Spring Hutch Version 2

Spring arrangement of vintage china

Spring is here so I changed the china in my hutch (welsh dresser), just before my daughter's birthday. 

(The previous display was Christmas-y - oops!  kind of behind...)  What's a Welsh Dresser?  See this post here.

Detail of China in hutch

 

Changing out the display is easier then dusting the old arrangement, and more fun as well. 

(Most things are more fun than dusting - and yet I collect...) 
 

[The teacup and saucer are Royal Albert's English Bone China "violets", the small red pitcher is "English Chippendale" by Johnson Brothers, the plates on the left are Haviland]

Detail of china and bunnies

 

Changing my china display is always an scavenger hunt in my basement - I buy miscellaneous dishes at estate and rummage sales, and often don't really remember what I have and where it is.  I knew I had dishes with violets, and Haviland china, so I searched them out of all sorts of nooks and crannies.  It was an opportunity to re-find treasure I have forgotten about.

Spring China

[The white rabbit sculpture is labeled "Isabelle de Borchgrave for Marshall Fields" on the bottom.  I really like how it is sculpted, and I use it often.]


I haven't shown a full length photo of the Welsh dresser recently, so here is one below.  I don't usually seasonally arrange the top and bottom, so ignore that in my photo.

Welsh dresser with spring arrangement

 

Click on the images to see them enlarged.


If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

My Collection of all Hutch Posts!

I am linking to these parties:
Lavender Garden: Cottage Style 40 (Entry 19 of 31.)
Ivy and Elephants: Whats it Wed 70 (Entry 44 of 110.) 
Trendy Tree: Creative Share Wed (Entry 44 of 192.)
Family Home: Wow us Wed (Entry 55 of 96.)
Someday Crafts: Whatever Goes Wed 166 (Entry 246 of 483.)
No Minimalist Here: Open House (Entry 64 of 171.)
Feeding Big: In and Out of the Kitchen 13 (Entry 101 of 108.)
Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed 114 (Entry 244 of 393.)
Southern Lovely: Show Share 88 (Entry 179 of 329.)
Girlish Whims: Your Whims Wed 107 (Entry 168 of 226.)
Shabby Chic: Transformation Thur 200 (Entry 57) *
Blue Egg Brown Nest: Vintage Love (Entry 8 of 22.)

Col Lady: Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 6 of 18.)
A Delight: Home and Garden Thur (Entry 26 of 81.) 

Faith Grace: Pearls and Lace Thur 132 (Entry 4 of 21.)  
Domesblissity: Thriving on Thurs 63 (Entry 99 of 107.) 
Katherine: Thurs Favorite Things 84 (Entry 258 of 308.) 
House of Hepworths: Hooking Up 144 (Entry 283 of 318.) 
Glimpse inside: Catch a Glimpse 127 (Entry 159 of 196.) 
From my Porch: Treasure Hunt Thur 103 (Entry 109 of 117.) 
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home 115 (Entry 36 of 171.)
Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Fri 105 (Entry 21 of 56.)

French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 108 of 342.)
* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 135 (Entry 53 of 224.)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 129 of 308.) *
Chic: Flaunt it Friday 150 (Entry 208 of 252.)

Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday (Entry 106 of 386.)
Shabby Art: Shabbilicious Fri (Entry 45 of 81.)
Stone Gable: Tips and Tidbits 44 (Entry 151 of 161.) 
Creative Princess: Its a Party 102 (Entry 129 of 131.)
Jen Rizzo: Fabulous Friday (Entry 88) 
Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thur 145 (Entry 54 of 69.) 

Tatertots: Weekend Wrap Up (Entry 318 of 687.) 
Funky Junk: Sat Night Special 183 (Entry 47 of 163.) *

Be Diff: Show and Tell Sat (Entry 123 of 334.)

Natasha in Oz: Say G'day Sat 64 (Entry 48 of 172.)

Steph Under the Table: Sun Showcase 191 (Entry 273 of 325.)

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sun 147 (Entry 42 of 73.) 
I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop 76 (Entry 63 of 529.) 
Penny: Christmas in April (Entry 76 of 210.)
NiftyThings: Nifty Thrifty Sun 105 (Entry 126 of 340.)  
Too Much: Get Schooled Sat 73 (Entry 2 of 212.)
Knick of Time: Knick of Time 72 (Entry 77 of 78.) 
Timewashed: Blissful Whites Wed (Entry 39 of 43.)
Boogie Board: Masterpiece Mon 120 (Entry 21 of 131.)
Create with Joy: Inspire Me Mon 68 (Entry 76 of 210)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 222 (Entry 121 of 181) 
*Mod Vintage: Mod Mix Mon 98 (Entry 14 of 65.)
I should be: Mop it up Mon 64 (Entry 207)
Craft Berry Bush: Inspiration Gallery 32 (Entry 220)
Making the World Cuter (Entry 65)
Twigg Studios: Sunday Showoff (Entry 76)
Uncommon Design: Monday Funday 14 (Entry 202) 

Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues 160 (Entry 154)

Uncommon Slice: Tues Treasures 131  (Entry 128) 
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Tues 161 (Entry 107) 
Cedar Hill: Tues The Scoop 63 (Entry 206)
Redoux Interiors: Link Party 102 (Entry 66)

Featured on A Stroll thru Life and Modern Vintage Life
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Flow Blue China Patterns

Lugano Flow Blue Plate Detail

Some of my favorite china is blue and white.  I love the combination of cobalt blue with the clean white, ivory, or creamy off whites of the base porcelain.  This combination has resonated with more then just me, and starting in the 1800's, blue and white china from many manufacturers in many patterns were popular with china purchasing customers.

Astoria Flow Blue China

An important historical subset of blue and white china is called flow blue.  There are many sites that can describe the "how and whys" of flow blue china, but I will just describe flow blue in my own words.  Flow blue china has deep cobalt blue color applied over a white china base, and the chemistry over time has blurred the once crisp lines.  Instead of this manufacturing problem disappointing customers, the resulting dreamier blurry lines have inspired fans and collectors, including me.  

Lugano Flow Blue China

I wish my photos could show you the beauty of the flow blue plates - the beauty that I see when I hold them in my hands.  The colors from a distance command attention, and then the delicate lines, flowers and scroll work hold your attention when you examine the patterns up close.  The soft blurry lines seems to contradict the cool smoothness of the china itself -- china which is smooth and hard to the touch, and yet known to be fragile, 'breakable'.  Times has 'changed' this seemingly permanent china, and yet the touch of time has been kind.  

I can stare at a single plate for minutes at a time - time many of us rarely have the ability to take.  (OMG, strange...)  I'll point out only a few details to notice in the three photo-mosaics I have assembled here.  The Astoria china photo-mosaic shows details from two different plates on the bottom edge.  There is a large difference in the blurring between the two plates, yet I got them together and believe they were likely to have been purchased originally at the same time.  The Lugano flow blue plate has brush stokes visible in the solid blue background, which I find I enjoy.  And the Brunswick china has dots that have blurred to form the solid blue background.

Brunswick Flow Blue China plate

Another fun fact about my collection of flow blue is that most of my flow blue  plates are chipped, crazed and/or flawed.  I call them my collection of chipped and broken plates.  I couldn't/can't afford 'perfect pieces'.  Originally I collected chipped and even broken plates (usually glued together by a previous owner).  I have favorite antique dealers, who have kindly 'given' me/sold me the damaged pieces that they get when buying a set for sale.  (Many of the dealers I know don't typically resell damaged pieces of non rare china, and yet I know one or two that have a hard time throwing out the damaged piece.) 

Originally I bought broken plates, intended for mosaic projects that would get me "as close to owning flow blue" as I thought I could ever come.  I would also sometimes get chipped plates, but somehow I couldn't use them in my mosaics, and they started showing up on my plate rail or wall, chips included.  (Sometimes with another plate overlapping a chipped area)  [So, if you have a beautiful damaged or broken china plate, you don't want to keep yet don't want to toss, consider contacting me - I will add them to my collection of chipped and broken china orphans that I cherish.  I don't mind a yellow brown rind of old glue running through the center of a beautiful plate.  I can pay shipping and handling ;)  ]

May we all age as gracefully as this china, be lucky to survive intact, and in our old age find a home where we are cherished and loved. 

Click on the images to see them enlarged!

I blog for fun and my blog is ad free.  Comments encourage me, and I sometimes need encouragement. Please leave a comment if you have time!  Anonymous comments and comments months/years later are welcome!

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If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

China Cabinet

Hutch Treasure

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Christmas 1

Christmas 2

Blue-Wht Hutch

Valentine 1

Valentine 2

St Pats Hutch

Spring Hutch 1

Easter Hutch

Easter Hutch 2

July Hutch 1

July Hutch 2

Flow Blue China

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My Collection of all China Posts!

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I am linking up to these memes:

This is my 11th entry to Mosaic Monday (I was entry 15 of 84.)

Roses for Show off your Cottage Mon (Entry 15 of 47.)
Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Mon (Entry 73 of 324.)
Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Mon 6 (Entry 57 of 72.)
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tues 49 (Entry 47 of 183.)
House of Grace for Twice Owned Tues 38 (Entry 12 of 68.)
Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 8 of 50.)
Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thur 101 (Entry 25 of 124.)

Brambleberry for Time Travel Thur 31 (Entry 8 of 36.)
All Thingz for Anything Related 35 (Entry 79 of ?)
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration 24 (Entry 18 of 103.) 
Romantic Home for Show and Tell (Entry 84 of 312.)
French Country for Feathered Nest Fri #11 (Entry 1 of 119.)

Hills are Living for Favorite Things Friday (Entry 6 of 105) 
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home 1 (Entry 19 of 50.) 
My Cottage Charm for Trinkets and Treasures (Entry 5 of 7.)

A Picture is Worth for 2nd Time Around (Entry 7 of 10)
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday (Entry 75 of 86.)