Topic: Estates Times souvenir mug

[stevetee]

Hi
I hope someone can help. I have a souvenir mug which was a readers' gift from the property magazine called Estates Times. I have found out from a previous employee of the company that the mug depicts a fictional cartoon character they named "Stackup". The mug will have been made before 1996, as Estates Times became Property Week then. The mug is marked underneath with what looks like a stylised capital letter "H" - I have attached a picture of the mug and the impressed mark. Does anyone know which company might have made it? Thanks.

[antiquerose123]

Hi there, and Welcome...  

Yeah it looks like a H, but I wonder IF if could be a one of those funny signed things where one letter Makes other letters too.

So could this be the initials HLE   ?? or LEH   ?? or something like that as a guess

Can you shown the writing on the Mug that is on the side -- and a close up (more) of the mark on the bottom.

Have you looked along the edges to see IF there are any marks just along the outside, bottom edge?  I have never heard of that Cartoon Character Myself  

Just suggestions, if you can post here a couple more pics of the item.  Thanks and again -- Welcome !!

[stevetee]

Hi

Thanks so much for your interest in the mug. The writing around the side is "Estates Times Every Week" and on the base, in addition to the mark, it is impressed: "With Best Wishes .... From Estates Times". I have found out from other ex-employees that it was definitely made as a gift for readers / advertisers, based on the invented character, Stackup, who they used in a strip cartoon in the magazine. The character was invented by cartoonist Alan Bailey, who published under the name "Kipling" - sadly Alan died a few years ago.

Re. the mark - it very difficult to get a good clear photo! I have attached 2 versions - one more or less "as is" with a bit of sharpening, and I've used an embossing process on the other one to try to make it clearer. I see what you mean that "H" is only one possible interpretation - the more you look at it, the more if could be a double " f ", or even two very stylised trees - with fallen leaves all around them. The possibilities are endless! I can't find any other marks anywhere else. Thanks again and regards

[Anne]

Hi Steve, what a fascinating piece! I've never heard of Estates Times either but it seems to have been a trade publication for surveyors? so that's probably why. 

I had a look through my pottery ID books but can't find that H mark but I have a niggle I've seen it before somewhere... let me think on it. 

Meanwhile, I found an obit for Alan Bailey in The Guardian here: http://gu.com/p/myav which gives some interesting info about the man himself, and I was idly wondering if Kimball Bailey, his son, may be able to tell you anything about the mugs? He's on LinkedIn here: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=598396 with his contacts etc...

[antiquerose123]

Meanwhile, I found an obit for Alan Bailey in The Guardian here: http://gu.com/p/myav which gives some interesting info about the man himself, and I was idly wondering if Kimball Bailey, his son, may be able to tell you anything about the mugs? He's on LinkedIn here: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=598396 with his contacts etc...

Might be worth a try to contact.......   Good Suggestion Anne

[Anne E.B.]

Could it possibly be two lower case letter t's ?
I'm seeing it a little differently.

[stevetee]

Hi and thanks!

I'll follow up the contact with Kimball Bailey - good one!

And yes, Anne, it could be two lower case "t" s. But I wouldn't rely too much on my judgement - when I bought the mug, I thought it was Sir Robin Day and spent ages looking for his possible connection to Estates Times!

Thanks again and regards.

[stevetee]

Hi again

antiquerose123's suggestion re. Kimball Bailey was truly inspired.

I found an email address for him on his company website, we exchanged emails, and we have now had a long chat on the phone. He told me there is a smaller version of Stackup that has "Honiton England" on the base - so that ties in with the mark being an "H".

He thinks he may be able to find the sculptor, but it's a longshot. A quick look at Honiton's website shows it closed in 1997, but that's consistent with when Estates Times stopped publishing in that name (in 1996). So, now I'm following that link. I will write all this up properly and put it on our website when I've got the full story.

Thanks again, and regards,

Stephen

[antiquerose123]

 

That is Good News. 

antiquerose123's suggestion re. Kimball Bailey was truly inspired.

I think it was Anne (yobunny) the *Moderator* here that gave you the Link.  Anne is our MOD here, and then there is also an Anne EB here too.   

I can not accept the credit  lol

Keep us posted on what you found out -- you have found out so much all ready by talking with that person. 

That is Super !!!!

[stevetee]

Hi

Apologies to Anne (yobunny)!!! I didn't read back far enough in the thread to see that it was Anne's message originally. Soooooo sorry, and yes, I will update the thread as/when I piece it all together. Many thanks,

Stephen

[Anne]

No worries Stephen, we're all happy to help - and look forward to reading the results of your further research.  

[stevetee]

Hi all. Just a quick update. There were more mugs commissioned by Alan Bailey, and I am getting details and pictures. I have had confirmation that they were made by Honiton Pottery - I'm told that they used the "H" mark instead of "Honiton". Now I'm wondering if Honiton used it on other items. More to follow! Regards, Stephen