Torquay Hunting

Towards the end of January I decided I wanted to give my Torquay Pottery eyes a try.  I went to a antique mall southeast of our house and started looking around.  There were well over 150 booths to browse through, but I was on a mission and hopeful that I would spot at least one piece of Torquay.  And I did!  I found two pieces in the same booth, down on the bottom shelf of a glassed cabinet there they were, sitting there waiting for me to find them!  What I found was two pieces of Watcombe with mottos on them.  A hot water jug handmade around the 1930's and a sugar bowl.

For those of you who are new to our blog or who may have forgotten I am a member of the NATS, (North American Torquay Society).  My Aunt Judy introduced me to this pottery back in 2006, when she invited me to go to the annual NATS convention with her in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  You can read more about the 2015 NATS convention, held in Rogers, Arkansas, by clicking HERE.  

And, you can read more about Torquay Pottery and its history by clicking HERE.

Below, is the hot water jug.  Its' motto reads, "Sweep before your own door first".  The picture below that is the mark on the bottom of the jug.

Below is the sugar bowl.  Its' motto reads "Speak less than thou knowest".  Pictured to the bottom right, is the mark on the bottom of the sugar bowl.

 

I was very excited after finding these two old pots.  I couldn't wait to get home and send my Aunt Judy a message with some pictures of my two new hunting finds.  About a week later I decided to "hunt" again.  This time I headed to a large well-known antique mall northwest of our house.  I had made it about a third of the way through the mall when all of a sudden as I approached a booth filled with glassware I saw it.  A small table top filled with Torquay! I absolutely could not believe what I was seeing in front of me!  I stood there in awe for a moment and then came back to reality and realized I either would have to buy every piece of pottery on that little table or get a hold of my Aunt Judy on the phone immediately.  I got my phone out of my purse and called her, hoping that she would answer.... She did!  She then gave me a little pep talk and got me snapped out of my awe and into shopping for great pieces of pottery mode.  She asked me all kinds of questions about the pieces in front of me, and prepped me on the check-out process, then asked me to take a picture and send it to her.  I did and then I called her back while she had the picture in front of her, and we discussed which pieces I should purchase for her and for myself.  I found some GREAT pieces of Torquay again!  Yay, go me!

I bought 6 pieces of Torquay Pottery from the table, two for myself and four for Judy.

Below, a Torquay cheese tray.  The motto reads, "Eat well of the Bread Be easy with the Cheese".

 

 Below, is my favorite find... a large Torquay Rosy Sunset Jug.  The motto reads, "May the wing of friendship never moult a feather".

I see more Torquay hunting trips in my future.  It was a lot of fun to hunt, and so exciting to call my Aunt, and for her and I to share this excitement together.