Thread: Why so...pretty?

Hey all,

I was at an antique superstore the other day, you know the ones, with little booths for every female ( I say this because of the wonderfully nostalgic displays of old stuff in picturesque scenes that I could never envision a man arranging in town that fancies themselves an antique mogul, with individual little cubicle displays for all of their wares, when lo and behold I find a little ceramic scuttle mis-labeled "creamer" - it was clearly a shaving scuttle with the top curved bowl with holes in it and the lower chamber with a brush sized spout, etc. I really wanted to leave a note to the "expert" that it was not a "creamer" but I thought better.

What caught my attention though was it was all frilly, had roses painted all over it with little ceramic frills around the edges, and a fancy handle and was really very delicate. Problem was, I only saw two such shaving-bowl-things in the whole mega-complex, and each of them looked like they were form my mother's china pattern...what gives? Why would such an otherwise utilitarian item, and presumably one used more by or for males, need such a look? Or am I just being sexist here, and these were for seriously hairy women ?

Just curious.

K

I think it's a period thing. These were used during the Victorian or Eduardian era when men were men, but flowery too.

X

Who says flowery and frilly ain't manly?

*stabs Kriton with a crochet needle while guzzling a beer and smoking a stogie*

If you look at old American barber supply shaving mugs from the early 20th century, many were offered with flowers, birds, butterflies, cherubs and frilly gold scroll work either alone, or to accent other design work. Lots of men ordered these to be displayed in the barber shop with their name on it.

Must be a period/cultural thing. Obviously men at that time had no problem with it. It's actually sort of strange that men today should.


Scott

If you check out Eboy on Sunday nights there is or was awhile back anyway a woman in England who would list about 20-30 mugs every Sunday mostly Victorian era and all those fine frilly kinds of things and mostly at very resonable prices also.

While I won't be sporting a flowered blouse about the town, I have no issues with flowers and "feminine" scents like rose, lavender or violet. I've had guys at work as if I was wearing a "lavender" cologne, but no one has wanted to stand up to me and make fun of it.

RT

My consternation over the pretty pots is not a display of masculine insecurity, it was merely an observation and puzzlement - I do not have a problem with frilly ceramics for their own sake (though I do not subscribe to their use), nor do I have a fundamental problem with handpainted roses, though I do not necessarily want them on say, my bathroom vanity. I did think that these bowls were just too delicate, I would be afraid to snap off a little loop of gold gilt frill; when I picked the thing up the handle, I wanted to stick my pinky out, and I really was afraid of snapping the handle clean off. Hence my curiosity.

Now did the Roycrofters or Bauhausers make a friggin scuttle?? Just kidding.

K

Originally Posted by Kriton

Now did the Roycrofters or Bauhausers make a friggin scuttle?? Just kidding.

K

I am a third generation coppersmith with heavy ties to the Roycroft arts and crafts tradition (my grandfather started us down this path in 1910 when he was the superintendant of a copper smelter) I have not made a mug or scuttle but have thought about it. What do you envision?

Dave

OK, my thoughts were this, something, well organic - textured but with clean lines, something simple and ergonomic - does that help at all?

I ordered a Moss Scuttle for that reason, it seemed simple, and well crafted - but I thought that I would like a mug that is rounded and that I can hold something like an easel - but with a double wall perhaps that will keep the water warm? I have seen a ceramic shaving mug that somewhat fits this bill, but I think the thing in metal would be incredible.

This probably sounded silly, but it my personal thoughts - I love stainless looking, solid, simple and clean...almost sterile, and something that will last.

My 2c.

K

I am completely guessing here but my thoughts are that the frilly designs were a way of distracting the user from an otherwise mundane and probably rather depressing life. A way of inspiring happy thoughts of a more beautiful environment. Of course it's questionable whether or not someone in that position could have afforded such a piece.

Regards,
EL