Over the holidays I received many lovely e-mails from my dear readers. Many of you sent images of handmade ornaments made as a child and of your parent’s impressive antique collections. A cabinet packed with a beautiful display of pink lustreware popped into my inbox late Monday night from Brad. My reaction, HOLY MOLY, WOW, WOW, WOW! I have but one lonely lustreware teacup!

Other then be able to identify the pink lustrious glaze I’ll admit I didn’t know much about lustreware till last night. I fell a bit down the rabbit hole doing research. A few notes I gathered as well as tips from Brad who’s family collected the impressive display above.

Lusterware or Lustreware is type of pottery with a metallic glaze that gives the effect of iridescence, produced by a thin metal glaze reduced by chemical agents. The final glaze lustre may be composed of one or more metallic ingredients. The origin of the method is old. The early Persians produced lustrious pottery in the early 13th century and has been noted the process could have been copied from earlier ancestors.
(Collecting Old Lustre Ware)

From Brad:

Pink Lustre started to become commercially available in around 1790. The potteries around Staffordshire, England (including Spode and Wedgwood) finally figured out how to apply gold in the glaze that turned pink during a second, lower temperature firing. The gold iridescent pink ware grew rapidly in popularity, and it held that for the next 75+ years.

The pottery at the beginning was a basic white clay ceramic some collectors call “soft paste.” These earliest pieces have completely opaque base clay. These are the more valuable. One key way to determine a piece is early is that I first check to see that light will not pass through the piece. The second is that a characteristic blue in the glaze forms in the deep crevices on the base where the foot of the piece meets the base. This is a really good indication that it is early.

One of my very favorite is called Sunderland. They made a wide variety of objects for years, and had a very unique mottled glaze treatment.

Sunderland Pottery in North East England created particularly exquisite examples of mottled glazed pink lustre bowls and jugs. Many of the pieces depicted transfer prints that have been color-enhanced by hand. (Antiques Roadshow)

Sunderland Pottery pink luster bowl, “The bowl is exceptionally well coloured with a fresh pink lustre and has several underglaze transfer prints inside and on the outside” via antiquepottery.co.uk.

A large Sunderland pottery pitcher with a carrying grip under the spout decorated in typical pink splash luster as associated with several of the North East of England,” quoted from antiquepottery.co.uk.

Circa 1815 Sunderland Lustre Nautical Scene Pitcher discovered via ebay.co.uk. Note the transfer print is not colored.

Pink Lustre Pitcher dated 1814 ENGLISH, “The lusterware pitcher bears the name of Richard Belchin and the date 1814. This jug has the finest decoration I have ever seen in pink luster” quote from antiquepottery.co.uk.

Not pink lustre but I couldn’t help but include as comparison: “Antique pottery silver luster pitcher decorated with the resist technique in vogue at the beginning of the 19th century period. The silver lustre decoartion of birds and foliage is often associated with the work of the Yorkshire Potteries,” quoted from antiquepottery.co.uk.

From Brad:

By 1825, porcelain was introduced, and was more widely used. Porcelain is harder, and is translucent to a degree, you can see the shadow of your finger when the piece is held up to light. The glazes and patterns were still hand painted, but became much more refined. Also, a lithographic process was invented which allowed scenes to be “transferred” onto the pieces, and this greatly reduced the labor required and made the china affordable for many more people.

I’ve always admired lusterware but never thought it had a practical use. Back in 2007 I came across the below photo in Martha Stewart Living. The table set for Christmas Eve, Gael Towney’s dining room glows in pink. The plates are pink lustreware! Sorry I don’t have a better photo. I’ve never come across large lustreware plates but I guess it is possible. Maybe I need Martha’s help?

From Brad:

Pink Lustre was among the most favored styles in America, because it was hugely popular in England. The country was only a few decades old by then, and the population wanted to demonstrate their new affluence and “class” by staying/sticking with traditions still strong in their countries of origin. It really wasn’t until the waning years of the Victorian period in the 1880′s that having a full set of china stopped demonstrating real wealth. Because, frankly, it was mostly hand made before then, and it was terribly expensive to make, ship, or acquire.

This was also a continuation of the fact that during the 1600-1750′s, china was considered currency by the bigger “houses”, or wealthier families in Europe, an “asset” of a family’s wealth, like land.

The tough thing is that they made pink luster well into the 1940′s, so if you don’t have an eye for it, you need to do your homework, to learn what to look for. I start with the overall shape of the piece, because there are forms which are too contemporary, which you can spot right off.

Another important thing is the detail of the surface. Older pieces have crisp, sharp relief patterns, like vines of strawberries, or braids, like rope. Better articulated patterns or designs. Newer, less desirable pieces have similar reliefs, but they are softened, like from a bad mold. (which they were!)

Some good news is that the market has softened on Pink Lustre right now, so a teapot that would cost $3-400 can be found for less than $150. I think the teapots are the best, because they really went to town on their design. The forms can be quite over the top and some very, very beautiful. Spode still makes they shape they were famous for in the early 1800′s.

I had a really hard time finding English pink lustre online searching sites like Ruby Lane and ebay. You might have better luck at Brimfield, antique shops and auction.

Lustreware spotted by Michael Penny in Findlay Antiques in Toronto.

Lustreware available at Ben Pentreath LTD. in London. Clockwise from top: Lustreware Cup & Saucer, Lustreware Bowl, Lustreware Cup & Saucer, Gaudy Lustreware Mug.

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I’m realizing I have serious crush on Eric Ravilious. I spotted a platter with a sailboat back in 2008, fell in love with his landscapes last spring and over the weekend came across a collection of pieces Ravilious did for Wedgwood at Andrew Spindler’s shop in Essex, Massachusetts.

Eric Ravilious born London in 1903 began his career as a muralist. He studied at Eastbourne School of Art and at the Royal College of Art. He studied under Paul Nash and became friends with Edward Bawden. Ravilious’s watercolors and woodcuts gained him significant attention in 1924. He went on to design earthenware pieces for Wedgwood depicting a garden series and my favorite Persephone or Harvest designed in 1938 and then produced in 1952.

When I happened upon Ravilious’s work on Sunday I wondered why his pieces stop me in my tracks and makes we want to buy every piece obsessively? The colors are outstanding but the imagery is so simple and clever. When I was remarking on the plates with Andrew we talked about how the plates would be just as beautiful with or without the center motif. But together the combination is stunning.

So how do you get your hands on a few pieces of your own? Andrew Spindler seems to be the only collector I know of stateside. Of course there is always ebay, auctions etc. You can learn more about Ravilious pieces he did for Wedgwood in this book. Or call Andrew; he’s very knowledgeable and can help you start a collection of your own. I had a hard time resisting the nine pieces he had available of Persephone for $375.

Also, be sure to read this write up about Ravilious in the Guardian and check out this exhibit at Fry Art Gallery till August in Essex (England not Massachusetts). And if you can stomach the shipping from the UK pick up Ravilious in Pictures: A Country Life by James Russell, the third book in a series depicting his watercolors.

Andrew Spindler
163 Main Street
Essex, Massachusetts
(978) 768-6045
spindlerantiques.com

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I picked up this super cute ceramic strawberry jar at Mario Batali’s Tarry Market in Port Chester, New York today. The jar is filled with sugared strawberries from Italy. I love strawberries and the jar blinded me to the price. Crap, did I spend $29.99 on strawberries? Eeek a little expensive. But a great idea for a hostess gift (not that I will be sharing) and I can use the jar for flowers this summer. Above a photo of my niece at lunch inside the market along with a blue jar full of sugared cherries.

I also found the strawberries online via amazon.com for $26 each.

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When I was growing up we always had Thanksgiving at my great grandparents farm in Maine. Generations of women would gather in the kitchen making homemade rolls, fresh kielbasa, and stuffing so rich we now refer to it as “stomach stuffing” —it sticks to your ribs and gives you a bit of a bellyache.

Our family farm was sold and now Thanksgiving usually takes place at my house or my older sister’s. This year it’s just going to be Greg and I. Everyone has been really busy with work and we all agreed a day of sleeping late and hanging out in our pjs sounds like way more fun then sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. Our house looks like a bomb went off with house renovations projects going on in just about every room. I couldn’t be more thankful that I don’t have to clean the house from top to bottom to make it presentable for guests.

I haven’t even thought about what I’m going to cook which is a bit unlike me. I’ll probably head to the grocery story tonight to pick up a fresh turkey, some veggies and a loaf of bread to make stuffing. Greg will probably spend the majority of Thanksgiving working outside on the house. I want be stuck in the kitchen all day cooking and making homemade pies. Simple but perfect.

Above and below photos that I took for an online story that got cut. My great grandmother’s china is shown as a salad plate. A simple stripe linen tablecloth from Terrain and purple napkins from Libeco pull the table together without it becoming too fussy. The hurricanes are from now defunct Smith & Hawkins and the beeswax candles my mom picked up for me at Whole Foods.

Plait Textiles
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Textiles handwoven by Wisconsin based designer Jennifer Pellman are right up my alley. The pieces are woven the width of a napkin so the natural selvedges are the finished edge on two sides. Above a set of striped red napkins and below napkins in checks and stripes. So simple and beautiful. Check out plait-textiles.com for purchasing.

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We spent the a very cold January weekend in central Vermont. With the temperatures hovering around 10 degrees; snowshoeing was out of the question. Taking off my gloves to snap a photo was brutal enough. We spent the afternoon indoors visiting Simon Pearce’s workshop and restaurant in Quechee, Vermont.

Simon Pearce first opened his glassblowing workshop in Ireland. In the 1980′s Pearce moved his operation to a historic woolen mill in Quechee, Vermont. The Ottauquechee river roars just below, providing hydroelectric power for the glass furnaces along with electricity for the entire facility. Visitors can browse the retail store, watch potters and glassblowers at work and enjoy lunch or dinner in the restaurant overlooking the river.

Greg and I found the glassblowing process fascinating. Each piece is gorgeous and completely handmade. I made a mental note of all my favorite glasses, bowls, and pitchers to purchase once our renovation is done. Below photos of glassblowers and potters at work. How cute are the wool plaid curtains I spotted in the ladies bathroom? At the very bottom is the hydroelectric generator used to power the facility. Find out more at simonpearce.com.

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Pretty tea towels can easily double as a two-sided placemats. I love this simple rustic look for Thanksgiving. I picked up a few Libeco kitchen linens in a khaki stripe this summer. Three draped across the table is pretty and affordable. Find more products online at libecohomestores.com.

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Beautiful wool blankets ($185) and ticking stripe tablecloths ($70) from Brook Farm General Store are irresistible. Muted shades mix well with modern and traditional interiors. I’m pretty in love with the wool blankets. I think I’ve replaced my pillow obsession with blankets and throws. Check out more finds at brookfarmgeneralstore.com.

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I love Fog Linen Work and I especially love their new fall collection. Beautiful plaids and checks in napkins, tableclothes, and placemats. I’m plaid obsessed. So pretty for winter dinner parties. It’s so hard to find table linens that are simple and homey that don’t feel too holiday. Check out more designs and find purchasing info on their site: foglinenwork.com.

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One more etsy find for the day. Sweet hand embroidered vintage tablecloths. Cute for a brunch or showers. Just $18 and $24 each at Simply Suzula’s shop.