Vintage Crockery

Vintage crockery and tableware are easy to find and a very practical yet aesthetically pleasing addition to your country home. For a particularly modern approach, search out blue and white china patterns but for a more antique, chintzy style, mix and match crockery colors.

A great way of recycling and being more Eco-friendly is to pop into second-hand stores and antique shops, and rummage for good quality used crockery.

A Shabby Chic Dining Table

Creating the perfect shabby chic interior is your first step. If you don’t have a dedicated dining room, then clear out the center of your largest space, and place you table in the center. Cover the table with a gorgeous fabric cover, and add a table runner down the middle for added effect.

Pop some candles along the center of the runner, and add a feature display at the center of the table. Make sure that there are flowers at or near the table, real or fake, depending on which you prefer. This would be the perfect time to add vintage cushions to the seats; if you’ll be seated for a while, it is far more comfortable.

Set a place-mat, napkin and coaster for each dining guest. And make sure each set place has a name tag, so that you’ve pre-thought the seating arrangements. It’s important to mix up the talkative people with the quieter people, so that the conversation is always flowing.

Then you must decide on which plates, bowls, cups, glasses and silverware you want to use. Make sure each course has its own plate and each person has a water glass, wine glass and perhaps a coffee mug for afters.

Think about your shabby chic color scheme; if you are a creative person, experiment with different colors of plates and tableware, and non-matching sets. But, if you’d rather have a more formal approach, then find a vintage crockery set that has a pretty and cheerful design. Dabble in colored glass and jugs too, which are little bit quirky, and individual.

Vintage Crockery Designs

There are particular designers, that you need to keep an eye out for, including Wedgwood, Spode, Minton, Royal Worcester, Royal Doulton, Villeroy & Boch and Denby. These classic manufacturers offer collectors’ items which will be worth investing in. But this list is by no means definitive.

Vintage collecting is a really worthwhile hobby, and there’s no more useful and beautiful item to start collecting than antique crockery. Stick with pieces you love, with a proper date and designer mark, as their vintage value will be high and worth the investment. But never buy something you don’t actually enjoy looking at! Wedgewood patterns, for example, are timeless and classic and the perfect addition to any country style home, as is blue crockery, or designer dinnerware that has been discontinued and has a visible vintage mark.

Stylish online china and crockery stores:

China Search – Vintage and retro crockery for sale at very reasonable prices; they sell tea sets, cake stands, sugar bowls, milk jugs, plates and dinner sets. Each design is unique and individual, so you are bound to find something to suit your interior design style.

The Hambledon – Beautiful pastel crockery that’s simple and chic; they also stock some pretty floral designs and cute retro printed china too. Don’t forget to discover their latest vintage furniture and accessories too!