Topic: Dodgy Whitefriars Inkwells

[johnphilip]

 Several years ago an unscrupulous person bought a lot of cheap Whitefriars bud vases and ashtrays without the furrows and had them made into inkwells with brass fittings including a hinge.They cut the top of the bud vase and the bottom became a top for the inkwell ,the ash trays usually have a lot of base wear so can be convincing, when you open the top it hits the base sometimes causing bruising so not very well thought out.I hadnt seen one for a few years but i see they are creeping back.JPH.

[Anne]

That's interesting, JP. Do you happen to have a photo of one of these that we could see please?

[Mosquito]

ebay item 150216521603

[Max]

Quite ingenius!  Must have taken a lot of time to make that.

[johnphilip]

Thanks Mozzie you got it in one.Yes Max a bit like the engineer dog,you kick it up the but and it makes a bolt for the door.

[aa]

Now, why does the expression "pig's ear" spring to mind?

[bubbles]

Seems to be a lot of work involved, interesting none the less!  Just one point though those cheap bud vases were NOT made by Whitefriars.  A myth that just won't go away!  GRRR Where is the smiley for pulling one's hair out!"

[johnphilip]

There is a lot of controversy about the bud vases and i was told in the past there were some bud vases made pre 1950 and i have just spoken to one of the ex workers who said he believes some were made but were not a success so were only produced for a short time, maybe thats why they are not in the catalogues.But he said he was not sure.

[VSL]

It may interest you to know that a shop at the bottom end of Portabello Road in London had at lease 20 of these for sale last time I was down in December. They were being offered at £65 to £120 plus and look rubbish to me. You would have thought a dealer would would at least limit the amount on display to give them some creadence.

[Patrick]

Hi, They have been there for years, I remember seeing them at least 14 years ago. They were a stupid price then . Regards Patrick.