IT might not have a genie inside, but the little old pottery vessel spotted in a local barber-shop, still contains a mystery that reader Carl Dingsdale hopes customers of this column can crack.

Standing about four inches high and with a cream body and caramel-brown top, the flask-shaped miniature, complete with jug-style handle, is smothered with text, though it bears no date.

And Carl, from Thatto Heath, hopes that this text will supply clues as to the origins of the little conversation piece.

Round the neck is the traditional toast: 'For Auld Lang Syne.' And in bold lettering is the name of the supplier: Sterlini Whisky; D & J MacEwen & Co., Sterling and Branches.

It was while being sheared by his neighbourhood hairdresser that Carl's eye alighted on the item. And it got his mind bouncing along the local history trail. It left him wondering whether the whisky miniature might have been manufactured in St Helens, at perhaps the long-gone Tea Pot factory. Clayholes were once vigorously worked in this area and novelty items produced from their output.

The Alexandra Hotel (better known to Thatto Heathers as th'Alex) was demolished in recent times and Carl understands that the tiny drinking vessel was unearthed when the pub's bowling green was dug up.

It was among a variety of ancient 'pubabelia' which came to light in a cave-like hole which could have been an old cellar area.

Carl's barber was given his little mystery vessel by the demolition workmen as a shop-shelf souvenir.

And Carl hasn't let the grass grow under his feet in pursuing clues as to its origins, though he'd love to have his findings expertly verified.

"I've discovered," he says, "that items such as this were probably manufactured around 1932 by the old Tea Pot works at Ravenhead, from material obtained at a nearby clayhole.

"They may have been especially ordered by a bowling club based behind the old Alex, perhaps for a New Year celebration."

CAN any pot-collecting enthusiast or student of local history copper-bottom these findings; or perhaps provide an alternative theory? If so, please drop me a line at the Star.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.