Vintages - Chintzware

HEART-CATCHING CHINTZWARE - For avid collectors of Chintz-ware, the flowered pottery with old-fashioned airs, the joy is in the hunt, tracking down wayward pieces that have all the innocent charm of a wild flower meadow.

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Leonard Grimwade's Royal Winton Chintzware is considered the finest and he sought patterns everywhere. He even stopped ladies in the street so he could copy the designs from their pinafores.

One of my Royal Winton Chintzware Biscuit trays - Pattern "Julia"

"Julia", "Florence", "Sweet Nancy", "Summertime", "Sunshine", "Maytime" - the names given Chintz-ware patterns are as blithe and fresh as their clustering blossoms. Yet, often collectors must go by hunch to find out the history of a piece they discover, for the marks on the bottom, if there are any, don't always reveal its origin. Take the patterns of Royal Winton, for example, perhaps the most avidly sought by collectors today.

Royal Winton's "Cranstone" pattern, with roses echoing roses. A brass wire net over the top of the vase catches the stems and arrays he blossoms. Some Chintz-ware flower vases have perforated lids instead. The amount of precise work involved in covering entire pieces with transfer patterns is probably one of the reasons that efforts to revive old patterns have usually failed.

The widespread use of these designs, and the absence of accurate records, give that extra edge of mystery to today's pursuit of Chintzware. Many pieces have 'Royal Winton' on the back stamp, along with the name of the pattern and the country it was exported to, but some older ones were numbered, not named. If there is no stamp, it may or may not be Royal Winton - you can't tell.

If it says "England", not "Made in England" on the back, it was made before 1920.

Another collectors' favourite - a Royal Winton stacking teapot in forget-me-not-scattered "Julia". An ode to efficiency, the teapot, sugar bowl, creamer and lid all fit together as one.

A prized breakfast or bedside set in Royal Winton's "Welbeck" pattern. To aid hurrying housemaids, the pudgy teapot, teacup, sugar bowl, creamer and toast rack all fit, snug and secure, into indentations in the octagonal tray.
Pics from a 1970's 'Victoria' magazine

For all the nostalgic charm that makes Chintzware at home with Victoriana, the most collectible period is form the late 1920's, characterised by the daintiness of the floral patterns, to the 1960's. In the 1940's, the colours became increasingly vibrant and became scarce during the war, but afterwards it was revived, probably because it was so bright and cheerful.

Not only are the designs heart-catching, but Chintzware's pleasingly idiosyncratic shapes and uses also ensnare collectors.

If you close your eyes, you can almost smell the flowers!

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Vintages - A brush with Silver

 Cutlery for daily use

I'm an avid collector of antique glass and silver accessories and am always on the lookout for anything with a silver handle, tableware, sewing tools, buttonhooks, powder jars, salts, trays, mirrors and brushes, even ink wells and handbags. I have a special weakness for silver cutlery with bone handles, which I use for everyday use. They do require slightly more care than stainless steel which can just be thrown into the kitchen sink, but the little effort is worth the pleasure.

Cutlery close-up

Vintage and antique accessories add a special touch to any room, no matter what your décor. Glass and silver on crisp white linen looks great on a table for a special dinner party or celebration, together with flowers in any vintage or antique vase.

A sketch of Hydrangeas on my dinner table arranged in my vintage Hollands pewter pitcher from the mid-1950's.

Out of my collection - A Fish knife on Cut glass knife rest - Sheffield 1899

Amid the cruets and crystal on a formal table, every proper Victorian hostess would have set out - to the right of each place - a gleaming knife rest: an artful little bar that handily propped up knives to keep the tablecloth spotless. Rendered in such rich materials as cut glass, silver and bone, rests came in a wonderful array of elegant and whimsical shapes. Whether newly minted or antique (now the province of collectors round the world), these charming accessories can still ad a note of festivity to any well-appointed table.

Some of my silver collection displayed on Cut glass knife rests. The knife on the left is a Silver Wedding cake knife - Sheffield 1921, all in daily use.

Dressers or vanity tables are another great place to use and display your silver and glass collection. Today's vanity tables, though less elaborate than those of a century ago, can be just as appealing - especially when enhanced by cosmetic brushes with antique silver handles that not only recall a luxurious era, but also impart a soft glow to the complexion.

At the turn of the century, a vanity table always included an assortment of jars, or cabochons for holding creams and salves, as well as hair, make-up and clothes brushes.

A fan-shaped brush is especially good for applying blush and highlighting cheek-bones. When you hold any of these brushes in your hand, you experience a sense of continuity and permanence - a link to the past.

My guestroom Vanity

Hallmarked Silver and Blue enamel brush set

Silver Hallmarked hand mirror - next to it is an antique Silver chain mail mesh purse (unlined) dating from the Edwardian era c1908. Specially for those evenings when you don't have pockets and don't want to carry a purse! It's just big enough for an ID and a lipstick and a couple of R100 notes.

Close-up of chain mail mesh purse

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Coquettish Nasturtiums

 

Lovely

Coquettish maids

Peeking painted faces

Coyly from under tilted green

Sun shades.

- Imogene Wagner (1948)

Camera : Canon EOS 550D

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Become a food gardener

Set a trend in your area: join the food-growing culture - instead of a visit to the gym for muscle-toning and aerobic exercise, pick up your spade and a bucket, and head for the garden. An hour or so outdoors gives you plenty of fresh air, sunshine and exercise to boost your immune system and keep you trim!



There is no doubt that by being part of the process of growing our own food (even if you are just starting off with a simple herb garden or veggie patch or some greens for the chickens) we heal ourselves and become more spiritually rooted in our bodies. Food gardening provides exercise, fresh air, sunshine and mental relaxation that are vitally important for boosting one’s defense system. If you haven’t already started your veggie and herb patch, get going and give yourself a break – in more ways than one. Don’t think for one minute though that if you don’t have a large plot of land that you cannot grow at least some of what you eat. Nasturtiums from my garden often make it to the salad bowl and dinner-plate, easy and within reach!

All that is required is a small piece of soil - set aside a space in your garden for planting some lettuce, carrots, cabbage, herbs or any of your favourite vegetables. Some of the vegetable plants are really beautiful and won't detract from the look of your garden unless it is very formal or you're going with a specific design. My favourite way of gardening is indigenous and cottage style, it gives me far more leeway to be creative, offer food and shelter for the birds.


Start an organic farm on your kitchen windowsill.

It will save you time, money and water. Sprouts are the easiest-to-grow, most power-packed, year-round food. They grow very quickly, are always fresh and are, uncontaminated by pesticides. You can eat them everyday in salads, stir fries and sandwiches, in soups and stews, or just as a snack. They are the most economical food and use very little water to grow. The rinsing water can be used in your garden, or added to the cooking pot.

Some seeds from your kitchen cupboard that you can sprout: Lentils, chickpeas, soya beans, peas, peanuts, mung beans, fenugreek, mustard, and alfalfa or Lucerne. You can even sprout onion and broccoli seeds, but make sure that you never eat the seeds from the packets that you buy for planting in your garden. They may have poison on them!



How to landscape with edibles
Like all plants used in the landscape, edible plants grow best in certain conditions. Many (but not all!) fruits and vegetables do best where they receive at least 6 hours of full sunlight a day. Most also like well-drained soil. Parts of your garden that satisfy these conditions are good places to start an edible landscape.

To start simply, consider a one-for-one substitution. Where you might have planted a shade tree, plant a fruit tree. Where you need a deciduous shrub, plant a currant or hazelnut. Edible plants come in nearly all shapes and sizes and can perform the same landscape functions as ornamental plants.

Why landscape with edibles?
There are many reasons to incorporate edible plants into the residential landscape. These include:

- To enjoy the freshness and flavor of home-grown, fully ripened fruits and vegetables
- To eliminate pesticides and herbicides used on the foods you consume
- To increase the food security of your household
- To save on grocery bills
- To grow unusual varieties not available in stores
- To get outside, interact with the natural world, and have fun

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