| Metal Items |
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Tortoise Napkin Ring
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Caterpillar
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A cast iron caterpillar, with integral matchstriker, on a brass ashtray. No YZ mark but identical to the YZ caterpillar ashtrays except for the overlarge eyes and the colour. The eyes are though typical of those of marked YZ pieces and green may well have been the original colour of the YZ caterpillars before the surface of the phenolic resin oxised over many years to produce the typical purple colouration - in which condition it is often referred to as Faturan. (See Ian Holdsworth's article on Faturan here for more information)
This piece was bought from a seller in the USA and it is something of a mystery. Was it made by/for Henry Howell? And, if so, was it made for sale as part of the YZ range? Or was it made, perhaps, as an advertising piece for display in YZ sales outlets?
I'd be delighted to hear from anybody who can shed some light on its origin.