Jugs Are A Source Of Happiness To One Tauranga Resident

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 15058, 19 August 1949, Page 6

Jugs Are A Source Of Happiness To One Tauranga Resident

Unique Collection

1,271 SPECIMENS ACQUIRED OVER TWENTY-SIX YEARS (By P.'E.G.) "Jugs'"—To most people the word is an indication of a utensil with a useful purpose, and no more, but to Mrs L. Flower, of Xorris Street, Tauranga, it spells many happy years spent in the collection of these articles from all parts of the world. Tins unusual occupation was commenced ,'-(> years ago Inst April when Mrs Flower was presented with her first jug by an English visitor. "To tell the truth." remarked- Mrs Flower, "I was not very impressed but it has turned out to be an extremely fascinating hobby. Mrs Flower has now acquired a collection of no less than 1.271 specimens, no two being alike. I?hc believes her collection is the largest in the world. She has corresponded with a number of enthusiasts who, however, have not been able to. beat her record.

The collection is housed in a large, high-ceilinged room full of antiques of all descriptions. At first the sight of all the jugs is bewildering to the visitors. One appears to have entered a separate world, shut off from the hustle and bustle of outside events, for the room has a quiet rcstfulness and dignity about it, uncommon these • days. Mrs -Flower's smaller jugs arc kept in carved glass cabinets, while toby and animal jugs peer down ivniii honks and shelves on the wall. The larger and medium sizes stand on rows of shelves. Every jug has been"neatly ticketed with'its full particulars, many having a long story attached. As Mrs Flower spoke of jugs of exceptional interest (for she could not tell me all, in the hour and a-half I spent there) her eyes travelled immediately to the spot in which that jug rested. Her task each day cf dusting each article would be an unenviable one according to many housewives, but to Mrs Flower it is a labour of love. The tallest jug measures 18 inches in height, and the smallest, is much less than half an inch. When viewed through a magnifying glass it is found to be perfect in every detail and only through this can the opening be seen. The handle is just big enough to allow a thread to pass through it and the jug is suspended by this in a corked bottle to ensure that it is not lost. The oldest specimen—an Egyptian jug—dates back 5,000 years, and the newest is a recent arrival from England. Other special curios are a jug made from a man's molar, which boasts a gold handle; a candle jug snd one made of chocolate and housed in a glass case for protection. Mrs Flower has also a three-quarter inch long jug encased in a small glass bottle and a small jug which has inside it a rigged yacht. Amazing Features Other jugs with amazing features are the lota, or Indian ceremonial jug, so perfectly balanced that it automatically tips up if held the right way. a piece of North American Indian pottery, remarkable for its coldness, another from a tomb in Bolivia. 2000 years ©ld, one of clay taken from the battleground at Waterloo and a jug made from a candle. The collector has on her shelves exhibits from New Zealand, Tasmania. Fiji. Norfolk Island, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium. Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Bavaria, Czechoslovakia, Holland, China, Japan. Bohemia, East Indies. India, San Marino, Canada, Palestine, Ceylon, Isle of Capri, Mexico. United States of America.

South Africa. BoUvia and Egypt. The only country not represented is Russia. The jugs arc of all sizes and shapes, plain and fancy. Toby jugs from one to eight inches in height decorate shelves and mantelpieces, portraying all the beloved characters oi Dickens and many historical personages. With cricket so much in the minds of many people at present it is interesting to note' the jug with the heads of Rangilsinhji, Dr Grace and Griffin depicted, while next to this stands Sir Donald Bradman. Elephants, clogs, pigs, cats, frogs, cows, sheep, goats, birds, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, a koala bear, a witch and even Old Nick, himself, gaze placidly down on the aweinspired visitor. Mrs Flower pointed out to me that the rnly animal not represented is a horse. Also on view is an imposing row of whisky and beer jugs which have now gone out of date. The collection features all types and brands of china and also the following metals and other materials: Pottery, crystal, glass, flint, brass, copper, gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, aluminium, enamel, wood, pearl shell, oaua shell, chocolate, molar, candle, perspex, walnut, shell, pewter, bakelite. parian, plastic, crochet and duralium.