Roseville pottery

What the Heck is in that China Cabinet?

October 10, 2012 at 10:00 am by Claudia

First of all, why do I decide to do these kinds of posts on a rainy, gloomy day? Don’t answer. The truth is, taking a bright sunny photo in the den would be all but impossible on any given day. Even though there are lots of windows, the big window is tucked under the porch roof, so we don’t get any bright sun until the end of the day. So, using Aperture Priority, I’m attempting to take some fairly decent photos of this cabinet and its contents. (Note: I need a new camera.) And eliminating the television from this photo would entail moving a few pieces of furniture and that’s not going to happen. Trust me, this photo would have been a lot worse if I hadn’t painted the inside of the cabinet a pale pink.

This china cabinet, which is on the petite side, was one of the first things I bought for my apartment in San Diego. I found it in Ocean Beach, my favorite place to hunt for vintage anything. I bought it to house my collection of Fiesta, which I ended up selling a few years later. I love the different tones of wood and the inlays along the sides. I’ll never paint it. You can see the Hendryx birdcage and some of my Roseville on top. Let’s take a peek inside, shall we?

Shelf One

1. aqua bulb bowl – McCoy, 2. my great-grandmother’s syrup jug with pewter lid, 3. platter from my favorite set of of Edwin Knowles china, I wrote about them here, 4. creamer and sugar found in Orange, CA, 5. small dish from my great-grandmother’s set of Haviland China (the rest is still stored at my friend’s house in Detroit. I know.) 6. pale pink depression glass plate that I won in a giveaway 7. French china pitcher, found at Vignettes, 8. French china plate, also found at Vignettes 9. One of my first pieces of McCoy, a lovely green vase (I have 2 of them) 10. hat pin holder, 11. vintage hat pin

Shelf Two

1. McCoy bird dish, 2. McCoy vase in peach/coral, 3. McCoy pot (a present from Brenda) 4. beautiful plate, made in France, that you can’t see very well (from Vignettes) 5. Hull pitcher (a present from Betty) 6. my grandmother’s baby shoe, 7. my pink hobnail vase (found in the neighboring town) 8. a goose egg cup

Shelf Three

1. two teacups from that set of Edwin Knowles china, 2. a bowl and a gravy boat from that same set, 3. a little platter – same set, 4. McCoy vase, another one of my first finds, 5. a beautiful egg cup in my favorite colors, unmarked (I found it at Vignettes) 6. McCoy Arcature vase (one of my all-time favorites) 7. McCoy bulb bowl in aqua, 8. hat pin holder

I think I need some larger plates or platters in the back, don’t you?

I’ll take you on a tour of the kitchen cabinet (also full of china and pottery) on another day.

Thank you for all your beautiful, heartfelt comments on my post about Riley. I can never thank you enough for the compassion and love you’ve sent my way and for the love you’ve sent to Riley. Bless you.

Don’t forget the book giveaway! It ends tonight. Scroll down three posts and you’ll find it.

Happy Wednesday.

A Little Bird & Some Roseville Pottery

April 6, 2011 at 9:57 am by Claudia

This little guy was surveying the Beacon Hill scene from his perch on this hedge. Thankfully, he stayed still long enough for me to snap this photo.

It has finally stopped raining here at MHC. Maybe I’ll get some much-needed yard work done today. The sun is out…dare I hope that Spring may finally be here? Crossing fingers. Let’s just say that I learned my lesson a week or so ago. The snow shovels are still out.

I promised to show you the contents of the other package that was waiting for me when I got home from Boston. A while back, a reader of this blog named Sonja wrote me. She noticed that I had some Roseville pottery. She was getting rid of a piece or two…would I like them? Uh…yes!

Hello, beautiful Magnolia Cornucopia! This is made doubly precious because it was passed down from Sonja’s mother. It now has a place of honor alongside some of my other pieces.

There is a lush quality to the Roseville flower designs that I love. It’s the best word I can think of to describe their look. Years ago, I remember reading an article about the actress Teri Garr’s home. She has a great decorating style. Originally from Ohio where Roseville was manufactured, she had amassed a wonderful collection. I think that was when I fell for Roseville. I kept that article for years – wish I still had it.

Sonja sent me a second piece that she suspected was a knock-off. She said something just didn’t feel right about it. I did some research yesterday and I’ve come to the conclusion it is definitely a fake. The markings are wrong, the glaze is off and one of the numbers on the bottom is reversed. Nevertheless, I really love it – I am treating it like the real thing. It’s Don’s favorite. He has a good eye and suggested I place it here on the piano:

The pattern is Fuchsia. I like the way the wood tones of the Keyboard sign are picked up by the brown color of the vase. Good call, Don.

Once again, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of one of the readers of Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Thank you, Sonja, for these wonderful additions to my little collection. Sonja doesn’t have a blog yet, but she’s thinking of starting one. Let’s encourage her!

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Curvy

November 3, 2010 at 10:31 am by Claudia

You’re looking at the top of my 30’s era china cabinet which is in our den. On it sits my vintage Hendryx birdcage, several vintage and well-loved books and some of my Roseville pottery. When husband and I sit on the sofa and watch television, this cabinet is right in our sight-line (as we say in the theater.) The other evening, Don asked me to look closely at one of the pieces – this one:

Says he: Doesn’t it look like a woman’s body with hands on hips? Curvy with a waist?

Says me: Why yes, it does.

And now every time I look at it, which is often, that is what I see. Should I name her? She’s sort of flirty isn’t she?

Speaking of curvy, my obsession with vintage dress forms continues. I scour Craig’s List every day. Sometimes several times a day. I’ve missed out on a few recently. There is a vintage Wolf dress form that has a lot of wear (to put it kindly – I swear a musty smell emanates from that listing) that I had my eye on, but it is way out on Long Island. If you remember my over 3 hour long journey there last year for a coaching job, you can see where this is going. Too much time, too much gas for something that might be too damaged.

I love this style – wonderfully vintage and usually with a wire cage at the bottom. However, most of the listings I see are pretty pricey, more than I’m willing to pay.

More and more, I find I am drawn to these adjustable forms. They are often made by Acme and might be better for the limited amount of space I have upstairs.

Once I am obsessed about something, there is no stopping me. I will find one. (I sound a bit like Scarlett O’Hara.) If anyone in the NY/NJ/CT area knows of a great deal on a vintage dress form, oh please let me know? Pretty please?

What have I come to? I’m reduced to begging.

Have a wonderful day!

What the Heck is in that China Cabinet?

A Little Bird & Some Roseville Pottery

Curvy

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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