Surprise Willow Advertising Mug

About 2 weeks ago my husband and I boarded a plane and off on vacation we went. The night before I simply couldn’t sleep. I was like many searching Ebay. I don’t know what search I actually had in, but I came across this gem. I was excited and devastated all at the same time. You know when you are leaving for vacation and the auction ends in the middle of it and you don’t want to take time away from family to score a bid on an item you have never seen.

Awww come on now, I can’t be the only one in this dilemma. I emailed the seller and asked if he would propose a buy it now. I got an immediate no. My heart sank. I decided, place the highest bid I was willing to pay, say a prayer and head off to the beach. I must admit, I checked on it a few times on my trip.

I didn’t watch the auction end, which is my normal. When I finally arrived at the airport a day after it ended, I found I had won this beauty. I don’t have any really old 1800’s era mugs with the two temples two pattern. (Nancee Rogers can tell me if I interpreted that correctly!) She truly is a wealth of knowledge in International Willow Collectors.

None the less the first few pictures associated with the listing were the sides, handle and bottom.

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Regardless of any further picture viewing, I wanted this mug. The pics did not do it justice at all and I couldn’t tell the size. It is fairly large and I bet would hold 18-20 ounces of liquid. I then saw the front of the mug and was like…wow!!!!

James Pringle was certainly an important dude. The date made me want it even more. I don’t have many pieces that date to 1837! This lead me to research. I have no idea if this dude owned this cup, but he is the only one that I found tied to 1837 online. Would be kind of fun if he did own this mug!!!

Now, the best part is yet to come. When I turned my mug up to look at the inside, I completely fell in love. It made me leap for joy! No pun intended here.

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This frog is very different than the other willow loving cup I have. This was is on the bottom where the other one was placed neatly on the side of the mug.

I truly have no idea where this was made, but I can tell you, I tracked the shipment like twice a day until it arrived then it took me hours to get up the courage to open it. It seemed really light and I just wasn’t sure if it was a child’s mug, or shattered. Luckily it is in one piece and it is safely home where it belongs.

Until next time, happy willowing.

Christine