Is it possible to be in love with your dishes? If not, I need to see someone about some therapy. Because I just love transferware. Antique, vintage, or brand new reproduction -- it doesn't matter to me. I love 'em all. Is it the patterns? The colors? The air of eighteenth-century elegance? Did Jane Austen sit down to tea in Willow pattern cups? Am I even in the right century?
Blue and white is traditional, of course. I only have a few of these, and I love them dearly. But my Little Red House really cries out for pink/red and white. These are mostly reproduction Spode. I splurged on 12 place settings at Homegoods. It took alot of trips to gather that many dishes, but hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
I picked up a few brown and white last fall, and they looked great at Thanksgiving. It was only the four of us at dinner, so these didn't break the bank.
This summer, I happened on some Clarice Cliffe purple and white at the thrift store. My only regret is that I didn't pounce on them immediately. I wandered away to look at some milk glass, and another shopper snapped up six place settings while I was gone! Aargh! Again, four place settings seems to be my magic number.
Anyway, I just love transferware. Do you have a favorite color or pattern?
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I don't own any dishes as beautiful as those. I thought that I liked the blue the best. Then I saw the red/pink ones and changed my mind even though I'm not as in to pink as I used to be. Then I saw the brown ones! I couldn't choose a favorite so I would say that you're perfectly sane. But I'm probably not the best judge of sanity! Anyway, they're gorgeous.
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Julie
Hey - just in case it wasn't by choice, comment moderation is no longer activated.
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Julie
I too love love good dishes and a prettily set table too. I have some transferware but like using a plain set of Wedgwood dishes which I can accent with seasonal pieces and pretty table linens.
ReplyDeleteYour dishes are just beautiful!
hi there Sophie Honeysuckle (don't you love that lady?) is sending us to see your 'Practical Magic' kitchen which is wonderful _ I am having a sneaky look at work but will be back tonight. Your pictures are wonderful and I think you are actually living in an English Country House its beautiful. Dont be conned we dont all live in them!! note Sophies blog! I love the corner that you didnt think we should see and I can remember watching the Santa Claus film (where he keeps getting bigger and becomes him) and wshing the characters would move out of the way so I could see the room behind - my husband said I kept leaning on my seat as I tried to see around them!! at the gorgeous Xmas living rooms in American Houses. I love so many ranges of dinnerware that I can't decide what to have. I gave my Mam all my Willow Pattern and sold my Portmeirion on ebay last Xmas as I fancied a change - Bloggers be warned - never do that - I have wept quietly for my loss since then - why did I do it - cos the house mags kept saying how chic plain white was - off I went to Ikea - and set myself up within two days I hated it - it has no soul. So when I move I will start again and not 'chuck out the chintz' as they advised us in Ikea a few years ago(not that I did) You see its fabric that moves me to kiss it - though a little pot can come close! I am aiming for picking up a 1930's dinner service/ tea service - not both matching but complimenting each other.........dream ... bakc to work - I shall return to your lovely blog tonight as a treat - Catherine
ReplyDeleteI, too, am a dish-o-holic. I'll have to post some of mine. I fell for the majolica ones for a while. I also love the blue spode - but your're right the red is really special.
ReplyDeleteI don't own any transfer ware, but after looking at your collection I may have to keep my eyes open. I especially like the 1st picture of the brown and white floral.
ReplyDeleteMy love is for old linens! I have an insane amount of printed tablecloths... maybe I will feature them sometime.
Thanks for stopping by yesterday and offering words of encouragement. I continue today and hope to have things in tip top shape by the end of the weekend.
Rhonda
Hi! I just found your blog again. BJ was nice enough to direct me to you. I love dishes too but I am feeling challenged for storage since we moved into a smaller home. Transferware is great and goes great with toile that I'm also in love with. I'm one of those people that always has the table set. I love the way it looks. I know that Kenneth Brown (HGTV) says that's a no no but I don't care. Love your blog!
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Oh, no....it is NOT unusual to be totally in love with dishes. I've had a love affair of them most of my life. My mom left me a beautiful, LARGE set of brown and white transferware from England. Sooo pretty, in fact, that I gave the set to my daughter, she had her dad build a shelf all the way around her breakfast area and she displays the set there. They are to die for. Most of what I have now is the blue and white, which I love, too. I love using them for special occasions. NOW, however, after seeing all your pictures, I am on the hunt for RED !!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog!!
~bj
Hey - I found your blog via Sophie Honeysuckle's blog...I love the transferware, too, although I own none of it! But everytime I see it, it reminds me of "home". My grandparents had a few pieces...my grandpa would only eat off of one particular plate. Every meal...only that one plate. It was brown and white transferware. It was the only such plate they owned (all their other pieces were bowls, serving bowls, etc) and he was adamant that his meals be served on THAT plate. lol
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read more of your blog!
Kari
You know I love transferware too! I have mostly blue/white but I love the blacks and browns I've seen around lately too. I use mine for display but I think I'm going to slowly start buying them at Marshalls to use for everyday. With my tight budget it may take awhile! Yours are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I'll join you in Theraphy dear, where we would sip tea with our therapist!
ReplyDeleteI found another blog where the blogger combines Toile with tranferware. Simply Gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing.
I scrolled down to read other comments and that blogger I was referring to is Cindy from Romantic Home!
ReplyDeleteNow that I have seen all of your lovely pieces I *cough*...feel a little transferwareitis coming on! The brown is definately my favorite :)
ReplyDeleteDena
I love blue & white and brown & white transferware. But gosh, where do you store them?? My dish dresser is full, my kitchen cupboards are full ... there's no more room! I still manage to sneak in the odd piece but can't manage full sets anymore. ~ hugs, Lynda ♥
ReplyDeleteTurkeys - For God's Sake - The turkeys!
ReplyDeleteI love transferware too! I just did a post on it! So I think you have wonderful taste!
ReplyDeleteI love the red, brown, lavender, black and one favorite is green!
Penny
I love transferware, too. I have several pieces, all different patterns but mostly red. I do have the Clarice pattern in red..but just some saucers only. English patterns are my favorite. Thank you for sharing yours! Lovely indeed!
ReplyDeleteBecky
What a delightful blog you have. I came here by way of Sophie Honeysuckle. I love dishes, too. Let's not go to therapy~let's go shopping ;-) I don't have transferware, but I've always wanted RED trasferware. I had one plate and broke it. Wagh!!!! You have a wonderful collection. Oh, I do have one lone cup, no saucer.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a dresser full of blue & white then after some years I started buying red & white so I swapped them over! But I like all sorts of china so I mix it all up!
ReplyDeleteHave just found your blog & have enjoyed reading it.
I love transferware too! I collect blue & white china. Your brown and white "turkey" pattern is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLike you I love it all. I collect many and all colors.Found your from Nunnie
ReplyDeleteI collect blue and white, antique, brown and white, black and white and red and white! My favorite plate though is yellow and black! I only have one of those - that pattern is too expensive.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting me and leaving a comment.
I'll have to get the name of your therapist. I too am in love with my dishes. I have red and brown transferware but it's just a matter of time before the blue and purple creep into my home as well.
ReplyDeleteOh Mary...I do so love transferware. I have loads of blue and white things but am really starting to be into the browns, blacks and reds. Gorgeous! I too love pretty dishes and am in awe of yours.
ReplyDeleteI will let you in on a little secret...It is your home, in particular, that I envy so! Not jealousy mind you...I am so happy for you and so glad that you have found such a perfect nest. It is just my absolute dream home. The one of my very vivid imagination come to life! But I can see it every day through your blog...and revel in your excitement, joy and happiness at owning The Little Red House...
Blessings dear Mary!
Hugs,
Sue
My first visit to you blog....found you through Flickr....but I will definitely be back! I love your dishes.....the brown and white/fowers is my favorite :<)
ReplyDeleteRosie
www.rosieswhimsy.wordpress.com
I too am a dishaholic, having several sets for variety in tablesettings.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite general dish collection is blue and white --transferware such as Blue WIllow and Liberty Blue for the US Bicentennial, but also contemporary patterns, and Chinese, Japanese. In my study I have 2 green and white plates from Spode.
You have a fine eye for great designs; your selections are most attractive.
First, I absolutely love the way you describe yourself-(reluctant housewife). I can totally identify as a fifty something wannabe famous writer, journalist and/or artist. Second, I am a new fan of transferware, especially brown! Your collection is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI probably have 200 pieces of red and white transferware...lots of different pattterns, some old, some vintage, some new....all beautiful!! We use a 1960's pattern for everyday dishes...they may fade a little in the dishwasher, but heck, they will probably outlive me!!!
ReplyDeleteI can remember when I was a child a friend of my Mom's talked her into trading dishes. My Mom acquired Blue Willow. I can't remember what she traded but I remember saying I thought the Blue Willow were the ugliest dishes that I had ever seen.
ReplyDeleteHowever, today I have a few Blue Willow plates above my cabinets, Chinese Rice Bowls (given to me by my Aunt) which have actual grains of rice imbeded in them. My favorite is also the red/pink. My personal favorite transfer plate is a red/pink plate w/ Monticello. I'm also partial to a blue transfer plate of St Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square in New Orleans that my sister bought for me in an antique store in Baton Rouge, LA.
Love your thirst for, or addiction to, transferware! This addiction has begun many years ago amongst the elite in Britain and its colonies. It has been with us since early 1800 and continues today by proponents such as us. Yes it is an addition but is not fatal and does not need a cure. As time progresses you may want to upgrade and get rid of some of your earlier and less desirable pieces. Hence you will be making a step into the collector world of transferware and will develop a quench for the best. This is when real money will help you in attaining much better pieces as time goes bye.
ReplyDeleteTransferware, once upon a time was a way to gather the family around the formal dinner table for good conversation. The varying subjects of transferware always sparked a conversation.
The early history or origins of transferware are just amazing. should you wish to acquire more information, I suggest giving my website "Media" section a look.
Have recently fallen in love with transferware. Just picked up a few odd red pieces at a local antique shop. I've had a set of blue and white for many years, recently unpacked them and remembered how much I first loved them.
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