Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Hey Smiley, I've been looking for you.....!

    A beautiful weekend in London, the sun was out, and the marathoners were putting in their 26.2 miles of achievement.  Having already ran 26 marathons in my past, I skipped this one, ( thankfully as I'm in terrible running shape nowadays) and took to the foreshore to find what the River would relinquish.  The tides weren't nothing to get to excited about, but I had two co-workers with me who were first timers, so we picked our way up and down the waterline in search of bounty.  I told myself I wasn't going to pick up anything unless it was really different, unique or valuable.  In the end, I held true to my word picking up the least amount of stuff ever.  I added about 40 pieces of slipware for my upcoming table project, finding a couple of rather large pieces, some glass, about 8 pipes that were pretty decent, 4 marbles, and a heavy duty musket ball.  But the best find was the smiling face from a Bellarmine jar!!  It was the first one I've found that had the face intact.

 
little acne on nose!
 
marbles
 
Musket ball, heavy, iron I believe
 
sunny and warm, the best detail of all
 
Although I didn't find all that much, it was a rewarding day.  My two friends found a sackfull of odds and ends, they are now ready to purchase some Wellies and go again.  I met a young American exchange student who picked up the mudlarking bug while studying in London, and lastly met two other treasure hunters, Keith and Shaun, two local guys who graciously volunteered to show me some other great spots to hunt relics in the near future.
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, April 4, 2014

Six Pence None the Richer........

   Last week while scouring the foreshore I found a coin, all discolored and covered in muck. It was low tide and it was wedged by an old piling.  I didn't look at it to closely, thinking it was just a one pence coin tossed in the river by walker byers on the path above.  Today, I looked at it again and noticed it was slightly thinner than a usual pence.  Cleaning it up, I was surprised to find a six pence coin, dated 1967, the last year they were minted.  Called a half- shilling in the past, it is often used by brides symbolically in their shoe for good luck .  Maybe this one is a precursor to some good luck coming my way mudlarking!!  I can only hope.

                                                                      Front  , about the size of a 5p

 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Like the bottom of a womens purse !


   The last few times out all I've found that that is worth picking up is little knick-knack things like buttons and marbles, pins and odd shaped items.  Maybe I'm being a little more selective!  I did manage to pick up some nice pipes, one that is quite long.  I picked up a little over 100 pieces of slipware to add to my soon to start table.  With about 825 pieces I think I'm ready to begin, once I find the right table that will withstand the weight of the slipware and the weather conditions outside.
   Any ideas you might have as to what you see is appreciated, as some of the items is guesswork.


                                          4 Buttons, all different material

                                                 Mother of pearl
                                               Black hard substance, not metal
                                               Nice little flower, I believe it is brass
                                                   Metal, can't find any info on this company


     A full wig roller. First one I've found complete, usually broken in half.  about 3 inches long, clay

                                            Bracelet, not old, made of glass beads

                                               seamstress needles, about 3 inches long, maybe
                                               used for heavier materials.  Metal object reminds
                                               me of aviator wings.  In process of cleaning!

                                               Round metal, smooth on both sides, size of 5p

                                                               decorative pipe
                                                                       side view
                                                                     back side view
                                                                green marble, worn rough from age
                                                         old mug of some sort.

                                                                         slipware  75 pieces
                                                               30 more pieces


                                                           banded slipware, mocha ware
                                                         colorful display item
                                                          what do you do with your?
                                                                medicine bottle bits
                                                                       like candy!!

           old sewer, water runoff from city.  To dark inside to venture in, maybe some real treasures inside!!  Too spooky for my courage level.

                                              Finally some decent pipes, just need some tobacco..
                                                              Compact for the discreet smoker!!

That's the story of the last few trips to the river.  Spring is here, the days are longer, the weather warmer, maybe the hunting will improve.  I am moving up river maybe next time to try out another area.