Saturday, September 30, 2017

Treasures From England: Blue And White China

As I have mentioned on a couple of occasions on this blog, I have a special fondness for vintage and antique china. Somehow I rarely go to thrift stores here in America, but when I am in England, I hardly pass one without taking a look. More often than not I get lucky to pick up a piece that I really like for a very reasonable price. That happened again on our last vacation in England in June this year.

Today I would like to share with you some of the treasures that I found on that trip. I am focusing on Blue and White China, which I simply love. It never gets old, is always so fresh and classy, and you can mix and match pieces to your heart's content even though they aren't the same pattern or from the same maker.


I just want to disclose up front that I am not a "serious" or particularly knowledgeable collector, who acquires vintage and antique china for its monetary value. I simply buy what I find pretty and what I love and, of course, what I can afford.



So here is my haul, except the stack of plates that the creamer sits on. Those are from my stash and I just used them to create a more interesting still life for the photo.



It is hard to say, but I think my favorite pieces are the little creamer with the matching sugar bowl. I found them in a thrift store in Winchcombe together with some other nice more colorful vintage china pieces. The sugar bowl is only about 2 1/4 inches high and the creamer measures about 3 inches. Both pieces are in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks.



Both, the creamer and the sugar bowl, are marked and I love the romantic name "Juliet" of the pattern. Because I was curious, I did a quick Google search, but couldn't pinpoint the age or today's value of the pieces. Anyway, I like the interesting and often very beautiful marks of the china almost as much as the patterns themselves.



What I absolutely love about the sugar bowl is this blue rose on the inside of the bowl. I think that this is totally adorable.



I like to display, but also use my vintage china for even greater enjoyment. The little creamer, besides holding milk, of course, would be perfect as a vase for flower posies from my garden. My husband and I don't use sugar for our tea or coffee, but the sugar bowl will come in handy holding some cookies or chocolates to go with it.



I think these three pieces make such a nice grouping.



The small (bread?) plate measures 7 1/2 inches in diameter and is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks. I will most likely hang it on the wall in our kitchen together with some other Blue and White China plates, that I already own. 



The plate is also marked. And no, I didn't take a blurry picture, the mark simply looks like this. Another quick internet search on this piece came up with very inconclusive results, except that the Jewel pattern was once very popular and produced by different makers. 



Last up is the little blue and white ginger jar. This one I bought at a section of the gift shop at Sudeley Castle where vintage and antique goods were sold by a dealer. The jar is very small, only about 3 3/4 inches tall, and is not marked. It has some crazing on the bottom and around the neck, which is covered by the lit.

Honestly, I assume that it is a new inexpensive piece produced in China. But I don't care, the price was right and it is a wonderful souvenir reminding us of our visit at Sudeley Castle. By the way, the castle had an absolutely wonderful garden surrounding it, which I intend to blog about in the future.



The little jar is decorated with three different kinds of flowers. The first one you already saw in the picture above, then this pattern shows up on two sides of the jar,...



...and then there is this flower pattern. I can't explain why, but I simply love this little jar to pieces. I most likely will display it on a shelf or our mantel, but also intend to use it as a small pretty vase. But before that, I have to test, if it is watertight.



I hope you enjoyed taking a look at my china treasures from England. In case you have some knowledge about the age and/or the value of the pieces that I featured in this post, please share it in a comment. It would be fun to find out more about these little treasures.



Inspired by my finds in England I will try to take a look at some thrift stores here in San Diego and see what they have to offer. How about you? Are you checking out your local thrift stores in search for beautiful china? Did you get lucky and found some nice pieces?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you liked today's post, next time I will continue with a garden-related topic again.

Wishing everyone a nice rest of the weekend!

Warm regards,

Christina


I am linking up to 
Rustic & Refined - Dishing It & Digging It  //  Dwellings - The Heart of Your Home - Amaze Me Monday  //  Between Naps On The Porch - Metamorphosis Monday  //  Cedar Hill Farmhouse - The Scoop  //  Sweet Sensations - Celebrate Your Story  //  A Stroll Thru Life - Inspire Me Tuesday  //  Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays  //  21 Rosemary Lane - Share Your Style  //  A Delightsome Life - Home and Garden Thursday  //  My Thrift Store Addiction - Vintage Charm  //  Eclectic Red Barn - Thursday Favorite Things  //  French Country Cottage - Feathered  Nest Friday //  Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup  //  Rattlebridge Farm - Foodie Friday & Everything Else  //  Shabby Art Boutique - Create, Bake, Grow & Gather  //  How Sweet The Sound - "Anything Goes" Pink Saturday  //  My Soulful Home - Sundays at Home  //


23 comments:

  1. Very pretty! While I make thrift shop donations at least a couple times a year, I haven't actually shopped the shelves of one in a very long time. However, I notice that a lot of bloggers seem to make fabulous finds there and keep meaning to stop by to see what I can find in the way of vases. One day!

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    1. Kris, I think, it is a fabulous idea to check out thrift stores to find beautiful vases. I can see the use particular for your for your spectacular Monday in a Vase blog entries!

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  2. What lovely blue and white finds Christina! Such nice pieces to bring home from your trip abroad.

    Happy Autumn ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Lorraine, thanks, it makes my treasures extra special to me that we brought them from our trip to England. Each time I look at them they bring up fond memories. Another bonus :-)!

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  3. I am fond of blue and white china too and you found some beautiful treasures. I do the same, at home I don't often visit thrift shops but when I'm in England I go crazy and always return home with some wonderful finds, indeed mostly blue and white, love it. England is also a heaven for antique garden book finds, oh, oh, I'm just back from Edinburgh (where I did not find anything) and I now already should like to go back again.

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    1. Janneke, so interesting to read that you also "only" visit the thrift shops in England and that you also had pretty good luck in finding nice Blue and White China there. Maybe it is not a coincidence and the thrift stores over there are particularly well stocked?
      I haven't looked for garden books in England, yet, but I could see that easily develop into another obsession...

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  4. Beautiful blue and white porcelain!Hugs.

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  5. I like your bowl of China blue. I buy sometimes some pieces. They are always right! Groetjes Hetty

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  6. I love the china you got. I am amazed at what people donate sometimes. In any country...have a great day!

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  7. These are so pretty, and my favorites are also the sugar bowl and creamer. They are petite, delicate, and gorgeous!

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  8. I am such a fan of blue and white and I absolutely love your pieces! I'm like you in that I buy what I find pretty, rather than for the monetary value. So glad I visited your post from Thursday Favorite Things!
    Debbie@debbiethisandthat.com

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    1. Deborah, hi, welcome to my blog! So glad to be able to share my love for blue and white china with another like-minded person! I have a feeling that there is more to come ;-)!

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  9. I found this on the SYS link party. Your collection is lovely. I'm a complete sucker for dishes. Especially dishes from England. Congrats on having them!

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  10. Your pretty treasures are the perfect mementos from your England vacation. I've always liked blue and white transferwares and have some Blue Willow tea sets in my collection. I like to treasure hunt for vintage teawares at church sales and thrift stores, but haven't brought anything home recently...which is a good thing!

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  11. I love blue and white china and these are very pretty!.... Christine

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  12. Christina, your blue and white collection is so lovely! Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm--pinned!

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  13. There is nothing prettier than blue and white china...you did good!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  14. I absolutely love the blue and white English china and have a couple sets myself.

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  15. I am with you...don't go here very often, but always hit them in the UK. Love the pieces you found, but then I LOVE blue and white! Love your finds!
    Ruth

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