My Favourite Vintage Shelley Plate with Delicious Chocolate Iced Cup Cakes
I’m rather afraid to say that I’m a returner to vintage. I’d like to say I’ve always been keen on a charity sale or a local antiques fair but that simply isn’t true. Growing up, my parents, who were married in 1950, aspired to all things new. That’s not to say that they bought new all the time, they simply didn’t have the money for that, but they did aspire to and appreciate a long saved up for new item. So that mind set has really been my go to. Over the last few decades, I think that’s been the accepted approach of the masses. When the children were growing up, new was really all we considered. It was simply easier. The big enemy of using vintage is time. You rarely know what you might find from a source and need to be able to either collect for that rainy day or have the time to seek out what you require. It’s a different way of shopping and indeed, way of life if taken that far.
In my China Cupboard: Portemerion 'Totem' and Vintage Cups
Before we had children, I developed a keen interest in antique fairs and visited many across the country. My main point of interest was pottery or china. I’d like to say it started with a dish, but I do think the interest was there first. I loved blue and white pottery as do many of us, judging by the collections I regularly see featured on social media these days. I’m not sure where the love came from, we didn’t have any at home. The deep blue was fashionable in the 80s – I’m remembering electric blue jumpers and eye liner – but the pottery, I don’t think so. I remember a conversation with my Mum about my liking for Willow pattern. I can’t say I knew much about it. She went over to the sideboard (which was a fine example of mid-century modern furniture, but I didn’t know that and certainly didn’t appreciate that then or indeed later) and fished out what she described as her antique.
The Mystery Dish Where it all Started
The Illusive Markings (all help welcome)
This understated piece of blue and white pottery has remained a mystery ever since. I still have it, using it every day to house my make-up on my dressing table. The provenance Mum was able to provide was limited and slightly dubious perhaps. I can’t say she was really very interested. Still, the dish had been a wedding present or maybe engagement present from someone who ‘should have known better’. Meaning of course someone who could ‘well afford something nice and new’ and useful to the happy couple. Instead, this dish was presented as an antique. Given then that this would have been around the 1950 or maybe late 40s, it’s older than that. The marks on the bottom are sadly lacking - an impressed diamond being the sum total. To add to my Mum’s indignance it is also slightly chipped. It’s an old chip though, she’d never had it out the sideboard and I’ve always treasured it so have given it extra care. There we have it, no further along with the story I’m afraid, I can’t identify the maker or pottery and I have no idea of its real age. (All help welcome).
Part of my Poole Pottery Volcano Glaze Collection
The humble dish was enough to spark further interest which resulted in my pre-children antique fairs trawls. I developed a working knowledge of English pottery, favouring 1920s and 30s with a few distinctive patterns from later years thrown in. I have never thrown money at this hobby. It was very much a thrift approach. This mindset influenced the eras and makers I admired and sought out. Buying only what I liked and only what was just a few pounds. For example, I have a collection of the brightly coloured Volcano glazed Poole pottery which I enjoy to this day but all of it is relatively modern reproduction as realistically the originals are pricey. I love Shelley, especially the unusual Harmony pattern. As I understand it, this was developed as a new decorating technique in the 1930s and at the time was not especially popular with the painters as it was quite tricky. It essentially involves glazes being applied whilst the piece is spinning creating a spiral drip effect. My words are not doing the style much justice I’m afraid. It is a great regret of mine that I don’t own much blue and white pottery and no actual Willow pattern, despite still really loving it. Perhaps this time around I should start there with rejuvenating my vintage collections.
After a long break whilst the children were growing up and frankly, I was working all hours with no time for hobbies, I’m slowly rekindling my interest in all things vintage – well some things perhaps. I’m drawn to my safe zone of pottery of course. The market has changed somewhat – flowery teacups of the 40s and 50s that were so abundant when I started looking are a bit like hen’s teeth to get hold of. People have snapped them up for vintage tearooms and wedding china it would seem. The prices of the bits that I used to be interested in, the Shelley and other 1930s patterns have held mercifully low or seem to on first inspection. The thing is, I have the urge for things that are useful, that I can put out on the table with cake, toast or even sausages from the barbeque. Or bits that are practical in the garden or as storage, not just trinkets to keep and admire like a stamp collection. I think that’s how my vintage journey is changing. Knowing how I felt emptying my parent’s house after their deaths, now more than ten years ago, and how little we kept or their household stuff as a family, I’m not sure anything should be held onto in a cupboard. If it’s not used or decorative then on it goes as someone else can have the enjoyment.
To celebrate my vintage journey, I am posting on Instagram (@claire_smithslife) weekly videos sharing pieces from my vintage collection and my new finds. A few bits are modern but beautiful and perhaps the vintage of the future. If you would like to see or follow along the short videos then follow me (@claire_smithslife) or the hashtag #musthavemusings. The first episode is live this week.