Up for sale this afternoon is one of the renowned "Yukon style" or "Yukon Pattern" porcelain beehives, as were used along the Yukon telegraph line in the late 19th century. It's an erroneous belief that these were used only on the Yukon line, as they have been found in other parts of Canada on lines dating to, or repaired around the time of that line's construction. This particular example originated from a S.W. Ontario collection last summer and is one of three or four I've turned up here in Ontario. The porcelain is crude, rough and the entire insulator is somewhat squished out of round in the base. The pinhole is unglazed and comes to a sharp pointy top, and the insulator has the classic Canadian "grooved base" feature, as these always do. The glaze is a crisp pure white, and for a bit of extra character there seems to be a small from-manufacture chip on the base edge. It isn't glazed over, but small bits of glaze overlap its edge upon close examination.

The condition of this one is good, with one base bruise next to and disguised by the from-manufacture chip on the base edge which extends into the area on the inside of the skirt as a 7/8" black line. This crack is nearly invisible from any display angle apart from a base view. There are also 4 small lower wire ridge flakes from the line wire, but the piece displays mint from at least one angle. The dome top has some darkened circles that look as though the piece may have minor glaze cracking from being whacked with something on the dome top, but only one very small 1/8" ping of actual chipped glaze is visible.

Now asking $11.00 USD plus shipping for this tough Canadian 'hive variation. I accept PayPal, or personal cheque from any member of ICON or any collector with whom I have dealt before. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or for more photos, and look through my other items or unsold sales stock to combine shipping on items.