Monday, August 23, 2010

My Summery Blue and White China

Old or rambling roses left to right: Apple Blossom, De La Grifferaie, and Constance Spry.


I haven’t collected blue and white transferware china in a decade.
As a native of Long Island, NY, I was attracted to it for its sea-and-sky colors.


Burleigh Asiatic Pheasants Platter with phlox, nepeta, and a bud
of the climbing rose New Dawn in a craft store julep cup.


Photo: Troy Campbell for Creative Home 2007
An oft-seen picture on the Web: Nikki LaBelle’s dreamy beach house.
Romantic perfection.    I ached for this so badly!




My public library didn't have a book including these marks, but my friend and follower Jacqueline found it online.
The mark is from Davenport Brothers, a Greenwich Village, New York department store that imported the Staffordshire pottery of Joseph Clementson (1794-1871).   The pattern is called "Claremont", and it’s considered to be ‘light mulberry purple’ transferware, both are rare and highly collectible.   The diamond-shaped British Registry Mark indicates registry on 30 April 1856, Bundle no. 7.


But, I saw this cute little plate depicting Greek amphorae in a classical setting wreathed
in old roses at a yard sale for $1, (got it for fifty cents), and thought how nice it would
look with my sweet peas, hosta, dame’s rocket, hydrangeas, nepeta, and wild ladybells.






Sweet Peas (lathyrus odoratus) sown back in March.


Over the years, I’ve come to favor ultra soft colors in my personal garden.
But, something about these colors we have around the barns
and on the side of the lane are so right in late summer.



I am re-reading Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic Interiors, and cannot stop gazing
at her homey blue-based linen closet.



Photo: Amy Neunsinger from Shabby Chic Interiors by Rachel Ashwell (Cico).


So, I took out all my blue and white and had
one of those perennial summer events – a reunion!



Unmarked transferware creamer with Burleigh Asiatic Pheasants platter.


Until next time, stay shabby!