VINTAGE HAND-PAINTED TILES

If you know me well you know that I'm a collector.  Of course my children label me a hoarder.  Let's just say that I have a few collections.  Sometimes I actively look for something and sometimes the collectible finds me.    I guess the vintage hand-painted tiles found me.  

Years ago I was obsessed with transferware.  I was always on the hunt for that one pattern I didn't have, but also for patterns to complete a set.  My favorite is brown or green transferware, but I could be talked into blue, lavender or red.  While "shopping" I saw this transferware trivet.  I never knew there could be trivets too.  Of course I bought it.

RED TRANSFERWARE TRIVET ON MY VINTAGE BREADBOARD

In this next photo you can see the round "feet" that support it.

FOOTED ENGLISH TRANSFERWARE TRIVET

Many times the pieces are marked.  There's a link at the end of this post if you'd like to date a piece you have.  This piece was made by Copeland in England.  The person who sold it to me had researched and dated it already.

REGISTRY MARK AND MANUFACTURER ON UNDERSIDE OF THE TRANSFERWARE

I never came across another footed trivet, but I did purchase several hand-painted tiles.  I use them as trivets too.  They're a fun way to protect my table top from hot foods.  If it's a large casserole, I put two underneath.  I don't think any of these tiles were ever on a wall.  They're all different and all lovely.  This first one is my favorite.  I think it's the way the leaves and vines almost seem to be swirling around the flowers.  It's not marked.

FLORAL HAND-PAINTED TILE

Here's another one in my trivet collection.  The pattern is a very English design.

HAND-PAINTED ENGLISH TILE

I think the yellow in this tile makes it really unique.

ENGLISH TILE

They're both marked ENGLAND on the underside.  There are no registry marks to research.  I do know that if a piece is marked England, it's made before 1920.  Those pieces after 1920 are marked MADE IN ENGLAND.  So I do know that these are older tiles.

UNDERSIDE OF TILES

I'm pretty sure this is French.  It's not marked.

FRENCH TILE

This last tile has special meaning to me.  My husband found it while on a business trip to Holland.  He had some free time and went to a local flea market.  I like that it has fruit instead of flowers.  It's not marked, but I'm guessing it was made in the Netherlands.  Or, maybe not.  Things do travel.

What do you collect?

To learn the basics of transferware pottery, go here.

To see a guide to English registry marks, go here.

MY SIGNS OF SPRING

Several months ago I purchased this T-shirt because it described me perfectly.  

I almost always wear black.  My closet looks like it belongs to Johnny Cash.  And, let's face it, I dress my home in black too.  The second line describes my love for our wonderful dog, Bella.  That third line has taken on a new meaning.  Initially, it was a perfect description of me.  I am basically an introvert.  When we were required to stay at home for the month of April; it was no problem.  The lower pace, family time, and the opportunity to tackle some waiting projects is working out. Lately though, the daily grim statistics have been weighing heavily on me.

BELLA AND MY LOVELY DAUGHTER---MY TWO GIRLS

We've been having some absolutely perfect weather here in Maryland.  My husband, my son and I were walking around the garden, relishing the fresh air and sunshine.  I noticed that my favorite perennial, my ferns, were starting to emerge and uncurl towards the sun. They  looked happy and  totally oblivious to all that is happening in the world.

 I usually post when they're fully grown, but I wanted to share their renewal and beginning.  They gave me some reassurance and hope.

I'm married to a geologist, so we have quite a collection of rocks.  My son remarked that they look like the ferns on our fossils.  I concluded that my ferns are pretty amazing prehistoric perennials.

Please stay home, stay healthy, stay safe, and most of all stay hopeful.

If you'd like to see an old post with the ferns fully grown, go here.

BRINGING IN BRANCHES

Every Spring I write about the Tulip Magnolia in my back yard.  It fills the windows in the sunroom with pink blossoms. This Spring  I decided to clip some of the branches with blooms and bring them inside.  

BLOOMS THROUGH THE WINDOW

The blooms fill both windows.

OUTSIDE THE WINDOWS

TULIP MAGNOLIA BLOOMS

I placed them into a large bowl on the ottoman in the sun room.

BLOOMS IN MY POTTERY BOWL IN MY SUN ROOM

I changed out the pillows with images of garden benches. You can see the tulip magnolia through the window panes.

SPRING PILLOWS AND A VIEW OF THE TULIP MAGNOLIA

The bowl is resting on one of my vintage bread boards.

BOWL ON VINTAGE BREADBOARD

TULIP MAGNOLIA BLOOMS

I like using the pottery bowl instead of a vase.

POTTERY BOWL INSTEAD OF A VASE

I layered a hide throw over the ottoman and rested the bowl on a bread board.  Don't miss the repair on the bread board.

LAYERED HIDE RUG AND BREAD BOARD WITH A REPAIR

There's another repair on the bread board handle.

ANOTHER BREAD BOARD REPAIR

HIDE RUG

I had a few extra branches, so I wove them through the lattice on the front porch bench.   It was just what the bench needed--a touch of Spring. They look just like a climbing vine.

TULIP MAGNOLIA WEAVING THROUGH THE LATTICE

TULIP MAGNOLIA ON THE BENCH SEAT

Do you use branches as bouquets?
Would you use a bowl instead of a vase for flowers?