How the season is shaping up

PLEASE: no liquids near the keyboard.

We've had 2 sales this holiday season. One transaction was with a gentleman in Belgium for a Wedgwood Jasperware item on the website. Despite daily (and sometime, hourly) attempts on both our ends, we were both unable to make the eCrater e-commerce work to our mutual benefit. It took over four weeks of back-and-forth emails, some good faith, and more than a little bit of "so THIS is why the global economy is messed up" on both sides before the transaction was SUCCESSFULLY completed. AND the customer, despite initiating the business in the first week of November, was able to take receipt of the item before Christmas. It was a real nail biter!

The second sale, not so exciting, is also not so successful. Seven soup bowls of Queensware, again shipped and taken receipt before Christmas. Only the customer ordered the incorrect variation of the design (one has a smooth edge - what I've got and shipped him; the other has a ruffled or scalloped edge, which is what they wanted, but I haven't any of). So that sale is coming back for a full refund.

No matter how many photos you take, or how careful the wording is in a description, people will see what they want to see and read what they want to read. Especially when Christmas is 10 days away.

Finds of the week - yes, from the same place

The first is the most impressive personal collection of Wedgwood Queensware I've ever seen, anywhere. I received advance notice of an estate sale and was able to procure this incredible, *131* piece collection of the cream-on-lavender dishes, with a few lavender-on-cream. It comprises 12 5-place settings with a generous number of serving dishes: platters, oval bowls, a covered casserole, a gravy boat, cream and covered sugar, ashtray and cigarette holder (used as a toothpick holder and tray), and 2 different styles of soup bowls, 6 of each.

My understanding is that the owner's mother acquired them in the 1960's and 70's. The condition of these dishes is excellent - there is a single cup that bears a crack; everything else is pristine.

Queensware was developed by Wedgwood for Queen Charlotte, who was so delighted with the result that she allowed the design to be named in her honor. It has been in production ever since - that is, up until the company's recent journey into receivership (the British term for bankruptcy). A private venture firm has purchased the company, but the future of Wedgwood remains uncertain.

And then there's this other acquisition. This would be a musical, mechanical, casket shaped cigarette dispenser. When wound up and the wooden button depressed on the side, the "Death March" plays. Open the top of the casket and a single cigarette is presented as the music is played. I can't say I'd ever seen one of these before! (And from the same estate.)