My Vintage Crockery Collection //

Something slightly different for you guys today! My dear friend Denni (who's just started her own blog over at Elderflower Press, give her a follow) was asking me about my teasets, where I got them, and wanted to see some photos. Now I've been collecting them for about 8 years now, so they're from a pretty diverse range of places, but I thought I'd do a little post about them, where they're from, some of my ~thrifting tips and so on!

I got this gorgeous set of teacups at Vintage Heaven on Columbia Road, London (which incidentally also has a fab cafe attatched) It's an absolute trove of vintage goodies, I think it's basically one woman's expensive collection which she's decided to trim down a bit. She had a lot of lovely stuff, it wasn't cheap but it also wasn't expensive. I'd really recommend going if you get a chance, Columbia Road on a Sunday is an absolute treat. It is only open on the weekends so factor that into your plans!

It's not just teacups I collect, but cute animals too!

Crown Clarence

Bilton Ware, Staffordshire

The 'Crinoline Lady'

You'll notice this lady on a LOT of vintage crockery once you start looking... I believe she's known as the crinoline lady! I have her in a pink and yellow frock, on different sets.

Paragon Ware

This is a dainty set I got from a charity shop somewhere years ago. Charity shops (thrift shops for any USA readers) are usually your best source of vintage china. Inexpensive and varied, I'm a bit obsessed with diving into charity shops on the off chance they might have some lovely bits hidden away! They're something you must be patient with, as it's totally luck of the draw what they might have. I find charity shops in small towns, or places with a high elderly population, are the best ones!

Tamsware

Okay I have to say I am besotted with this set! It's just so gorgeous, it's like a dolls tea set! But for people! Ughh I love it. I got this from a vintage/junk shop in Otley (one of my local excellent charity shop sources) for just £6. I want to start collecting these 'tea for two' sets as I love the idea of them, the tiny teapot just perfectly holds two cups of tea. I've taken another photo for scale as to how big it is:

So tiny! So cute!

I got this hollyhock printed one from a junk market in Todmorden (which runs on a Thursday) for a couple of pounds, some of the cups are slightly chipped but it was so beautiful I couldn't resist! Plus I thought the plates/working teacups may be handy one day if I do open the cafe~

This was another charity shop buy. I'd check your local car boot sale listings, they often have them in school fields, marketplaces etc (if you're in the UK you can check this site for information). I'd go to car boots every weekend if I didn't work on a Sunday! Most market towns will have a weekly flea/junk market.

I try avoid vintage shops just because they can get quite expensive, but I've picked up some lovely stuff for reasonable prices at vintage shops in the past so don't write them off. I think for me, it's the thrill of finding something, chancing upon something wonderful, that I enjoy, so vintage shops, Etsy and eBay are a bit easy (though fantastic sources for all kinds of amazing stuff!)

Vintage deer collection.

I also have a small collection of vintage deer that I've been working on for a few years now. I particularly like very kitsch, big eyed, eyelashed, slightly creepy looking ones (similar to the one middle-front-left) which I'll be looking out for next week in Brighton! I actually got a new one earlier this week who I looove, pics on my Instagram (link above).

So in short: charity shops, car boot sales and flea markets are the best places to source vintage china and other goodies. I'm super happy to try recommend places in certain cities around the UK (and a few abroad) if anyone wants, and if you have any great tips for me I'd love to hear them!