Fab Sadler Art Deco Teaset Added

This is an absolutely brilliant vintage art deco design 3 piece teaset I just added at Time Was Antiques, http://www.timewasantiques.net.

The teapot, cream and sugar was made in the 1940s and features an awesome art deco bubble and checkerboard design that I just had to post. I fell in love with it when I found it in England last trip.All 3 pieces are in excellent condition which makes it even more special! The teaset has been in storage for a few months since arriving so it was like Christmas to open the box and find it.

Lots more fun things to come from that box. I acquired a collection of vintage tea caddy spoons which were in that carton as well, so will start listing some this week. But more about that later.

I'm off to church now and it's sunny today which is always a treat in the Pacific Northwest!

Fred The Flour Grader Pie Funnel

Say hello to this cute little guy...a vintage English pie funnel or pie vent by the name of Fred The Flour Grader from Homepride Bread ads in the 1960-1970s. I just LOVE him! He's not what started me on pie birds or pie funnels, but it's the sort of thing that keeps me looking on our annual buying trips to the markets in England.
The figural Homepride Fred is made of glazed ceramic and stands 4 inches high with a hole in the top of his hat to let out steam. And in excellent condition with a cheeky grin! Pie birds were developed in the 1700s to release steam from a baking pie so the filling didn't boil over. He is SOOO cute! So look for a friend to cook with...they come in all sizes, shapes & personalities. Cool.

I have just loaded a number of vanity or dresser items of antique celluloid, and early plastic. Celluloid was known as the poor man's ivory and had great popularity on both sides of the Atlantic in the late victorian era through edwardian era from 1870-1920. Celluloid was made most often to mimic striations like ivory as well as the color of ivory and was used to make relatively inexpensive items in all sorts of things....toothbrushes, manicure sets, dresser sets, bowls, trays, jewelry, photo albums, collar boxes, etc.

Celluloid was malleable enough to be made into a myriad of shapes and was colored, molded, embossed and further disguised as everything from wood grain, tortoise shell and everything between. Because of it's susceptability to staining, cracking, melting and becoming "sick", a lot didn't survive. But there are many items still available at affordable prices and whole collector societies! Fun items from a bygone era. You can see the collection we have just added on Time Was Antiques at this CELLULOID link in the vanity item category.

Well, at least it's clear today, but after a night down to 20 degress, it has a long way to go to be warm! Hope it's more comfortable where you are....it's the coldest winter here for over 40 years. Go figure....

Wedgwood in bankruptcy

One of our favorite places to visit when we go to England to buy has always been the Wedgwood potteries at Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent England. We have loved watching the manufacture of Wedgwood jasperware and dinnerware on the factory tour and lingered long watching the skilled craftsmen making the delicate bone china flowers by hand that decorated specialty pieces. I am heartbroken to see the end of a wonderful tradition of workmanship and art.

Wedgwood, had been acquired several years ago by Royal Doulton, had also been merged with Waterford Crystal and was doing okay...even building and opening in late 2008 a wonderful museum in Barlastan. But the economic crunch meant they couldn't continue.

At the moment, no one is sure what will happen. Will this really be the end of china making in England? The end of beautiful patterns and skills that have taken generations to perfect? We hope not. We'll post if/when we find out anything else.

I have been SUCH a bad blogger!!! I can't believe it...life just happens and another day is gone. BUT plan to do better.

I have just added a fabulous Royal Winton teapot on Time Was Antiques.
The teapot is very different than the chintz patterns people usually think of in conjunction with Royal Winton, and also was made just prior to or very early in Royal Winton's association with Grimwades, an association they are famous for, whom they merged with in 1930.

The unusual teapot (and we also have a tall jug or pitcher in the same pattern) is in a pattern called Imari which was very popular from the late victorian times until about the 1940s. The pattern and colors are taken from the Japaneses patterns of the same name and region. The Imari pattern is rarely seen because relatively few items in the pattern were made, but I LOVE it! Talk about colorfull! What a terrific decorative accent as well as an elegant way to pour out at your next tea party!

Well, today I am busy adding more items from our last English buying trip. I am bound and determined to get them all on in the next month or so, so...back to work!

Well it's july already!!!!! We are holding over our 50% jewelry clearance.

We had an antiques brick & mortar shop for 25 years and my husband was a diamond setter and jeweler for 38 before he retired. We closed the business to go exclusively online 6 years ago. Our jewelry was one of our best sellers in the shop but hasn't sold as well online because you can't actually see the quality and there is so much dubious stuff out there so we are liquidating our fine jewelry and are going to stick to vintage costume ( we have a safe full).

So 14kt, 10kt & 18kt with diamonds, rubies, emeralds & other precious & semi precious stones are on sale to clear. There are some incredible deals.


We are still adding items from the last English buying trip (we got back in May). Just hit the Emma Bridgewater pottery Birds mugs. Great sellers from a fab contemporary English potter. They usually sell out quickly. We have Blue Tits, Tawny Owls, Black Headed Gulls and Pied Wagtails. CUTE!!!!


Went up to Hurricane Ridge at Olympic National Park yesterday for a fabulous view of the Olympic peninsula all the way across to Victoria, BC Canada. Gorgeous. Summer is really here and we are loving it!! But I sure do love opening the packing boxes from England...just like Christmas in June & July!

Have a great day!

Back from England...June Jewelry Sale

Well, we're back from our English buying trip. Had great weather for the most part and pretty successful trip. Have all sorts of neat items arriving. We find it's like Christmas! You have forgotten what you found 6 weeks ago when you packed the container. Amazing!!!!

We have brought home LOTS of British royal commemoratives, Wedgwood, Shelley China, small silver items like knife rests, open salts, sugar tongs and other fun things and are listing them just as soon as we can get them inventoried and photographed.

We bypassed London this year because of the hotel costs...they went up 30-60% over last year...and stayed in other areas of the country. You can see the new items at Time Was Antiques.


JUNE JEWELRY SALE

Also at Time Was Antiques
we are having our first ever jewelry clearance. We are calling it the JUNE JEWELRY JUBILEE and most items of 14kt, 18kt, 10kt gold, sterling silver etc are 50% off. The reduced items include diamonds, emerald, sapphires, semi precious stones, and the last remaining stock of jewelry from the King Tut exhibit in 1974 in San Francisco, Calif. Neat!

Well, we are going to look for the final house furnishings needed today since our September move, rugs & curtains. Should be fun but I know it will be tiring. It's been a cool winter & spring, 8-12 degrees below normal & the coolest for 20 years. So much for global warming....at least here. But....we love the sea air, so no complaints.

Have a great day!!!