Sold for A$20
The "Adaptable" Hot Water Bottle / Rd No / 443310 / Made at / The Old Fulham Pottery. / Estd A.D. 1671. / All / Water Bottles / Should be Warmed / Before Being Filled / with Boiling / Water / & Bed Warmer. (James A. Lerk collection) Household Foot Warmer All White with Black Print. No 3 size. 225 mm with stopper. 1900s
Fair. This is from the James A. Lerk collection, it is pictured as item No. 1 on page 53 of his book, "Bottles in Australian Collections," printed in 1971. There are some distinctive marks proving it to be the same piece, however, there are some distinctive marks on this piece not shown in the picture, so I think they have occurred since. Namely, cracks. I think this may have been involved in the house fire that James had 20 years ago. The stopper is stuck in place as it looks like the rubber washer has melted. There is a discoloured hairline from the top down to the top of the print, where it meets another travelling across the top of the print and down the left towards the left side. The left side has a dark U shaped crack with a middle leg about half way up the side as well. Another dark one to rear goes across about half of the rear. There is a small hairline from the rear lip down as well. Some scuffs and scratches. Grade: 4.8 Estimate: $20 - 30
