Collecting Vintage Dishes

You’re probably not like me when it comes to collecting vintage dishes. I confess, it’s becoming a bit of an obsession.

I feel that if it were a race I’d be doing quite well, matter of fact on be on the rail and smokin’ up the winner’s tailpipe or eating dirt off the hooves of a great thoroughbred. When you go out vintage shopping just to feed that vintage hunger and you know when you can’t walk by a pretty vintage dish without picking it up, contemplating bringing it home, setting it down and trying to walk away and then turning around to grab it before anyone else does? Yeah. You can’t pass it up! That’s me! That might be a problem. I may be an addict to collecting vintage dishes.

Let’s face it… a collector of pretty dishes never stops collecting. I adore vintage china or in other words… tabletop treasures.

Out and About

On one such vintage shopping trip to the thrift store, I ran across a little stack of pretty white plates with a gold rim, turquoise blue brushstroke design intertwined with golden leaves and vines. Pieces of Harmony House China. It has a lovely, beaded delicate detail on the inside of the border. This midcentury china has a timeless, yet contemporary feel to it. Making you feel that it is a family heirloom. The Delicate Details: Oh, those details get me every time. Delicate brush strokes, intertwining vines with golden leaves, you know what I am talking about – if a piece has pretty details- it is going to give me a challenge to leave behind.

The pretty plates were there in uneven quantities – two dinner plates, two salad/soup plates, a bread plate and four saucers for cups. No cups. All in pristine condition – no chips or dings. Even with this odd number, I am not picky when it comes to a need of a certain number of them- though the more the merrier, right? I love plates and platters for several reasons. Number one- both are beautiful on the table- mixed and mingled or on repeat. Two- they are also beautiful on the wall as decor- I love a good plate wall. Three- they look great in plate racks on display in cabinets and hutches- so classic and beautiful. SO- there are pieces I am always drawn to.

Teacups & Saucers

I do love a dainty teacup and delicate saucer- but I don’t generally bring them all home. I was given a collection of a grandmothers teacup set some years back. So, I don’t have the need for most. They must really speak to me or belong to a set I already have. That brings me to the cups you see in the pictures. I love a good mix and mingle. Remember I said that this particular set of dishes did not have cups. If I love it and it is alone, I might find it a partner. That’s what I did.

Thrifted Finds – Collecting Vintage Dishes

On this particular day, on a visit to one thrift store I picked the set of china with no cups. However, on another thrift store stop, I came across two teacups that had a very similar pattern on them in the same color scheme. Could it be serendipitous? Did this really occur? Did I really find two teacups to mix with my saucers? This was such a happy and beneficial moment!

An almost perfect match!

Setting the Table with Vintage dishes

Using a jute charger, vintage silverware, a white napkin tied up with blue velvet ribbon, and a sweet wine goblet with a gold rim – I set the table with my collected vintage china.

Thanks for stopping by Rustic and Refound! If you need to blame someone for encouraging your vintage treasure shopping and bringing another piece of whatever it is that talks to you home- I have got your back. Happy collecting all.