Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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.