Page 28 - Alan Blakeman Collection catalogue

61. MARISANTA NUTURATIVE SALVE POT LID. 2.7ins diam. Multi coloured pot lid featuring an image of a crowd flocking
to a, presumed, miracle healer in his emporium? Outer gold band - most intact. Reads NUTURATIVE
SALVE/ CUTS SCALDS BURNS/ FOR ALL WOUNDS/ GATHERINGS BOILS WHITLOWS/ CHILBLAINS/ DRAWS AND HEALS. Across
the centre MARISANTA. Pale green to outside of lower lid part. Some overall
wear plus a small central flake and some lettering retouched - top L at
10-o-clock - repaired chip. Area of rusting at 4-o-clock and slight
green paint loss to lid side. Very few examples recorded so a
unique opportunity to own one of the rarest of all the ointment lids.
7.5?/10. NR. £600-800+
62. JOHNSONS CELEBRATED OINTMENT POT LID. 2.7ins diam.
Very strong/ crisp black transfer of Mr Johnsons magnificent home called the
Summer House. The manufactory was actually a black and white tudor building
just below, to the right as you look up at the house with two figures in the doorway and two
more below by a horse and cart. The surface is absolutely superb, just some wear and a curved line
down the side - see extra easylive images. Over the years I kept changing the one in my collection for a better transfer - this is a belter. 8.8/10. NR. £250-300+
CATCHING THE SCHOOL BUS
I’ve told this tale many times, but it was an important chapter in my life when I caught my school bus, 1960 to 1968, to Nantwich Grammar School directly opposite the imposing c. 1700 Medicine House standing very proudly on top of Wrinehill hill. Below, to the right, was the decaying, nay almost tumbling down, half timbered original Johnsons early 16th century manufacturing building, directly opposite the Blue Bell pub (now demolished).
The Medicine House was purchased for the princely sum of £1 in 1971 and rebuilt at Blackden Heath, Nr Holmes Chapel, on the West side of the railway line just before Jodrell Bank telescope. During my secondary school years we moved from Wrinehill Station House down in to the village to a small early 16th century black and white semi until we moved down the hill to adjacent Betley village. Our little cottage was bulldozed when we left to build two modern semis.
My father was a keen gardener and regularly participated in
the annual Betley Show of which Mr Johnson (grandson of the medicine maker) was the Chairman. At school I was taught by Mr Johnsons daughter.
When I started courting in 1967, with Gill, I accidentally stumbled upon some bottles whilst walking round Betley Mere - my collecting bug began from that day, but two years earlier I had also started my passion for rock climbing.
Whilst at University I regularly travelled home and with increased interest in old bottles and pot lids approached the Johnson
family regarding any possible pot lids they may have. They
had, indeed, got just one, which I recall was a giant (like a
saucer size) presumably from something like a guinea pot.
Try as I might they would not part with it!
Around that time Keele University conducted an
Archaeological dig on the site of the medicine house
uncovering a number of Johnsons Ointment pots and pot
lids.