Expert: Martin G Roberts - 11/18/2003

Question
Thank you, I aquired this from an auction Between Reno Nevada and Lake Tahoe at a place called the Reindeer Lodge. I have composed a web page with detailed pictures at
http://www.gulftel.com/emoody/thing.htm
There's only one stamp or mark (that I've found so far) that's shown in the last picture. My cousin, by marriage, Gary Schmidt owns the Lodge and collects everything from Fire trucks to tee pees. And he said he had a friend in special ops that was on the trail of Osama in Afganistan and they almost caught him but he got away and found this pot in the cave. Nobody listens to or believes Gary though. haha. Any help is greatly appreciated.  

Answer
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Not a style I recognise, though it could be of middle-eastern origin. Afraid I never believe stories that attach significant names (historical or otherwise) to pieces unless I see strong corroborative evidence. It is commonplace for families to construct mythologies around heirlooms, but they are almost never true. If all such myths were believed, England would be awash with beds 'once slept in by Charles I / Charles II / King William / fill in your choice of merry monarch...'.

Best regards

Martin
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Martin Roberts
ANTIQUEMETALWARE
Shropshire, UK
stynt@btopenworld.com
www.antique-metalware.co.uk