And now for this month’s post from Cindy, my fabulous contrbutor!! She ALWAYS has the best ideas. Here she is!
Hi everyone! Cindy here from Edith & Evelyn Vintage!
Are you a lover of antique and vintage ironstone dishes like I am?
For me, collecting these creamy white dishes began with one very special piece….a piece that I had completely forgotten that I even had.
Several years ago, I started seeing vintage ironstone pieces showing up in all the beautiful home decorating magazines.
It was displayed in old painted cabinets, on antique sideboards, and on open shelving in gorgeous kitchens.
The more I saw it, the more I became drawn to it.
I loved it’s simplicity, and also the visual impact it made when displayed in large collections.
Around the same time that ironstone started becoming very collectible, I was also in the process of slowly transitioning my own decorating style to one using more neutral colors.
I was slowly changing out upholstery, painting walls, and generally decorating with more whites, creams, grays, and blues.
I kept being drawn in by the look of the old ironstone dishes, and wanted those creamy pieces stacked up in my own cabinet.
I made the decision to actively start looking for, and collecting, vintage ironstone.
Then it suddenly dawned on me.
I actually already owned a piece of antique white ironstone.
It was a lovely, petite, English tureen by Bishop & Powell. A family heirloom that I had packed away and had completely forgotten about.
It had belonged to my grandmother, then passed on to my mother, and then to me.
Grandma Cooper always called it a gravy bowl, complete with a small ironstone platter that was always placed underneath it to catch any drips.
It was passed on to my mother {Edith}, and she continued the tradition of using it for gravy. Most often it held her sausage gravy, made to smother the handmade, from scratch, biscuits that she was “famous” for.
This precious ironstone tureen has been well used by several generations, and I’m often amazed that it has survived without getting broken.
Once I realized that I already had the first piece in my collection, I searched in earnest for more pieces to add, finding pitchers, tureens, platters, and bowls.
It didn’t take long for me to amass quite a collection.
Now, I try to only collect English ironstone, and I’m really excited when I find a piece that has the Bishop & Powell hallmark on it, the same one that marks Grandma Cooper’s gravy tureen.
I love finding the old ironstone sugar {or biscuit} jars, though they are getting harder to find, and at the top of the “ironstone wish list” is an ironstone cake plate. I’ve yet to come across one, but I’m always looking!
During my search for old ironstone, I came across English marmalade jars and French mustard pots, many from the late 1800’s.
These old transferware advertising pots had such great graphics and they display beautifully among the ironstone dishes.
I was very excited when I found these old English marmalade jars by Frank Cooper.
Hmmm…..a very distant relative perhaps? I like to think so!
The Frank Cooper marmalade jars are a rarity and I’ve never found any here in the States, mine have all been bought from English sellers. The James Dundee marmalade jars are a bit more commonly found.
The French mustard pots, with their wonderful French graphics, are a fabulous addition to the ironstone collection as well, with different styles, depending on the year they were made.
My favorites are the very early ones from the mid to late 1800’s, with their skinny necks.
It’s fun collecting vintage ironstone, marmalade jars, and french mustard pots, and displaying them together.
Prices have certainly gone up with the surge in it’s popularity, and in my area at least, it is now getting difficult to find.
Which makes it even more fun to search for!
So, tell me, do you love ironstone? Do you collect it? Or is there something else that you love collecting, instead?
Cheers,
Cindy
I have come to love white ironstone as well and am looking for well priced items. In addition, I have a small collection of Hull vases that I started because my mother had one of the large ones. Another think I love is teacups. Not matched, just unique.
Linda, your collection sounds beautiful!
Dear Cindy,
I admire your style and would love to receive your blog. Please add my name to your
email list.
Thank you, Irene Peterson
Thank you so much Irene! If you will click on “Cindy’s blog EDITH AND EVELYN” at the bottom of the post, it will take you to my blog and there is a Subscribe area to enter your email address on the right side of the page. I would love for you to follow along!
I LOVE white ironstone, but about twenty years ago, I collected the kind with green stripes. I have over 300 pieces. I’m now collecting the plain white kind to use along with the green striped pieces. White ironstone always sells very well in my shop, Juju Queen’s Junk, too. Sometimes it’s hard to decide which pieces I want to keep and which ones to let go! One of these days, I’m going to start collecting the marmalade jars and mustard pots, too. You’ve made me love them, Cindy!
Judy
Thank you for commenting Judy! I remember you posting about the ironstone with the green stripe, and I never run across a piece of it that I don’t think of you!
I’m relatively new to Cindy’s blog but I’m so HAPPY with the discovery. I love her style., it speaks to me in so many ways. I’ve visited her Etsy shop and it’s a favorite. I don’t collect Ironstone but ‘m starting a collection of vintage transferware. That is my love.
Cindy
Thank you so much Cindy! I love transferrer as well…as a matter of fact I just picked up a couple of small pieces recently that I am smitten with. It may be the beginning of a new collection!
*transferware
Your ironstone collection is fabulous, Cindy. So is your dining room! Love the gilt wing back chairs.
Thank you Jana! I get so many compliments on those wing chairs! I found them several years ago at an antique store, didn’t buy them, but couldn’t sleep for thinking about them. Went back the next day, scared that they would be gone, but they weren’t, so they came home with me. Love them!
why is it the only word that comes to mind is gorgeous! Truly love it all. I collect white pitchers and love ironstone too. You have an incredible collection. Thank you for sharing at Anita’s I I invite you to share this post at Katherines Corner. ( you can link up through Saturday at midnight) Hugs!
I love your style and your ironstone collection is fabulous. I like the marmalade and mustard jars also. You have excellent taste.
I wondered about your shelves with brackets. Did you have a cabinetmaker make them or what is your source. It would be very helpful to know. Thank you.
Hi Bonnie! Thank you for your kind words! The open shelves in the kitchen were very simple to make. We made them ourselves, using ready made, “off the shelf” wood brackets from Lowe’s and a piece of wood {cut to the correct size} from Lowe’s. If I remember correctly, we had to cut a section off of the bottom of each bracket to shorten it so that they would work in our space. It was really an easy project!
Thank you so much Katherine!
What a wonderful, interesting post! Thank you for sharing about your great collection. I am particularly fond of your fantastic English & French jars. I would love to find some of those.
Thanks again,
Michelle from simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com
Thank you Michelle!
Love this post! Your collection, both the ironstone and transfer printed jam and mustard crocks are wonderful! I collect, and sell, transferware and part of my collection consists solely of advertising pieces. I just love them! I agree, the Frank Cooper marmalade jars are much harder to find in the States.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Nancy!
I have a collection of pink milkglass which started with my mother’s cake plate. My newest obsession is Polish Pottery.
I came across your web page and noticed that you also have a love of white ironstone.
I wanted to let you know that you are far from alone; the White Ironstone China Association, an educational association centered around white ironstone china, has a presence both online and off.
We have members from all over North America, many of whom gather at our yearly convention. We have speakers from around the world who give presentations regarding this shared obsession.
We have a web page and a face book page, and if you ever have questions regarding marks, makers, items, etc., we have many knowledgeable members and resources available.
https://www.facebook.com/WhiteIronstoneChinaAssociation