What Are These Little Pots?

[horseshoes]

http://i62.tinypic.com/2iawnee.jpg

I have a lot of old stoneware pots and bottles, but I don't know what the 3 at the front of the photo once held. They are just 9 cms tall (approx 3.5"). Does anyone know? Thank you.

[Zeuhl]

sandwich paste?

[EcclesCake]

The shape isn't dissimilar to a milk churn. Perhaps they were for cream?

[carrust]

Honey?

[sandyRoe]

Jam or, as already suggested, honey?

[anneasquith]

I thought milk but too small,. any marking underneath the bottles ?

[EcclesCake]

It was their size that made me think cream.

[horseshoes]

No makers's mark just a pattern number.

[horseshoes]

All the cream pots I've googled tend to be this shape.

http://www.rubylane.com/item/782458-AS110/Victorian-Transfer-Stoneware-Dunragit-Preserved-Cream

[tamborine]

Theyre flagons, to hold any consumable fluid to be kept cool.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cider+pot&aq=f&;oq=cider+pot&aqs=chrome.0.57j0l3&client=tablet-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

[Zeuhl]

http://www.antiquebottles.co.za/Pics/Categories/PrintedPots/Anchovie.gif

[EcclesCake]

Have you found them all in the same area or have you collected them from far and wide?

I agree that Google seems to show that the style in your later pic is the typical, but I did find some like your original pic too. It could be that they were a local style???

[horseshoes]

Tambo, I would doubt that to be honest, they're far too small.

Strangely enough, Colinandjess, when I was first trying to decide what they were, they reminded me of the early 1960s Ski yoghurt pots! So not as bonkers as you thought!!

Eccles, all from the same area.

[EcclesCake]

Here's an example that looks like one of yours Horseshoes

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=stoneware+cream+pot+antique&hl=en&source=lnms&;tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=-pahU6_XJoTb7AaZ2IGgCQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=672#facrc=_&;imgrc=LkzaHjfPV9-VQM%253A%3BpXlV412ypOUIzM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi.ebayimg.com%252Ft%252FVINTAGE-IRISH-STONEWARE-CREAM-POT-MALCOMSON-BROS-Ltd-CASTLE-PLACE-BELFAST-%252F00%252Fs%252FNzU2WDUzNg%253D%253D%252Fz%252FGKoAAOxycmBSwawT%252F%2524_35.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fitm%252FVINTAGE-IRISH-STONEWARE-CREAM-POT-MALCOMSON-BROS-Ltd-CASTLE-PLACE-BELFAST-%252F161186506502%3B212%3B300

[stuey]

Horseshoes, you say that pattern numbers are present on the base of this pots. Could they be patent numbers? If so, they can be researched. However, if they are really pattern numbers Google "english stoneware pattern numbers" and see if that takes you anywhere.

[horseshoes]

Hi Stuey, I just looked again and there are different numbers! 429 and two 377s. I'll try that. Thank you.

[horseshoes]

Eccles, YES. There is one on here exactly the same (except it has writing), but yes the same shape. Thank you

[stuey]

I'm assuming that these numbers are stamped or printed on so they are plainly visible. Look at the base slowly rotating it and moving it sideways so that a good light source is hitting the base at various angles. You may see impressions and/or embossings on the base which have worn down and are not visible by just peering at the base straight on.

[stuey]

As an afterthought, you should use this technique on all surfaces of the object in question The secret is to tilt it and move it SLOWLY so that the light hits it from all directions.