For some years now prices have been steadily rising for a kind of ware which many of its buyers often do not realise is glass at all.

Perhaps most people will recognise it when I say that there are vases and boxes in a very characteristic sort of pale blue, with designs which appear to have been pressed from moulds. This blue is quite unmistakable, and although at one time one had to hunt for these pieces, nowadays they are very carefully brought out for your inspection and arranged in sets. (more…)

Nowadays fewer of us have chimneys, or chimney pieces. But once upon a time everyone had one, and there it was that they loved to gather together all those fascinating figure ornaments we see in the antiqueshops.

What do we do with them today, in our flat, or house? Is there a place for them anywhere but in the country cottage ?

Before answering this question shall we have a look at the things we are talking about? Earthenware figures were made in England all through the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and most of these have now become highly treasured collectors’ pieces, fetching high figures at auctions. Later on we may like to glance at some of these, but what I am mainly concerned with is all that range of figures which were made in huge quantities from, say, 1840 onwards. (more…)