These tulip vases were popular in the early 19th Century and were made by unknown Staffordshire potters. But these particular ones have an interesting story... Sir Humphry Wakefield is an English baronet and expert on antiques, who rescued the delapidated Chillingham Castle in Northumberland, which has the dubious reputation of being the most haunted castle in England. He found that much of the interior was either destroyed or missing. In order to recreate the beautiful inter

Are you concerned about getting your five-a-day? This vase will provide any fruit you need... When I first saw this sublime Minton vase I started shouting with excitement, as it is very rare to find a vase with so many rare properties that is in such pristine condition. Although this isn't usually my taste (you will have noticed that I haven't shown many "applied flower" items), it is done so incredibly well, and painted so wonderfully beautiful, that you just can't help but

Who could ever guess that the peaceful "Grass" design of this very rare Belleek cabaret set carries a secret message from turbulent times? Belleek designs were all based on local Irish natural phenomena: the sea, shamrocks, grass, and the local river Erne full of trout and salmon. When Belleek started making porcelain, the first designers clearly made a choice not to go with the prevailing Victorian English fashion, but to make an Irish statement. Ireland had never had its ve

To eat like a gentleman, or a lady! For many centuries, you were either born into a class that could afford scrumptious meals, or not. You could perhaps dream of better food, but you wouldn't dream of changing your position in society. In the 19th Century, all this changed with the Industrial Revolution. Suddenly anyone with a clear mind and a bit of starting capital or financial backing could build themselves a business and rise up in society. Social mobility was born with t

On a cold and bleak winter's day, what's better than beating the blues with a dose of doggie love? Today I have a story about pugs - and yes it involves jumping on faces, fashion and a fair bit of history. The British potters of the 18th and 19th Century understood pet love, and they made wonderful little porcelain pets. These came of course as part of a huge collection of figures made in that era: shepherds, goats and sheep, figures representing the Seasons or various forms

Happy New Year! We start the year with a rare piece of Irish sea glory: a gorgeous cabaret set made in parian china by Belleek in the 1860s. The tiny village of Belleek is in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, and the factory is literally on the border with the Irish Republic. The factory was built in the 1850s by a local land owner, his architect/designer friend and an investor from Dublin, in response to the devastating famine only a few decades earlier. Soon, the impove

Happy Holidays to all my friends, followers and customers! This is a time to spend with loved ones, whatever your religion - whether you do Christmas or Chanukkah or neither; the message of peace and love is universal. Many of you who follow my blogs and instagram writings do so because you care about beauty and enjoying food and drink together with loved ones... I get so many messages in response to my rambling socio-historical ruminations - the stories I tell, however clear

To celebrate the beginning of the holiday period, today I have a very rare dessert service made by Chamberlain & Co (Worcester) between 1840 and 1851. It is in the famous "Blind Earl" pattern, but this flow blue version is incredibly rare and was probably made for export to the USA. I absolutely love this service! This 18th Century pattern was called after George William Coventry, the fifth Earl of Coventry (1722-1809), who was the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. In 1780,