Matching Cups, Unmatched Repairs - c. 1860s James Duke Hand-painted Porcelain Teacups with Repaired Handles painted clay whistle The more battered the better

The more battered the better for me when it comes to old decoys-- it's the one's that wear their work on their backs (literally) and that show all sorts of losses and/or repairs that I find most appealing

I think really nothing beats rustic pottery like this for everyday use and enduring beauty

but in fact these men on horseback are playing "Chaugan

with gray only on the tail feathers

1830s-50s or so I confident

Matching Cups, Unmatched Repairs - c. 1860s James Duke Hand-painted Porcelain Teacups with Repaired Handles painted clay whistle The more battered the betterIn this case, I think two is exponentially better than one! I purchased these from a seller in England, which is where they originated hand painted porcelain teacups produced by James Duke of Hill Potteries in Burslem, Staffordshire, England c. 1860. Of course what attracted me is the repaired handles, and especially the combination of two different manners of repair, one requiring more mending than the other and each done in a slightly different way,