In cleaning out some computer files today I found some tidbits that I thought I'd share in the "whatever it's worth" department as my husband loves to say.
BISCUIT BARRELS
What Americans call cookies and crackers, the British call biscuits. Therefore, these cracker barrels or cookie jars to them are Biscuit Barrels! If you are a Hercule Poirot fan, you might have noticed that he has one on the top of his fridge in his London flat!
Most biscuit barrels are mounted in silver plate mounts, known as EPNS for electro-plated nickel silver. We always try to keep ours polished, but sometimes we fail! Sometimes they will not polish much better than what we have done. They CAN be replated; use a reputable silversmith, replater etc. Or simply enjoy them as they are, knowing they have been well loved by others in the past! You will note most of ours have the shiny glazed stoneware interiors, made to facilitate your using them for cookies! The silverpolish will not harm the jasperware body. We use Wright’s Silver Cream routinely on them with excellent success.
WEDGWOOD bas relief wares
Bas-relief ware is the name given to white stoneware body with jasper dip and bas-relief ornament. This method of production was introduced in 1817 as a substitute for solid jasperware when jasperware was discontinued for a time. The stoneware is glazed on the interior to limit porosity. Some bas relief ware is jasper dip over a gray white jasper. This type has a grainy feel to it and is easily distinguishable from the stoneware body.
The dark blue dip which is still so popular today was made from 1866 to 1941. Most of our pieces are identified as to approximate date.
Bas-relief ware pieces may be found in everything from cameo jewelry to large jardinieres.
CLEANING YOUR JASPERWARE
Almost every piece of jasper you see in our inventory, or ever will see there, has been or will be cleaned in a dishwasher. Because jasperware is a porous unglazed stoneware, it gets dirty – from dust, the dirt and oils on our skin, etc. For the same reason, its porosity, it loves a good scrubbing. Use Comet, Old Dutch, etc. and a soft brush or washrag; it’s tough, you won’t hurt it! But, if you have many pieces, carefully place them in your dishwasher and wash with your regular detergent. You will be pleased and amazed at how well they clean up!
DO NOT wash broken, cracked or repaired pieces in this fashion. Clean them in clear water, gently rubbing with your fingers to remove dust; spot clean with a rag or sponge but avoid any repainted places. Of course, be cautious in handling cracked or otherwise damaged/repaired pieces!
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