Asking for advice on provenance taped on teapot.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

 

 I bought this adorable tea kettle about 8 years ago. I doesn't have any scratches, stains inside or dents. As you can see this note was taped to the bottom and remains there. If my calculations are correct, this would date 102 years old.

     So my question is: would you leave it? Remove it entirely or remove it and place it inside of kettle?

Thanks, Silver

[maxine*j · Accepted solution]

I would leave it exactly as it is.  That provenance is part of its charm, and the kettle's age is part of its appeal and a selling point.  If the buyer wants to use the kettle instead of just displaying it, let him remove the label.

-

[melda58]

Leave it!  If you remove it there may be a "ghost" - a lighter strip where the tape was.  It provides provenance as Maxine points out.  

Rita

[buyselljack2016]

@silverstatetreasureboxes 

It appears that there is another note under that one.

Perhaps to someone else before the note to Jan ?

[maxine*j]

---

@buyselljack2016 wrote:

@silverstatetreasureboxes 

It appears that there is another note under that one...

---

I think so, too, and that's another reason for leaving things as they are.  Let the buyer decide what he wants to do with it -- use it, leave it just as it is, try to remove the top label in such a way as to preserve the one beneath it.

-

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@maxine*j 

@buyselljack2016 

There is another message as I did look, I'm going to leave it alone. If I start to peel that tape I'm afraid everything will come off. I didn't even wash the bottom before I posted here.

    Much thanks for everyone's comments and advice,  your all the best!

[spark-chaser1]

I would leave that... To me, that is a major plus.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@spark-chaser1 

Thanks spark, yes I'm going to leave it. Normally I wouldn't even question a provenance left on an item but this was a teapot/kettle so I'm glad I came here first. Thank you for your imput.

[spark-chaser1]

I collect militaria. I have items that in themselves, are " dime a dozen". 

In that collection, is a pine cone. It has a note stuck to it that explains that it was a pine cone from the Civil War battle of seven pines, and that a writer of the note, picked it up as a souvenir of the battle and carried it for good luck until he was discharged.

Lose that note, its just a pine cone... 

[maeday76]

I also vote to leave as is. 

Couple things.

1. The handwriting is EXACTLY the same as my grandmother's, and she was born in the 19 'teens. So, I am very inclined to believe the note AND keep it out of historical interest. 

2. You may be able to see the note underneath this one by hitting it with a blacklight. If the ink is the same, you probably won't get a contrast, but if it is different, there's a chance it will show up. 

3. Could you post what the label says? I can't quite tell how it reads and I want to know! 

Cheers, @silverstatetreasureboxes 

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@maeday76 

Sure Mae, here ya go.

 Apparently the author lived in Alpena ( could be Michigan) and worked in a garment factory. I liked it because of the jadeite color and I have a huge collection of jadeite. I was leaning on selling it as I was cleaning out my kitchen of treasures galore.