I used to have the occasional post showing a favorite thing of mine. But it’s been a while. Time to reinstate this Mockingbird Hill Cottage Tradition!
Say hello to my pitcher. I have a lot of pitchers but this one is my favorite. As with everything in this cottage, it has a story, though it’s a brief little tale. This pitcher was my great-grandmother’s. That would make it well, well over 100 years old. It was part of her daily life at the farmhouse in Orillia, Ontario. I believe, though I might be wrong, that my grandmother called it a “syrup pitcher” or a “syrup jug.” It’s about 10 inches tall and is in beautiful condition (thanks to my grandmother, I’m sure.)
During my youth and young adulthood, this pitcher was in my grandmother’s china cabinet. I would stare at it every time I visited. I did that kind of thing even as a young girl. I liked pretty things.
I love the sort of impressionist look to the paint and glaze. That gold trim is also at the base of the pitcher and on the handle. And the lid? The lid is pewter and it just may be my favorite part of this piece.
When my grandmother died, my mother inherited this piece and it moved to her china cabinet. Many years ago, my mother started dividing up her china and inherited pieces and I asked if I could have this. So now it’s in my china cabinet. Four generations….four china cabinets.
So many of you collect china or are dealers: if you know anything more about this piece, please share. I’ve often thought if I ever went to The Antiques Roadshow, I’d take this pitcher. Not because it’s worth anything, but because I really would like to know more about it. There’s no identifying mark anywhere.
Would this sort of thing – sharing a favorite thing – be something you would like to participate in? Let me know – maybe we would start a weekly meme/party where we share a favorite thing every week. Just testing the waters. Let me know. And if so, should it be on Friday or Saturday? There are so many parties out there, don’t want to over-schedule everyone.
My nephew David, Meredith’s son, flies off to Ohio today to start college at Ohio State. Oh my. It seems like yesterday when he was a toddler and we took him to the San Diego Zoo. Now he’s a tall, handsome, witty guy who’s going to be part of the Swimming Program at OSU. Best of luck, Dave! I’m so proud of you.
Happy Friday.
Good morning, Claudia. I would love to see a ‘favorite thing of the week’! So many beautiful stories attached to items we love…it would be fun to hear the stories and see the lovely items.
Hey Claudia, I’d join the party. I was thinking of starting to show my favourite things about where I live! I love your maple syrup jug. My friend, Zola has a collection of them. She goes to local auctions and always bids on them. Most of hers are colourful cut glass but she has a few china ones too. J
It’s a grand idea, Claudia. A perfect way to start the weekend and learn about those posting here. Love it!!
I love your pitcher…especially the pewter lid.
Your idea is a good one…count me in.
Balisha
Claudia your pitcher is so pretty and really unique! I would a love a ‘favorite things’ party…maybe Sat!! I am trying to cut way back on my buying so sharing what I have would be lots of fun!! Good idea! Hugs, Linda
I think that is a great idea! You syrup jug is a wonderful thing to have and all the more special with being a family piece. ~ Maureen
Love the idea of a ‘favorite things party’ – let’s do it! Any day is fine for me. Mary
I love the idea, and thanks for mentioning David. I am a mess.
Mere
I love your sweet pitcher and what I especially love is that it is a family heirloom and you loved it as a child. I have some things from my grandmother’s house that I dearly love too. Most of them have little monetary value but mean so much to me because they were treasured by the grandmother who was my treasure. I would happily participate in a “favorite things party”. I’ll be ready to link up for the very first one!
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
What a darling little pitcher made more precious by the history behind it.
As I became a fan of your posts on McCoy pottery I cast a hearty “Yes Please!” for a regular favorite things post.
– Cassandra @ Renaissance Women
Fun idea! I think Friday would be better, then you can save “juicier” posts for Saturday. In my circles, I find that Saturdays have the biggest readership, so I do a couple of posts per week, one on Saturday and one on Wednesday, typically. Sometimes on Wednesdays, I post something similar: I call it Cute Things. It’s basically favorite things of mine, but they’re re typically small vintage pieces. I look forward to seeing more Favorite Things Fridays. xo Jennifer
I like “favorite things!” Like your blog too!
That pitcher is gorgeous! I love the lid. The history, that is where the “worth” is! No money could ever replace that. 4 generations…WOW!
That’s a beautiful pitcher, Claudia, and its history makes it so special. I think sharing our favorite things sounds like a lovely idea.
Hi Claudia,
I wish your nephew well at school! Maybe we will be seeing Dave in the Olympics sometime in the future : )
Your pitcher has a wonderful story to tell. I so enjoy it when someone knows the story behind their vintage and antique pieces. When they are from a family member it makes them that much more special.
I love pieces I happen upon too, but I find myself thinking of the back story and wondering if they were a cherished piece of someone’s and wonder why the heck they are not still part of that family!
I don’t have a lot of things passed down to me, but I love the ones I have. Once when I inherited a lamp of my great, I took the felt off the bottom to see if she had hidden money in there…isn’t that weird of me? But she was known for her stashing of money and she and my great uncle were well off, so I had to do it! : )
sending many hugs…
Thank you for visiting my blog and for leaving your comment. I like the idea of “a favorite thing” party. I also like your treasure from your grandmother! The pewter lid is great!
Betty
What a wonderful old piece- I have never seen another like it anywhere. I love that it has passed through 4 generations…and that you loved it as a child and own it today.
I think the favorite things party sounds like a fun idea- xo Diana
Can’t say I’ve seen one such as this, very unusual but just lovely. Yes………..’a favorite thing’ post will be fun – I’m already thinking what I can dig out from the family jewels, ha! ha! Friday would be fine.
Congrats. to Dave – Meredith must be so thrilled and proud. Bet he is IS gorgeous – swimmers always are!
Thanks for the e-mail dear – will get back to you soon.
Mary OXOXO
I would love to have a Favorite Friday! I have never seen anything like your cute jug – it’s really unusual.
It’s lovely and with a lovely story/memory too.
I love pewter, so I too, would be drawn to the lid. I call my hair color ‘pewter.’ It makes me feel better, about it’s color. It took a long, long time for my gray to become a pleasing-to-me form of gray. Pewter helped(s). :-)
“Auntie”