Tyneside jug

The jug below is attributed to Cornfoot, Colville & Co, North Shields, c1830.  I bought it on the internet knowing there were condition issues. Not least, it appeared discoloured and yellow.  When it arrived it was obvious it had been painted, all over, in wood varnish.  After sitting unloved in my office for a few months, I took my chances with a can of cellulose thinners.  Here are the results: 'before' pictures on the left, 'after' pictures on the right. You can click to enlarge and move from image to image.

Although the jug will always have a few cracks, it has a new lease of life. It took hours of patience to reverse someone's 10 minutes of madness with a paintbrush.  But the jug is now in our sitting room and no longer destined for a box in the attic.