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Antique Questions Forum / Re: HELP Mystery Large French Stoneware thingy with a tap on the bottom!?

« on: January 29, 2010, 10:19:22 AM »

I'm (mostly) on the water train with this item too .

Here's an image of another Victorian water filter , from petworthantiquecert re.co.uk .

Hi, Yes..mostly but I always have a niggle. I found a chappy called Juan Carlos Garling who seems to have collected a load of pictures of worldwide antique water filters together here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/juangarling/sets/72157603826560854/ Ive tried to contact him but I think the only email listed for him is bouncing. None of the pictures looks like the one I have, but maybe he hasnt seen a French one yet? (again...if it is one!) But I was hopeful he could have a nosey at the pics I had of the inside of my mystery object and tell me if it works/looks like an early water filter? But other than that Im struggling!!

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: HELP Mystery Large French Stoneware thingy with a tap on the bottom!?

« on: January 29, 2010, 10:10:56 AM »

Could this be a 'newer' version?

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-english-salt-glaze-stoneware-water-filter


Notice in the third pic, what appears to be that hole/tube similar to yours, but running down the outside.

Not sure if you have to be a member on that site, but I can only see one picture? lol Sounded interesting too! Ive browsed lots of the UK patented water filters, but havent found anything that remotely looks like the thingy I have. They all seem to be round with elaborate embossed features. Maybe the French preferred a more functional affair! (If it is a water filter!) Can you post the pic you saw here? Thanks for your help in trying to ID what it is!

Still believe it is for water/rainwater.  Any debris/pollution would be stopped by the "filter" and clear water would go on through.

Where do you live out of curiosity - Country/State?

yes Im leaning towards that too. But Id love to find a record of another that works the same way to clarify. Id love to get an age on it! To answer your question I live in the UK - North Staffordshire. This was part of an auction lot of French Antiques which also contained a deco hanging ball shade and 6 Ornate Iron Coat Hooks fitted to Oak....and a wicker chair!? But Its this water thingy that really has the ol grey matter turning!

Thanks to everyone that is trying to help. If anyone has any ideas/info or has seen anything similar Id love to hear from you.

Mike

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: HELP Mystery Large French Stoneware thingy with a tap on the bottom!?

« on: January 29, 2010, 03:46:41 AM »

OK, heres a couple more pics of the inner bits as requested.

On having a good nosey at the inside where the opposite 45 degree panel was (which can be seen by where it joined the side) When it was in place it sealed the bottom section off completely with absolutely no channel for any liquid to pass. However, the panels that remain look to be porous. Which leads me to think that whatever liquid was put in filtered through the solid sloping panels and ran to the join where it then filtered down a vertical panel of the same material (Which can be seen on the pics below) The fact that the bottom was sealed may explain why theres a breather hole to the bottom section.

So, Do you think it could be an early brita Was it an early French water filter? Ive searched and cant find anything apart from some elaborate patented jobbies. Anyone know any experts on early French water filters that can tell me Ive got it wrong or right? lol Or have any old French country relatives?

What do you guys think? Have a gander. Cheers Mike.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: HELP Mystery Large French Stoneware thingy with a tap on the bottom!?

« on: January 28, 2010, 11:23:05 AM »

Hi,

Its been fired as all one piece. Its a fair ol chunk. It stands about a metre high!
Ill take a better pic of the inside tomorrow when its a bit lighter outside if it helps anyone.

Thanks again,

Mike

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: HELP Mystery Large French Stoneware thingy with a tap on the bottom!?

« on: January 28, 2010, 11:01:26 AM »

....oh, and I cant find any beeswax

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: HELP Mystery Large French Stoneware thingy with a tap on the bottom!?

« on: January 28, 2010, 10:58:58 AM »

Hi, thanks for your reply.

yes it is both odd & cool. It does look a bit cisterny...if it wasnt for the decorated tap you'd swear it belonged over a loo!

I dont think its terracotta. Its 'very' heavy. I can barely pick it up on my own. I popped out to look at a chipped corner on the underside to see. It 'looks' like a clayish/stoneware salt glazed jobby....but Im no expert.

Heres a pic for clarification if it helps anyone help me find out what it is?


thanks again!

Mike

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: HELP Mystery Large French Stoneware thingy with a tap on the bottom!?

« on: January 28, 2010, 09:35:46 AM »

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah I thought rainwater when I saw it (and is why I bought it) But it looks like its had some kind of top on it at some point and it looks a little elaborate for just rain. Im sure the French bods would have just used a bucket

Also if you look at the bottom picture it 'looks' like theres some kind of breather hole running up the top left corner? Is it some kind of booze fermenting thingy? Ive no idea!! I can speculate forever, but Id love to hear if someone definately knows what it is?

The auction was of items from a local salvage/antique shop that went under, so thats a closed door!

Cheers

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Antique Questions Forum / HELP Mystery Large French Stoneware thingy with a tap on the bottom!?

« on: January 28, 2010, 07:29:25 AM »

Hi there.

This is a bit of a tricky one. Ive searched and searched to try and identify exacly what this is. It was labelled up as a "salt glazed water feature" at an auction, but he later said he'd just guessed what it was? I bought it out of curiousity, as the plan was to simply use it as a novelty rainwater collector! but as Im unsure of exactly what it is I thought Id try and find out before I relegated it to the garden!

I believe its french in its origin. It's definatley used for liquids due to the tap on the bottom. Inside there were two sloping panels that met in the middle to allow some liquid to pass (one is missing)

Does anyone have a clue, or can point me in the direction of where I can find out what it is? Ive looked at antique water filters, boilers etc...but Im hitting a bit of a wall.




Id really appreciate any help anyone is able to help me find out what my latest impulse buy used to be!

Thanks everyone

Mike