Friday, July 6, 2012

Collecting Ironstone


I sincerely hope that you don't get tired of seeing pictures of my ironstone... If so, just avert your eyes :) I realized that I've not yet been able to show you this cupboard in it's entirety. The bottom shelf is very tall, so for a long time it's been either half-empty, or filled with other things, like large crocks, baskets, or stacks of painted boxes.


But I recently found these two large pitchers - one I bought on our Ohio trip, and one I found just last weekend here in Nebraska - and they fill in the tall empty space on the bottom shelf perfectly. I have been looking for a few more large (affordable) ironstone pitchers for a while, so I was tickled pink to find these.  



This little tureen is not new, but it's still one of my favorite pieces. I love the embossed vine pattern, and the bud finial. I've found some really great ironstone plates lately, too, and I love having stacks of them in my cupboard. My favorites are the old ones with embossed patterns. like wheat or flowers or simple ribbed details.


Over the last few months, I've gone through and sold off quite a few of the small pitchers, platters, and other pieces that I wasn't loving anymore. For my own collection, I'm gravitating more towards earlier English pieces with a bright white or even blueish white glaze, rather than the more creamy off-whites of later American pieces. I guess I'm becoming a bit of an ironstone snob! But I think that is the natural progression of collecting, no matter what it is... At the beginning, you buy whatever you find and whatever you can afford, and you love all of it. But as your collection grows, you'll usually find a certain style or shape or size or pattern or color that becomes your favorite, and you get more choosy about which pieces you bring into your home, and which you leave for someone else to love.

Or maybe that is just how I convince my husband that I am not actually a hoarder...


Speaking of hoarding collecting, I found some wonderful new crocks to add to the collection on top of my ironstone cupboard. The large, low number 2 crock was just what I needed to go with my number 1 and number 3, don't you think? I love finds like that - something I wasn't necessarily looking for, but should have been all along.


Happy weekend, everyone!

14 comments:

  1. I adore your collection!
    So many pieces similar to ones that I have. Love your numbered crocks also.
    They remind me of growing up in Pennsylvania where they are extremely coveted and popular!

    Have a great weekend.
    Alison

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  2. I love all of it.. Thanks for sharing.... I am a hoarder of ironstone too, and linens, and chandliers, and baskets(love the locker ones)! Enjoy your weekend..

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  3. I just love old crocks and can't get enough of them. And your ironstone collection is amazing! Who wouldn't want to see your beautiful photos?! Have a great weekend! :)

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  4. Your ironstone collection is lovely and beautifully displayed. I have a very small collection but hope to build on it. I recently found a Homer Laughlin tall ironstone pitcher at a garage sale for just $5. It's lovely and was a lucky find.

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  5. I totally love your style and love when you post. Thanks for such great inspiration.

    Blessings, Amy

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  6. You have so many wonderful pieces..Great collection..

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  7. i collect ironstone, too. :)
    it's SO true that you start off with what you can afford (or find) and weed through your favorites and start focusing on specifics from there.
    one can only have so much stored in totes in the basement! ;)
    i really need an etsy shop. wanna give me some advice? :)
    your collection is beautiful and i love that cupboard!
    i need one like it for my dining room.
    it's so fun to meet someone with such similar taste in decor!
    xoxo

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  8. You have a beautiful ironstone collection.I personally never get tired of looking at any ironstone collection.Especially yours.It all looks so pretty displayed.
    (((Hugs)))
    Anne

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  9. I love ironstones too. I collect tureens. I don't have a lot of them yet, but I noticed that my taste is changing already. I became very choosy the past months.

    Goedele

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  10. Just found your blog through someone's pinterest board. I too collect ironstone and my collections has grown to where I need to weed out, too so I totally understand what you are talking about. Love all your collections.

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  11. Well, I guess I found you before since I am already a follower!

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  13. Somewhere in this messy house I have a #2 crock and will be using it to make sauerkraut and i have an ironstone bread bowl

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