Plate racks come in all shapes, styles and sizes. I've even used chicken feeder troughs, among other things, to hold some of my favorite plate collections.
I recently thrifted a vintage-inspired farmhouse plate rack that I can't wait to share with you (along with some new transferware).
There are wall plate racks, cupboard shelf plate racks and tabletop plate racks.
One of my favorite plate racks of all time is my chicken feeder plate rack. I shared this previously in my thrifted barn wood picture frame post.
A close second is my most recent thrift store find -- a vintage-inspired farmhouse plate rack I found at Goodwill for $4.99.
Here is a screenshot of the same one being sold online for over $30.00. Gotta love the thrifty $4.99 deal!
Most recently I've used it to display a few pieces of my ever-growing brown transferware collection on the dining room table.
I love both its utility and versatility. You can use it to display up to six plates in the slots, but you can also add other supporting elements into the display as well. I also love the round metal ball "feet".
While I'm loving my brown transferware (more on that below), I decided to add in some red transferware as well. How cute is the red transferware demitasse cup and saucer (with a faux artichoke in it)?
I got them for 99 cents each at Goodwill. The cup says "Made in England" on the bottom, however I can't read the makers mark on the bottom of the saucer. Their patterns don't even match, but I think they look perfect together!
Now as for the brown transferware . . . . . in the spring of 2022 my "collection" of brown transferware plates consisted of four 7-inch dessert plates and a 12-inch platter. You can read about them and the pattern in Traditional Fall Decor Ideas and Thrill of the Hunt #126. It was my hope to grow the collection through thrifting.
While I didn't seem to be having any luck finding more pieces for the collection, I wasn't worried. I knew if I was patient I would eventually find some. Boy, was I wrong. I didn't find any new pieces -- they found me!
A very lovely person (previously unknown to me), who read one of my blog posts about my collection, just happened to have inherited some of the same brown Fair Winds transferware from her grandmother. And she wanted me to have them!
I was flabbergasted and thrilled at the same time. And eternally grateful. Thank you so much, friend! (You know who you are.) She wanted to honor her grandmother's wishes and believed that I would love them, take care of them and put them to good use. She was right.
She sent me 5 salad plates, 2 luncheon plates, 8 wide-rimmed soup bowls, one saucer and a teapot!!!!
Is this teapot gorgeous, or what? I can't wait to steep some Earl Gray tea in it on a leisurely Sunday morning as I read the New York Times!
I was truly speechless when she made the offer, and I still can't believe they're mine. If anything, it's given me even more of a desire to continue collecting additional pieces. And you can be sure you'll see them in my fall and Thanksgiving tablescapes to come!
As for more red transferware, I displayed my red transferware sugar bowl and creamer along with the teapot. They were made by Villeroy & Boch in West Germany between 1964 and 2001. You can read about their provenance in Thrill of the Hunt #137.
I added a gorgeous oversized tea mug with a similar brown transferware pattern to the vignette. I purchased it from a local vintage emporium. While it has what's called a "two lions rampant" makers mark, I learned that it's most likely a reproduction Staffordshire pattern from China that was made to look old.
I'm okay with that. I love the chinoiserie-inspired pattern on it and can't wait to use it for a huge cup of tea I make in my new teapot! I've filled it with vintage mother-of-pearl flatware I thrifted years ago. And it will definitely make a lovely vase for some garden flowers this summer.
This rattan plate holder is also a thrifted estate sale find I got for a song. I think the luncheon and dessert plates fit inside it quite nicely!
As for other natural elements, I purchased a two piece rattan bowl set from Crate and Barrel last year. I filled the larger of the two bowls with faux artichokes and placed it under my favorite large cloche. The large tray basket, boxwood wreath and lamb's ear garland all come together to complete the look.
I am just so thrilled with and thankful for my newfound treasures!
Do you have any transferware? Do you see it in your thrifting adventures? Do you mix and match different colored transferware pieces together like I do?
I will continue to look for all transferware colors on my future thrifting travels and keep you updated -- wish me luck!
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What a thoughtful gift! I really love your round plate rack, too! Blessings, Cecilia
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