with your intro please feel free to forward it.	Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution

TEA LEAF PUZZLER

Maxine Johnson sends this week's Puzzler...

Seen on eBay this week...a Tea Leaf Lid

Can you identify the potter and the body style?

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

"Simply Ironstone: Classic design of 19th-century tableware inspires collectors"

By Joy Krause

http://www.jsonline.com/homes/interior/apr00/iron09040500.asp?format=print

SEEN ON

W&E Corn Coffeepot
	Seller's Description This beautiful Ironstone teapot from the W & E Corn. Company in England. The teapot is made more beautiful with the addition of 14K gold tealeaves and trim. 9.5 in. tall, no cracks, no crazing no chips. Slight wear on the gold on the handle. Very good condition.

New York Shape Teaberry Coffeepot

Seller's Description

This is a fantastic ironstone tea leaf "Teaberry" pattern coffee pot, (I believe this pattern is Teaberry) unmarked as to maker. The lustre is perfect and shiny. There is lustre decoration on the handle and spout. I love the finial decoration. Please see the photos. The embossed design on the pot is a large leaf. Pieces of this quality are fast disappearing from the marketplace. Don't miss out on this one!!!

Measurements: 10 1/2" high and 8 1/4" from edge of handle to tip of spout.

Condition: NO CHIPS, CRACKS, STAINS OR REPAIRS. The spout and handle are sound. The finial is perfect. There is an under the glaze number "450" painted in lustre. I believe this is the "painter's mark". This is fresh to the market from a N.C. estate.

New York Shape Teaberry Sugar Bowl

Seller's Description

This is the matching sugar bowl to the coffee pot I have listed this week. Please see my other auctions. This is a fantastic ironstone tea leaf "Teaberry" pattern sugar bowl. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE TEABERRY PATTERN. There is no maker's mark, although you can see the slight indention of the "bunch mark" on just the sugar bowl. It is impossible to read it...but it is there. The lustre decoration is perfect and shiny. There is lustre decoration on the handles. I love the finial decoration. The embossed design on the body of the sugar is a large leaf. Pieces of this quality are fast disappearing from the marketplace. It is becoming almost impossible to find both the coffee pot and sugar bowl matching in this condition. Don't miss out on this set!!! I think they were cabinet pieces and not used. Measurements: 8 1/2" high and approximately 6 1/4" across handle to handle.

Condition: NO CHIPS, CRACKS, STAINS OR REPAIRS. The body is sound as is the finial and handles. This is fresh to the market from a N.C. estate.

Wheat in the Meadow Rose Oval Cake Plate
	Seller's Description Very Old Ironstone Powell And Bishop Plate In good condition

LETTERS

Hi, I'm Karen Searle

I am Karen Searle form Atlanta, Ga. This is my second year in the club. I started collecting tea leaf when my mother found several pieces in my great aunt's house in Cleveland, Ohio about 10 years ago. She was going to give it to Goodwill. I liked it so well, she gave it to me instead. I particularly like Alfred Meakin Bamboo pieces and inherited a few dishes with cups, a sugar and creamer, a platter, and a vegetable dish. I recently purchased a chamber pot and platter. My mother in law recently gave me her mother's "play" dishes that seem to be some variant of tea leaf. I don't really know because I can't read all that is on the bottom. I can only make out Stoke on Trent. Does any know if they made some variant of tea leaf? The dishes are white with a brown leaf of some kind. It looks alot like lily of the valley. I love to look for antiques and now am an avid tea leaf collector. I intend to come to the convention in September. I think this is addictive!

Hi, I'm Ellyn Wilkoff

I am Ellyn Wilkoff and discovered the club about a year ago on line. I have decided that I am a Tea Leaf "appreciator" and not a collector because I have trouble managing stuff. I do enjoy the decorating tips from convention, newsletters and on line. I am working toward a project of my own, acquiring square nappies and oval bakers to display on a plate rail in my laundry room.

The knowledge base, friendliness and desire of club members to communicate well are the things I most appreciate.

- - - - - - - - - -

First letter this week comes from Mike & Marie Compton...

Mike had an exciting experience last week. He was staying in Egham outside of London for meetings and he and a colleague had an hour and decided to take a walk. As they were strolling through the town, they passed a small resale shop and something in the window caught Mike's eye! You guessed it - Tea Leaf! Sitting in the window and piled high with other merchandise was an oblong, about 10" X 14" Alfred Meakin platter! There is Tea Leaf in England after all! Of course, the corner had a huge chip out of it but it was marked down to 1.72 GBP - or about $3!! Mike did not purchase it but it made his day to have actually seen tea leaf in the UK!

This week was spent in Washington - and shop as we may in Maryland and Virginia, we found no tea leaf. Of course, staying in the National Archives for three days researching our families may have impeded this effort (not to mention work) - we only antiqued one day!! You have to have priorities when in Washington!

Take care,

Mike & Marie

- - - - - - - - - -

From Margaret Payne...

Just a note or two from this nice, warm climate--tho we did have a couple of cool days. As soon as the sun comes out, Victoria does, too, and it is past 70 before you know it.

We had a wonderful time at the Florida Regional--a very well-planned and executed Regional, with many people participating. Gene and Betty have been hosts for 2 years in a row and if it meant getting to go to their house, I would almost cast a vote to make this a permanent location! There was so much wonderful tea leaf that it defies description. Gene told me I could photograph anything that I thought was special, but I didn't have a whole case of film. Besides, I was so dazzled that I forgot to even reload the camera. The people in Florida have such a warm feeling foe each other and extend this to the many snowbirds who come their way. Good food, good company, and great Tea Leaf--what more could you want? Bob and Anita Montgomery were there and have agreed to act as hosts for the Great Lakes Regional, as Don Hahn had written that he would not be able to do it this year, but we can look forward to next year for him. The Montgomerys will get everything in place and let us know all the details when they return to Ohio.

On the subject of letting everyone know--Denny Kear mentioned the fact that suggestions for Regional hosts did not include sending an invitation to officers and board members. I know that Linda ordinarily includes addresses for these folks in the group of labels that she sends out and I presume that this was true this year. However, due to the increase in postage and the fact that all officers and board members have e-mail, it would be appropriate for regional hosts who also have e-mail to send an invitation by this means, including the basic details. This would really put Regionals into the 21st century, save time and costs for the hosts and make it possible for a quick reply. I would hope that everyone receiving such an invitation would be courteous enough to reply, make the necessary arrangements if they plan to attend, and be very prompt in doing this. Most of us read our e-mail daily or at least every two or three days, so you may want to pick up on this idea and see how it works. If you need this before the new directory comes out, you will find many in last year's directory and I am sure Dale or Linda would publish a list of the appropriate addresses if we asked nicely. Is this nicely enough??

I will be looking forward to TLOL and hearing from any of you. I know this sounds more like IN, but it is TX. No tea leaf in Victoria and none on the way down, except a couple of nice MT butter pats at the Regional and lots of everything at the Burgers, but we had to check our backpacks at the door.

- - - - - - - - - -

Dick Brackin has returned to Hong Kong from a month's stay in Virginia and writes...

I am back in Hong Kong safely and on time last evening. I even did not have a terrible trip although it was 20 hours totally from Norfolk 16 from Chicago to HK. I was upgraded for the first time on a long trip to business class, so I was able to rest a significant part of the trip.

I am writing because since I awoke at 5 A.M. decided that I should do something productive until I have to get ready to go to the office--I have orientation for spring term this afternoon and much to accomplish before

then.

One of the first things which I did was to check eBay and found another delightful misnomer. One of the more recent consignments is listed as a "Teaberry plate"--it is a lovely Morning Glory plate. I did not take the time to inform the consignor--I figure that Juliehoo will do that if and when she sees it! :-)

I have not written since I had lunch here in Tsim Sha Tsui with Joey and Bill Bear--a delightful time. I am looking forward to seeing the Chrismans when they are here later in the year. I hope that Chris is keeping a good

record of all these Tea Leafers who are becoming visitors to the Pacific Rim. BTW, my sister and brother-in-law have had to cancel their trip next week. On their way north from Naples, Harry had another cardiac episode and ended up in hospital in Atlanta. The time that they would have spent here and in Japan will be spent there. They are fortunate that their son, Steven, lives in Marietta, GA.

While I was waiting one day for Sally in some office or another, I picked up a Southern Living magazine and read a delightful article on Magnolia Springs. I wonder if the Gaines have their mail delivered via a motorboat on the canal? I was able to visit a few shops and malls in Norfolk, but nary a piece of Tea Leaf to be seen--not even the usual plate or platter!!! :-(

Enough...BIG HUGS...Dick

- - - - - - - - - - -

Bill Smith sent the following photo and question...

Is this a Shaw Lily-of-the-Valley child's plate? It's 4 1/8" in diameter.

[I wrote back to Bill to let him know that this is a cup plate, not a plate to a LOV child's set. DA]

Bill later wrote back and asked "I HAVE 4 OF THE LOV CUP PLATES. I THOUGHT ANYTHING OVER 4" WAS NOT A CUP PLATE, AND ASSUMED THEY HAD TO BE SOMETHING ELSE. WHAT SIZE WOULD A CHILDS PLATE IN THIS PATTERN BE?"

[Bill, In Tea Leaf, you can pretty much use the 5" rule -- if it's 5" it's a child's plate. Less than that is a cup plate. Many potters made cup plates in two sizes and your 4 1/4" plate is definitely not part of a child's set. DA]

- - - - - - - - - -

My personal favorite eBay misnomer this week is this one...

This is an unusual and great-looking white ironstone shaving set, of two pieces! The Octagonal base of the top piece rests on the octagonally-shaped, shallow-welled tray. The handles of the tray are marvelous: crossed twigs which flow onto the tray in a raised design of grape leaves and a bunch of grapes! It is quite beautiful. The tall piece is pierced on the bottom for drainage. It is more crazed than the tray and has a few spots of discoloration. It's 5 5/8" high, and 3 3/8" in diameter at it's base. The tray measures 8 1/8" across, from handle to handle. We think it's for drying a shaving brush and possibly was part of a set, probably Victorian in date. There is a large, English seal on the base of the tray and the letters "J.F."

Ernie writes...

The Antique Ironstone Shaving Set is another Wonderful misnomer! It is a Gothic Shape Brush Vase on a Grape Octagon Sauce Tureen Undertray! I suppose if you like to shave your teeth?!!!!! We have had 14 inches of snow on top of 12 from before. All of those well known CT stone walls are mostly gone from sight! What a winter. We are told we will get more on Friday with no melt. I long for spring!

Ernie

- - - - - - - - - - -

Some notes about potter John Farrall...

Remember that David Kile wrote last week that he had a John Farrall pickle dish? He sent this photo.

Can you identify the Body style? It's Dangling Tulip!

<--- An eBay seller described this coffeepot as:

"Here is a spectacular white ironstone teapot in the Grape Octagon pattern with luster highlights. It stands just under 9 inches tall with the lid, and 5 1/4" across the base. The condition is excellent with no chips, cracks or repairs. There are a couple of slender stress lines in the indentation just above the base. These were done during the firing process. I've tried to show the longest one which measures just under one inch long. It is tight and is on the outer surface only. There is crazing on the lid with very slight staining in the crazing, but the base is very white with no readily seen crazing. There are two circular stripes around the top of the base, and one around the base of the lid. These appear to be black at first glance, but closer examination shows the stripes and other decoration on the pot to be copper luster."

NOTE: You can now add John Farrall as a Grape Octagon potter in your Tea Leaf Handbook.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Marie Compton sent this teaser...

Mike and I saw Sandy & Dan Widder and some other Tea Leaf friends this weekend at an auction in Missouri, but I'll let Mike tell you all about it. (Don't you just hate me now?!)

[Marie, How can you do this to us??? Mike...what's the story? DA]

- - - - - - - - - -

And, lastly, can anyone help Ernie?

We got a new Fig Cousin teapot lid. It measures 4 1/4" X 3 1/4" and would fit a pot with an opening 3 5/8" X 2 5/8". Do you know of the oval shaped Fig Cousin teapot?

Ernie

[Has anyone ever seen a Fig Cousin teapot that would take an oval lid? The only ones I've seen have round lids. DA]

- - - - - - - - - -

That's it for letters this week.

There will be a TLOL next week but the following week we'll take another short break. The Officers and Board members of the Club are meeting on March 31 in Indianapolis. If you've got any pressing items you'd like discussed, please contact Club President Denny Kear and ask him to put it on the agenda. You can find Denny's email address on the Officers page of the Tea Leaf Club Members-Only section.

Next TLOL is Sunday, March 25.

Dale

Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.

Publication Schedule

March 25 - TLOL

April 1- NO TLOL

	TEA LEAF ONLINE March 4, 2001
	Look for the email "splash" throughout this issue. Whenever you see it, you can click it to send a contribution to Tea Leaf OnLine.

More member profiles this week -- thanks to those who are taking the time to write. Please take a moment to introduce yourself to the group and help make Tea Leaf OnLine interesting and valuable. I think these bios are so interesting that I'm going to add a new TLOL page to make this information more permanently available.

TEA LEAF ONLINE MEMBER UPDATES

Margaret Mitchell has a new email address

I also received word from both Maxine and Julie about the passing on long-time Club member Dena Fresh. Maxine writes "Dena Fresh passed away February 23 from complications of pneumonia. Dena had not been a member since 1997 because of poor health, but all of us who knew her will miss her very much. She was a faithful member & hosted one regional when she lived in Bella Vista, Arkansas. She was always the "Bell of the ball" at our Heartland regionals & a very dear friend to Annise." We also received the following email from Dena's granddaughter...

My name is Janna Fields, I'm a new member into the Tea Leaf Club (with my collection of now 4 plates & a covered veg. dish!) and I'm keeping my grandmother's legacy going with her interest in Tea Leaf. Her collection is considerably larger than mine, and I believe some of her pieces did come from her mother.

Unfortunately, my grandmother, Dena Fresh, passed away on February 23, 2001. She was a member of the Tea Leaf Club for as long as I can remember and has hosted a previous regional convention in Bella Vista, Arkansas years ago. She enjoyed her many friendships with Tea Leaf and enjoyed her collection and hunting for rarities. She would have been 90 on March 6th; she passed away from complications of pneumonia in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Her and her husband, Elwyn Fresh, were residents of John Knox Village for the past 4 years. They previously lived in Bella Vista since 1973. She is missed dearly by myself, family, and friends.

I just thought I would let someone in the Tea Leaf organization know; if I've sent this to the wrong people, please forgive me and forward it to the correct person. I think she knew Julie personally.

Thanks,

Janna Fields

DISCUSSION TOPIC

TOPIC: INTRODUCTIONS
Please write a brief paragraph introducing yourself to the Tea Leaf OnLine group. Items might include where you're from, when and why you started collecting, favorite Tea Leaf items, most wanted piece(s), best Tea Leaf memories, etc. If you have a photo you'd like to include with your intro please feel free to forward it.	Have an opinion about this topic? Click below to send your TLOL contribution

TEA LEAF PUZZLER

CERES by Elsmore & Forster...

Tea Leaf collectors love it with it's lustrous copper enhancement while white ironstone enthusiasts prefer it without the copper (although I can't imagine why!). But did you know it comes in several other color combinations? How many of the other color combos can you identify?

Answers were received from many TLOLers...

Gene Burger -- I collect the Ceres pattern having the copper lustre, the green, blue, carmel, white, and gold.

Dick Brackin -- I want to respond to the puzzler question. I have seen Ceres with green, yellow, blue, and perhaps brown, but I am not sure about that one--mind like a sieve, you know!

Dan Widder -- THERE ARE 4 OTHER COLOR COMBOS THAT I HAVE SEEN. THEY ARE BLUE , RED , GREEN / GOLD AND A GOLD / TAN. THANKS , DAN

Julie Rich -- I have plates in several colors: Blue leaves/darker blue sheaves, Green & gold (Pennsylvanians love this), An awful combination of pale yellows, kind of an awful washed out yellow/gold lustre

Margaret Payne -- Ceres: the only colors I have actually seen are yellow and green and the 2 shades of blue. I think there is gold as well as copper, plain white, and for some reason brown and yellow-- and pink and blue--maybe I dreamed it.

Bev & Ernie Dieringer -- Arene Burgess (member of both TLCI & WICA) is an authority on Elsmore & Forster and has written an unpublished book on the Potter. I believe that her extensive article on E&F was published in Tea Leaf Readings (early in 1995). She wrote that Ceres Shape came In Plain white embossment

White with Copper Luster enhancement, White with two shades of Blue, White with Yellow and Green and Luster, Rockingham (brown over all running glaze) We showed an example of it in WICA's Newsnotes and it had the raised mark on it! And she added reports of Red, Black and Purple have been reported. We have also seen a lovely Golden Ocher and Red. I think Julie has a piece of it. Dale, could you possibly illustrate all of the different versions of Ceres on TLOL in color?!!! What a great tool for communicating that subject.

Ernie & Bev

Maxine & Gerald -- Ceres examples are cobalt, a lighter blue, green & gold lustre, mustard yellow, even a Rockingham glaze.

Well, there you have it. LOTS of wonderful color combos on Elsmore & Forster Ceres. I can illustrate the following color combinations from my own collection:


Green/Yellow with Copper Lustre Accents	Gold and Caramel Color with Gold Lustre Accents

Dark Green Only	Two-Blues, Dark and Light Blue

Gray and Brown

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

"Collecting White Ironstone", by Nancy Grammer.

http://northeastjournal.com/PastStories/march200/03200collectingirostone.htm

SEEN ON

I don't generally feature Gaudy Ironstone pieces, but can't help myself from including this piece. If there was ever a Gaudy piece that featured a Teaberry motif, this is certainly it.

GAUDY IRONSTONE GOTHIC PLATTER

Seller's Description

This is a bright and beautiful highly glazed gaudy heavy ironstone platter, with a brush stroke flow blue under glaze grape pattern and multi-colored gaudy hand painted highlights. This is a Gaudy ironstone pattern, not a Gaudy Welsh or Dutch type, and it is well flown. It measures 15 ¼” wide and 11 ¾” tall, and is in super condition, no chips, cracks, hairlines, or repairs, minimal crazing, has about six light utensil marks when tilted in the light, flat back foot rim is excellent also, with just a touch of light wear, just beautiful. Incredibly, the hand painted highlights and gold trim are complete and intact, with minimal luster wear throughout. The one picture I shot outside, shows it is a real sparkler when in the sun. There is no potters mark, but certainly Staffordshire about 1850s. You'll love the beauty and condition of this platter.

EARLY CHAMBER POT AND EWER

Seller's Description

Fine antique white Ironstone Pitcher & Covered Chamber Pot. The pitcher is in excellent condition decorated with gold on the rim, middle and the bottom. It measure 10" h x 7" base. The chamber pot and the cover are in excellent condition also both decorated with gold. It is marked on the base of the chamber pot Livesley and Powell. The chamber pot & cover measure 8.5" H x 8" w. These pieces were found here in Connecticut. English C. 1850. .Please see the pictures for more details.

ADAMS JELLY JAR
	Seller's Description Tea Leaf W.Adams and Son Jelly Jar. This jar is mint. The diameter at the top is 3 1/4" and is marked with W.. Adams and Son ENGLAND, Micratex. Real English Ironstone. The ladle is not a match, however Jelly Jars usually had a silver spoon to spoon the Jelly. The body is Empress. This wonderful little piece of Tea Leaf would be a wonderful addition to you collection.

And, from another seller in another part of the country, the week after the above piece sold, this accompanying one showed up. Remarkable, isn't it?

ADAMS JELLY JAR UNDERPLATE
	Seller's Description

LETTERS

Hi, we're John & Sue Chrisman...

Since John is far, far away, it is up to me to add our introduction. John and I both grew up in Illinois. I was just a farm girl with no idea about Tea Leaf until I met John in college. John grew up hunting for Tea Leaf with his parents. In the 60s, his family would travel far and wide looking for Tea Leaf & other fine antiques. They often attended all day auctions. We still have the old green metal bread box John used to tote his comic books and other small toys to keep himself entertained during these outings.

We joined the TLCI about 15 years ago when we inherited a large collection of Tea Leaf from John's mother. We have added to the collection considerable since then. We are particularly fond of anything by Anthony Shaw. John's mother and two sisters are also TLCI members.

John left last Monday for a business trip to Singapore & Thailand. He will return March 8. Approximately April 1, he will return to Singapore for a year long special assignment. However, he couldn't bear to miss the convention so negotiated to return for the month of September. I plan to join John in July, hopefully to tour China. With any luck, we may be able to stage a mini-regional with Dick Brackin in Hong Kong.

Hi, we are Gerald & Maxine Johnson...

Gerald & I joined the Club in 1984 just in time to attend convention that year (& we haven't missed one since) which was being held in Springfield, Mo. Springfield is just 3 1/2 hours from our home so we were delighted. Little did we know in the next 16 years we would drive for hours & loose lots of sleep & wear out several vehicles in order to feed this uncontrollable yearning for Tea Leaf.

A platter & a cup plate are the only inherited items we have in our collection which of course, belonged to my Grandmother.

Gerald & I were the auction chairpersons for several years & I have been Treasurer, Vice President, President & now I am currently the membership chair. We have hosted two regionals & one open house & look forward to hosting again. We live South of Kansas City which is located right in the middle of the Tea Leaf Heartland region. This doesn't mean there is a lot of Tea Leaf in Western Mo. though. Hen's teeth & Tea Leaf have a lot in common in this area-----SCARCE!!!! Some of our best finds have been Southwest of Chicago!!!!

We especially like Johnson Bros. items, since we are Johnsons. We have not traced our genealogy but there is always a possibility we could be descendants of the famous Johnson Bros. potters.

Gerald & Maxine

Hi, I'm Sally Schaffer...

Hi to all Tea Leaf fanciers. I haven't contributed to TLOL, but do enjoy the letters and comments that are written. I fell in love with Tea Leaf when I was in high school - 50 years ago and have been collecting ever since. My grandmother was an antique dealer in Morenci Michigan and she bought me my first pieces. I have no preference for any makers/designs, except that I don't really care for the variants or for American made pieces. We do like to visit antique shops and are always looking for unusual pieces, which are hard to find in our area. I haven't taken much time to study the handbooks, but am very appreciative of all the effort that has put into research for them. Good hunting to all Tea Leafers.

Sally Schaffer

Hi, I'm Tom Baker...

I live in Lexington, Ohio, a small town in central Ohio midway between Cleveland and Columbus, with my

wife and two small children. We're right at the edge of Amish country here, although if I go into work

extra early, I sometimes see a buggy on our sideroads.

We have been collecting TL for the last 15 years, having been started by my parents who were avid

collectors since the end of WW2. They have accumulated a couple corner cupboards full, and started us out

with a bunch of plates of various sizes. We collect anything, but am trying to correct that habit and collect anything-but-only-of-the-highest-quality, since we have filled our corner cupboard and lack "growing room".

Our rate of acquisition is slow because of the cost of raising children on one income, so I have been

focusing lately on TL from Sebring Brothers (in Sebring, Ohio) and Crescent China Company (in my

hometown of Alliance, Ohio).

Have a good day!

Tom Baker

Hi, we are Connie and Denny Kear...

Connie and I have been collecting Tea Leaf for a little over 30 years. We received part of a Bow Knot bath set, that had been in my family, for a wedding anniversary gift. That really got us started, and we have enjoyed the hunt ever since. Our first convention was in Evansville, Indiana and we have only missed one convention since. We have hosted three regionals, and will host our fourth in April. The club has given us an opportunity to meet and develop friendships with many people over the years. I am currently president of TLCI, and have enjoyed working with so many dedicated people.

We enjoy all makes and styles of Tea Leaf, including the variants. Our favorite potter is Anthony Shaw and we are trying to complete a set of LOV. We would have been several plates closer about a week ago on eBay but someone very close and dear to TLOL, who doesn't even collect LOV plates out bid us. It just doesn't pay to be away from your PC at the end of an auction. But being the good sport that I am, I won't get mad, I'll just get even. Just kidding.................Dale (whoops I didn't mean to type your name, and my delete and back space keys seem to be stuck)

Connie and Denny Kear

We are Fonis and Margaret Payne...

and live in Columbus, IN. We are fortunate to get to spend about 3 months in Victoria, TX, in the winter since we retired 3 years ago. Fonis was an insurance adjuster, agent, and investigator for a law firm and I was the accounting manager for the local water/sewer utility. Logically, Fonis is the club's insurance committee chair and I have worn several hats since our first convention in 1984, the year that we joined. We heard about TLCI from Ruth Smiley, who remains our dear friend. After a stint as recording secretary, treasurer, director, vice president and president, plus working as auction chair and on the convention committee for many years, I finally got the job I most wanted--regional coordinator. That, in addition to my second term as director, writing an article for Readings about the Tea Leaf Family, and continuing to serve with Dale, Chris, and the current chair on the convention committee, is what I am presently doing in TLCI.

We collect everything--and since Chris has mentioned saucers, I will mention that I do now have 161 all different ones--all TL, variants, or copper decorated. So there, Chris!! We especially like covered veggies and gravy boats and collect all the off pieces to make complete sets. Of course, Fonis and I collect 30 other things, also.

TLCI and our Tea Leaf family fills a great part of our lives and we have found so many wonderful and lasting friendships here. Our biological family consists of 2 sons and 2 daughters, 4 grandchildren, 6 grandcats and a granddog. We do not have enough space to talk about our grandchildren except to say that we have brought up at least 2 of them to revere and covet tea leaf. After a big argument once when Ben was 10 and Keeley 5 years his junior, she threw this final shot:"Well, at least I have more tea leaf than you." Silenced him on the spot!

TLOL is our weekly fix, READINGS is the 5-times-a year-one, and hearing from and seeing our wonderful TL family sustains us through some of the rough spots and all of the fun times in our lives. We love ya!

Hi, we're Roger & Katie Smith...

Hello from Music City- Nashville, TN

Roger & I have only been members of the Tea Leaf Club for 3 years, I think. However, I have loved Tea Leaf for many years. My mom- Bette Werner has been a Tea Leaf Club member in years past and I have always loved Tea Leaf for its elegant simplicity. Mom passed on her Tea Leaf to me several years ago but I only began collecting myself and reading all of your wonderful Tea Leaf Readings and educational materials recently. Roger & I were lucky enough to obtain approx. 95 pieces at an estate auction here in Nashville last summer and that's when I decided to purchase a Tea Leaf Body style book to assist in identification. I have really enjoyed learning about the different body styles and different patterns. I am trying to get at least one example of all the variant patterns but will collect about anything I can find. I have made some purchases on eBay and hope I don't get scalped- I'm not sure if I would recognize a fake piece or not! Anyway, it has been fun. I hope to be at the convention scheduled for Nashville in 2002. Hope to meet all of you there. Unfortunately, I don't see hardly any Tea Leaf for sale here much anymore- only occasionally when a big antique show comes to town. The auction find was really exciting- Hope everyone is well- It's great to hear from you.

Hi, I'm Bill Smith...

	FROM ST. LEONARD, MD. I HAVE BEEN COLLECTING TEA LEAF FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS. MY FATHER GOT ME STARTED 50 YEARS AGO. I JOINED THE NAVY IN 1969 AND SENT HIM TEA LEAF I FOUND IN MY TRAVELS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I STARTED KEEPING WHAT I FOUND. I GOT MARRIED IN 1975 AND NOW HAVE MY WIFE MELISSA HOOKED ON IT. I COLLECT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING BUT PREFER ANTHONY SHAW CABLE, CHINESE SHAPE AND LOV.
THE ITEMS THAT STARTED MY FATHER WERE A POWELL AND BISHOP TUREEN WITH LADLE AND MILK PITCHER FROM MY GREAT GRAND MOTHER. I NOW HAVE THESE TO PASS TO MY DAUGHTERS. I WAS A MEMBER A LONG TIME AGO, BUT THE MAIL IN THE NAVY WAS NOT VERY GOOD IN THE SERVICE I WAS IN SO MY MEMBERSHIP LAPSED. GLAD TO BE A MEMBER AGAIN. BILL SMITH

[Bill, Thanks for adding photos to your listing. That heaping platter filled with lobsters certainly makes me want to head over to your home for Sunday dinner! DA]

I am Marjorie Hansen...

(Carl and Allen's mother)

My mother had two platters and a gravy boat which she always said was the pattern used as everyday dishes in the White House when Lincoln was the President. This has been proven untrue, but this is the story I believed. I knew no one else who had Tea Leaf until Allen brought Suzidee to visit before they were married. Imagine her delight when she saw the pieces we had and she told about her Godmother's collection. We gave the one platter and gravy boat to Allen and Suzi after they were married. Since then we have purchased and given pieces to Allen and Susi and to Carl and Ginger. We have none now,but we enjoy their collections and we enjoy the Readings and letters from all.

Sincerely; Marjorie Hansen-Billings, Montana

[Marjorie, thanks for passing on your love of Tea Leaf to your wonderful sons and their families DA]

Hi, we're Marty and Lee Rickard fr