Thrill of the Hunt #116

July 12, 2021

Today I'm sharing my latest thrifty finds. So come along and let's explore, shall we?

Thrill of the Hunt #116 Our Hopeful Home blog vintage car

Welcome, friends, to another fun-filled Thrill of the Hunt post where I share my latest thrifty (and usually) vintage finds with you. My hope is that by sharing my thrifty finds I can motivate and inspire you to explore your own local thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets and barn sales and make your own fabulous finds for yourself.

Today it's all about my favorite type of porcelain pieces with a little bit of history and etymology (the study of words) thrown in for good measure! So let's get started.

  lidded blue white tureen

This lovely vintage blue and white mini lidded tureen is a fun find from our quarterly pop-up estate sale. With my love for blue and white dishware being as strong as it is I could not resist. (Note: I call it a tureen, but I've seen some similar pieces referred to as "sugar boxes.") 

 blue white floral pattern chinoiserie tureen

Even with a tiny chip on the edge of the lid, for $6.00 I thought it was worth it.

blue handled porcelain tureen lid

blue white floral tureen lid inticate detail handle

I fell in love with the detail on the lid. There was no maker's mark.

scrolly lid handle floral pattern tureen

Apparently, these mini tureens (or sugar boxes) come in pairs because this one was sitting right next to the first one and of course stole my heart as well! Another $6.00 bargain.

 maker's mark bottom side tureen

There is a maker's mark on this one, but I have no idea what it says. Maybe it's in a different language? Any ideas?

two blue white porcelain tureens

Either way, the two tureens (or "sugar boxes") make a lovely pair.

 blue willow plate easel mantel 

I also picked up this blue willow patterned dinner plate at the same sale for $2.00!

 blue willow pattern plate chinoiserie

From my research I learned that the willow, or blue willow as it's commonly known in the United States, pattern became popular at the end of the 18th century. It's know as a chinoiserie pattern -- so is it any surprise that I love it? You can see the willow tree blowing in the breeze in this close-up photo.

It's in absolutely perfect condition, and even came with a plate hanger in the event I ever want to hang it on the wall.

North Staffordshire Pottery Co. Ltd. England maker's mark plate


The maker's mark reads Willow, North Staffordshire Pottery Co. Ltd. England. I've not been able to discern how old it is but I'm sure it's vintage. I've seen it for sale for well over $2.00 so I'm quite happy with this inexpensive blue and white find.

Now, time for the etymology lesson! It seems like I've been coming across blue and white items at every estate sale and barn sale I'm attending these days (see Thrill of the Hunt #113 and #114). It's weird how that happens, isn't it? Once you see or become aware of something you suddenly start seeing that very something everywhere. There's even a title for it: the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, or, more colloquially, Frequency Bias. Who knew?

I'm not complaining, though! I'm happy as a clam to continue finding such lovely, thrifty, blue and white treasures as I've been doing and adding them to my collection!


Well, that's it for today, friends!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about

Thrill of the Hunt #116

and that I've inspired you in some way. 

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Thrill of the Hunt #116 Our Hopeful Home blog vintage car

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My thrift store addiction said...

You're gathering quite the blue and white collection--love it!

Ann said...

I absolutely LOVE those sugar boxes, Kathleen. Wonderful finds!

Junkchiccottage said...

You find the prettiest stuff. Love the blue and white. xoxo Kris

Kathy said...

Love your growing blue and white collection. Had never heard the term "sugar box". Or the term Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon. Sounds so classy and like a psychiatrist! Must remember to use it!

Sandi Magle said...

Lovely finds. I think your mysterious mark is in the Cyrillic alphabet...so Eastern European Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russian, Finnish??? or ever further south. Try a description search in images of the mark..and see if anything comes up. My best guess is contemporary (last 20 years) Russian. We have a lot of Eastern European immigrants in our areas and similar pieces show up in thrift/antique stores here.