PREVIOUS NEWS

Monday, August 16, 2004

Fellow Belleekers !! (lettre # 8.2)

** VERY SHORT !! **

This Newslettre is going to be QUITE short, due 
to the fact that I'm getting ready for Chicago, more 
later, and that this is being composed on my NEW 
'super computer' !!  YES, I've FINALLY updated my 
1999 CPU and now possess a REAL state-or-the-art 
machine to work with !!  Unfortunately, for travel, 
I'll still be dragging my OLD CPU along as I'm TOO 
POOR, following my investment in the new CPU, 
to afford a proper case for traveling purposes !!  
WOE is me !!

** FOOD FOR THOUGHT !!
 
Why do croutons have expiration dates ?? Aren't 
they just stale bread anyway ??  (Unknown) 

**  SUBSCRIBER NOTES !! **

I KNOW that some of you out there in Belleekland 
move about a bit, BUT PLEASE try to remember to 
Update your E-mail Address' with ALL your friends !!

I currently have like a DOZEN 'Invalid' Addresses 
in my PhoneBook which turn into 'MAILER DAEMONS' 
when I attempt to post any E-mail to you !!

SO, if you are NOT receiving this Newslettre and 
were previously ON my mailing list OR if you are a 
Belleek 'newbie' and would like to receive my 
Newslettres, PLEASE post me your E-mail Address 
and I will add your Name to my Mailing List !!  
THANKS !!

** PINOCHLE ANYONE ?? **
   
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a 
great King from history: 

Spades - King David, 
Clubs - Alexander the Great, 
Hearts - Charlemagne, and
Diamonds - Julius Caesar !!   

** CHICAGO SUMMER ANTIQUE FAIR !! **

This years Show will be the weekend of August 
27 thru 29, 2004 and, being the 2nd largest Fair in 
the World, boosts approximately 450 Dealers !!

There's additional information on my Web Site, 
under the Events Tab, or you may navigate directly 
there via the Link :

http://delyicious.magix.net/public/chicago.html

I'll be staying at the Embassy Suites !!  I'm ONLY 
planning on staying for the first 2 nights !!  If anyone 
out there in Belleekland is planning on attending, 
look me up !!

SEE YOU THERE ??

Some thoughts to remember when in Chicago !!

In Chicago, it is illegal to fish in one's pajamas !!   

In Chicago, it is illegal to take a French poodle to 
the opera !!

According to state law, it is illegal to speak English. 
The officially recognized language is "American" !!   

And of course, if you venture out into the suburbs,   

In Joliet, it is illegal to mispronounce the name Joliet.   

** MICHIGAN IS ALIVE
      IN 2005 !! **

The Great Lakes Chapter is inviting you to meet us 
in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  We are hosting the 
Belleek Collectors' International Convention 
September 8, 9 and 10 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  
It is 5 minutes from the Gerald Ford Airport that 
has connections to the major airline hubs.  This 
is just a notification of the Convention.  

Registration forms and final information should be 
available in the upcoming Belleek Collectors' 
Newsletter !!

As information is available, you can
contact our Convention Coordinator Phyllis
via E-mail at : phyllisbagnall@msn.com

OR her assistant Beth at : rickleb1@aol.com

Phyllis tells me that Grand Rapids is quite the historic 
area with something to do for EVERYONE !!  This 
promises to be a GREAT Convention for all !!

** CAN ANYONE VERIFY THIS ?? **

The song "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" was written 
by George Graff, who was German, and was never in 
Ireland in his life !!??  

** MORE MINIATURES !! **

This spring and early summer, I've been quite busy 
on E-Bay, submitting several successful bids on a 
couple of wonderful items !!  At least I think they are !!

In any case, for those Belleekers that 'follow' my 
activity on E-Bay, and for those that don't, or are 
JUST not interested, a couple of the items I purchased 
were Belleek Miniatures !!  To be precise, Crested 
Miniatures !!  

We should divert here, just a bit, to distinguish 
between Crested and Miniature !!  Belleek applied 
Crests to MANY of their 'regular' production items !! 
We see this preserved by the application of a family 
crest to a Neptune Tea Set, for example !!  

Family crests were also applied to EarthenWare Dinner 
Sets making quite spectacular collections !!  The Ring 
Handled Ivory Pattern was VERY common for not only 
hand painting, but, also for the application of Crests, 
as its surface is basically 'flat', i.e., a Crest can be 
applied easily without any 'warping' !!

In addition to family crests, Belleek also applied city, 
township, county and country crests to items !!  The 
MOST interesting of these is probably the Small Size 
Pig with the Killarney Crest on its back !!  This Pig is 
discussed in an earlier Newslettre and it should be 
clarified here that this is NOT a Miniature as the Small 
Pig was a 'normal' production item !!

Now, let's return to Belleeks production of Miniatures 
and their role in the Pottery's History !!  Belleek crafted 
MANY shapes of miniature items, mostly in the shapes 
of current ware, BUT MUCH smaller !!  They ALSO 
crafted UNIQUE item shapes that WERE NOT in regular 
production !!

In any case, I believe it would be quite fair to say that 
the production of Miniatures, in general, was VERY 
limited !!  Again, as with their regular Crested Ware, 
virtually ALL Miniatures WERE Crested with either a 
city, township, county or country !!

My picture below, displays a pair of Miniatures !!  To 
give you a perspective of their size, the Dairy Cream is 
ONLY 2-1/2" in height !!

The second item, which I will term the Grecian Urn, is 
ONLY 2-1/8" in height !!

It should be noted here that the Dairy Cream WAS in 
'general' production, in a size about 1" taller than its 
companion Miniature BUT I, personally, am NOT aware 
of the 'Grecian Urn' being produced in any other form 
besides the Miniature ??!!  AS ALWAYS, is there 
ANYONE out in Belleekland whom knows different 
and can update me with their knowledge ??

Now, I've owned the Dairy Cream for quite a number of 
years, but the Grecian Urn is one of those recent 
additions to my Museum !!  Why, or what, did I find of 
interest in this item ??  Well, upon close inspection, you 
will note that BOTH Miniatures display the Crest of the 
City (Arms) of Dublin !!

SO, you say ??  Upon CLOSE scrutiny, you will discouver 
my interest, is that the colouring and positioning of the 
ladies on each side of the shield !!

The MOST obvious difference is that the Grecian Urn 
has blonds in red gowns as the Dairy Cream displays 
brunettes in blue robes !!

Furthermore, both maintain the sword on the right 
shoulder of the left figurine, but on BOTH, what appears 
to be sheaves of wheat, seem to be held up on the Urn 
but in a down position on the Cream ??  The scales 
(of justice) appear on both to be held high !!

Looking closely, one will also notice some differences in 
the mounting of the crown above the shield !!

Since BOTH items were produced during the Second 
Period, I can ONLY attribute these differences to, what 
might be termed, Artist Prerogative !!

AGAIN, might any of you Belleekers in the surrounding 
area of Dublin, be capable of providing their 'current' City
Crest ??



            Above, left, the Miniature Crested 'Grecian Urn' and to
                Its right, the Miniature Crested Diary Cream !!

Belleekingly,

Del E. Domke, Belleek Consultant
16142 N.E. 15th. Street
Bellevue,  WA    98008-2711
U.S.A.

Telephone :  1 (425) 746-6363
Message :    1 (425) 746-6363
FAX :        1 (425) 746-6363 
E-mail :     delyicious@comcast.net
Web-site :   The Beauty and Romance of Irish Belleek  (or) : 
              http://delyicious.magix.net/public/index.html