I'll admit it...I have an addiction to china. No, not the country, the plates, the cups, the saucers....THE TEAPOTS! It's a tricky thing to love when space is limited. So I have to get creative in how I store and display my favorite finds.
My addiction to beautiful china comes from my mother. She also collects china, and has a beautiful china hutch, that once belonged to my Great Grandmother.
My mother has been kind enough to store my full set of Bavarian China in the Blue Garland pattern for me. I found the Bavarian China in an antique store in Williston for a very reasonable price. My Uncle (who is an antique dealer on the side) has helped me find extra pieces here and there.
 |
| Because my china isn't here, I couldn't photograph it. But I found this exact cup and saucer on Ebay, so I'll borrow the image to show you. It is NOT microwavable because of the silver edges. Found that out the hard way! |
The other set my Mother stores for me is the china I inherited from my Grandmother. It is a set of Royal Albert china in the Silver Birch pattern and is very pretty. My Grandfather bought them for my Grandmother when he was stationed in Alaska during WWII. When he returned on the train, he carried them on his lap the whole way so they wouldn't get damaged. I have half of the set and my Aunt has the other half. My Uncle has helped me collect other pieces of the set including the sugar and creamer.
 |
| Again, I don't have the china here so pictures from the web will have to do. See how colorful they are! It's been said that the pattern contains the state flower of each Canadian Province. |
I love the thrill of finding a good piece of china at a garage sales or thrift stores for 25 cents. The following are all garage sale and thrift store finds!
 |
| Here is the little display that sits on my antique sewing cabinet. |
 |
| Sorry the pictures are so fuzzy, low light. This is a Homer Laughlin Eggshell Georgian Pink. This was a garage sale find. It was in a box of dishes marked $5.00 but I explained I only wanted this particular little bowl and she was kind enough to let me have it for 25 cents! |
 |
| This is another beautiful pattern from Homer Laughlin. |
 |
| This is a serving bowl by Homer Laughlin. I like both the blue boarder and the pink. Would have a hard time choosing if I were having to pick out a whole set of china. |
 |
| This is another serving bowl, but this one is unmarked. Someone once told me that dishes in this pattern were grocery store premiums back in the 40's and 50's. You received a dish each time you spent a certain amount of money or bought certain products. I have a platter just like it that was my Great-Grandmothers that is also unmarked. I'd like to learn more about grocery premiums but there isn't much out there on the web about them. |
 |
| This one's kind of hard to see, but is also Homer Laughlin and sits on my high dresser chest. (That's Foxy Loxy standing next to it.) This platter has seen better days, but I still think it's pretty in a shabby chic sort of way. |
 |
| I've always liked this pattern Homer Laughlin Eggshell Georgian. This isn't one of my cups and saucers, I found this photo on the web. But I do so love it! |
 |
| I wish I could remember which blog this picture was from! I'm not positive but would say that these too are Homer Laughlin Eggshell Georgian. |
I think it would be fun to hang a collection of plates and platters above the bed in the bedroom. I know that the idea is becoming quite cliche and can be found in just about every shabby chic book and magazine on the market, but it's a neat idea for display.
 |
| Here's an example from the blog Love and Life at Leadora. I would use flowered plates instead of just white ones, but the concept is the same. By the way, I'm totally coveting that wrought-iron headboard. |
I'd need about 5 more saucers to do it successfully, so this summer I will be keeping my eyes peeled for flowery saucers at the sales.
Homer Laughlin China, Household Institute, Priscilla
ReplyDeleteDiscontinued pattern made in Newell, West Virginia, USA.
The Republic dinnerware tableware patterns were made in the early 1900s and lasted well into the 1940s. You will find a lot of the Priscilla pattern with the Household Institute stamp.
Household Institute 1941 - Household Institute is made up of the Nautilus,Republic, Oven serve and Kitchen Kraft. The Household Institute line was the result of a 1941 agreement between the “Homer Laughlin” and the “Club Aluminum”, Priscilla and Rhythm Rose patterns were a big hit with customers.
Jo Cunningham, “The Robins Nest” The Dish Patch Newsletter. In 1941, an agreement was entered into with the Homer Laughlin and Club Aluminum for dinnerware and ovenware for continuity plans in Food Stores Division. The first promotion was scheduled with the **Loblaw Groceteria, Inc. Buffalo, New York. The customer buys or is given a piece of dinnerware and is encouraged to come back the following week for another piece of the set.
**http://www.loblaw.ca/English/About-Us/History/default.aspx
Club Aluminum spelled out their wishes in the agreement with the Homer Laughlin. First, in accordance to the agreement, all merchandise had to be first quality; second, the decoration be assigned as the exclusive use of Club Aluminum. The name "Priscilla" was given to both N1639 and KK351. The third stipulation was that the Household Institute trademark be placed on the bottom of each piece except the teacups. The trademark on the ovenware should differ from the dinnerware. The Club Aluminum items were to be marked with their name only. They were also very specific about cartons and shipping.
Hi, Your serving bowl was made by Scio Pottery Co. the pattern is called Hazel, and yes the were giveaways in that time period. Also, you are correct about the table full of Homer Laughlin, I have a set of the Eggshell Nautilus.
ReplyDeleteHi there, my name is Monica and I too love collecting china.
ReplyDeleteI saw the unmarked pattern that you have. I don't remember exactly where I acquired it but I have several pieces, bowls and small plates.
I thought it was nothing special but now I know a little more about them. Thank you.
My grandmother had several pieces of the unmarked pattern. We live in South Georgia, so the pieces may possibly be found around the state if anyone is looking. I love your China.
ReplyDeleteThe unmarked set was sold at Ben Franklin stores by the piece my mother had a whole set that she bought in ND
ReplyDeleteI have a good many pieces to the unmarked serving bowl...I remembered my mom having this pattern and found just a couple pieces left when she passed away...however, was in a thrift store one day and there was almost a full set before me... I bought all they had and have them displayed on a wall shelf... even though they weren't hers just having that pattern reminds me of her.. I even gave each of her grandchildren a piece with a display easel for Christmas one year.. I can't say for sure but I think they may have been sold at The F. W. Woolworth Company (often referred to as Woolworth's or Woolworth). It was a retail company and one of the original pioneers of the five-and-dime stores. I'm going to check out the Ben Franklin store some one mention before... would love to know where they were made and the pattern name...
ReplyDeleteI have what I believe to be the entire set service for 12 with all the extra pieces of the Georgian Eggshell collection. Would love to find a good home as it was my Mother's and she passed this year. I even have the unmarked salt & pepper set as well as covered casserole and many extra pieces. over 100 pieces..... Never used no chips or cracks.. Would love to find out what it is worth. I noticed when I looked up to find the entire set, it mentions a nappy and not sure what that is?
ReplyDeleteThe Homer Laughlin plant was in West Virginia and upon a visit to a great, great Aunt in very rural West Virginia about 20 years ago she told us she was employed by Homer Laughlin. I wondered why everyone in the family had Homer Laughlin dishes. Beautiful and always a a great addition to any dinner table.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of the 'unmarked' china shown here...12 -13 dinner plates, lunch plates, coffee/tea cups and saucers, salad bowls, dessert bowls, serving platter, gravy bowl, sugar bowls .. would be interested in selling some ... my grandmother had these in her home, I got a few but added to it. I can even send you pictures.
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in selling, I would like to see pics and what pieces you have. I no loger use the "Friends in Low Places" blog. lamartian1438@gmail,com
ReplyDeleteI have several pieces of the unmarked pattern. They were my grandmothers and as you stated. They were grocery store give aways.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually follow "trends." As far as I am concerned, if you like your house, then that is what matters. I hung China on the wall before there was a "shabby chic." Hang those plates! Love what you have and show it off! I have several pieces of almost all these patterns.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child in the '60's & '70's, my mother decorated her home by hanging a gorgeous embroidered table cloth on the wall, she had bowls throughout the house full of seashells she collected. Our formal dining table was one large oblong and two square tables that were meant for a patio. Wrought iron and glass. These were coupled with an old oriental rug. She had a Japanese priest's stole hanging on the wall. My uncle brought it home from WWII.
Antiques in the living room paired with furniture purchased after the war.
She had only one full set of china, it was her mother's. Other than that, she liked to mix and match. She didn't want more than three pieces of any design.
Do what you like and don't feel obligated to any one style. A young lady came to a tea party at my house and as she sat, she smiled and said, "this reminds me of my grandmother's house. I was forty at the time and I took it as a huge compliment as she said it in a way that I knew she was comfortable and comforting!
Your home is yours, let it reflect you.