Craftsman Coffee Mug?

[Lafont]

Anyone here familiar wtih Arts and Crafts pottery? I just acquired this coffee mug I admired last year in an antique shop. Looks to me, and owner agreed, it could be as old as from ca. 1910. Or in that Mission/Craftsman style but from any time since, of course. Any comments on its style/age? Marked on the bottom is a fraction: 254/1. What could that mark mean on the bottom of a mug. No other markings indicating marker. I think it's very attractive and fairly masculine, as well. It's hand painted.

[ATTACHMENT=2[ATTACHMENT=2410]Craftsman Mug 3.25.2012 001.JPG (143k. JPG file)[/ATTACHMENT]

 

[dopey]

Coffee mugs are inherently feminine. This is a nice one.

 

[Lafont]

Coffee mugs inherently "feminine?" I don't agree. I don't think of anything related to coffee as particularly feminine. Teacups, perhaps. They're typically "pretty" and often have flowers, etc. When I went on this big search for a coffee mug for work last year, after my Guggenheim Museum mug finally fell and cracked, I did find that with the antique/vintage cups many were actually shaving mugs (not appealing for coffee), beer mugs, or cups with saucers - none of which I wanted. I guess the coffee mug concept is from early 20th century but not that early. As for all the souvernir and/or silly types, perhaps from the '40s?

Thanks.

 

[dopey]

Perhaps your association of womblike receptacles in which hot liquid is injected is different, but the concept of gender assignment to inanimate objects has general applicability.

 

[Lucky Strike]

Stylistically, the decoration is Art Nouveau, or rather the German Jugendstil variant.

It's probably not as old as early 20th century, but it looks, at least, like something made in Germany between, say, 1895 and 1910. The most obvious reference would be Peter Behrens' designs, or something by the Brit/US arts-and-crafts movement, see CR Mackintosh.

The "fraction" on the bottom is most likely a factory code for model/decor (or decor/model). Very common on German and Scandinavian ceramics, but also found all over.

Pic of the mug's bottom, please? Would that be a "mugshot"?

 

[Naka]



Stylistically, the decoration is Art Nouveau, or rather the German Jugendstil variant.

It's probably not as old as early 20th century, but it looks, at least, like something made in Germany between, say, 1895 and 1910. The most obvious reference would be Peter Behrens' designs, or something by the Brit/US arts-and-crafts movement, see CR Mackintosh.

The "fraction" on the bottom is most likely a factory code for model/decor (or decor/model). Very common on German and Scandinavian ceramics, but also found all over.

Pic of the mug's bottom, please? Would that be a "mugshot"?

I feel like I'm watching Antiques Roadshow. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I thoroughly enjoy Antiques Roadshow.

 

[Lafont]

[ATTACHMENT=2482]Craftsman Mug 3.25.2012 004.JPG (155k. JPG file)[/ATTACHMENT]

 

[Lafont]

A shot of the inside. Unfortunately, I now see a hairline interior crack....[ATTACHMENT=2483]Craftsman Mug 3.25.2012 003.JPG (141k. JPG file)[/ATTACHMENT]

 

[Lafont]

One more view, showing how pattern is on two sides:[ATTACHMENT=2484]Craftsman Mug 3.25.2012 002.JPG (139k. JPG file)[/ATTACHMENT]

 

[Lucky Strike]

Hm, sorry, but I don't really have much more to offer in the way of information. My guess is still that it's German, though.

 

[Lafont]

Actually, I'd like to think of it as such. For years I followed my parents' example and tried to avoid German-made objects. It got to the point in recent years, however, that I believe anyone who had any responsibility for any horrors that took place in WW2 is dead or quite unable to have any connection with creation of something new. Thus I have wonderful German-made eyewear, a frame by Lunor, a wonderful leather watch strap by DiModell, etc. In this case the mug, assumbly would be pre-Nazi era.

Incidentally, regarding this tiny hairline crack I discovered inside the mug - might a bit of non-toxic glue do something to preserve the mug, perhaps?