Crested China 1 - Alresford

I have been collecting Crested China for just under two years. Crested China are items that were made as souvenirs or commemoratives of places and events often on vases, jugs and cups but also in other things such as vehicles and famous buildings. They seem to date from the first half of the 20th Century. Each has a Crest or Coat of Arms on them. Many items can fetch high prices as so often happens and the main maker that people go for is Goss. I am not interested in value or the maker, but what's on the piece and I always go for small pieces rather than the larger ones.

These two pieces were bought at a Charity Shop and depict the arms of (New) Alresford in Hampshire. These arms can be seen displayed on the wall of a building in the centre of the town today. The two handled vase was made by Imperial and the barrel has an inscription that says "Manufactured for F C Batchelor, Alton & Alresford" - likely the retailer who sold them who must have had a shop in each town. When out and about, you never know what you are going to find at Antique Fairs and Shops.