Just found this on my crowded office shelf. Obtained it on eBay a couple of years ago, put it to one side, then forgot about it. As you can see, it is a little China football (about 2.5in in diameter), and bears the coat of arms of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Well, I think it's supposed to be a football - the pattern of the 'leather' seems to be more like that of a basketball, but it does have the tell-tale stitching on the top...
Anyway, on the underside it bears the mark of 'Florentine China', which (according to the internet) was a product of 'Crested China & Souvenir Ware' of the Taylor & Kent Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent. And it dates to 1900-1925 - so it's around 100+ years old. By most people's definition that makes it an antique. Cool. Though it's still only worth about a fiver.
There's also a little red spot-stamp on the underside. This means something, as I've noticed this sort of thing on other examples online. If anyone out there knows what this means - or indeed anything else about the piece - do let me know. I would, for example, love to know why it was produced ... perhaps for a special event (football related?).
Anyway, back on the shelf it goes.
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