The Sophisticated Picker

08/17/2026

Made in May 1946—and looking pretty good for 80. 🌸

This beautiful Copeland Spode Bachelor’s Button plate is one of those pieces that gets even better when you turn it over.

The all-over floral pattern is classic Spode—rich burgundy transferwork filled with yellow, red and lavender flowers and touches of green, all on a wonderfully shaped 10 5/8” plate.

But on the back is an impressed Y over 46 factory date mark. Spode’s date code tells us exactly when it was made: May 1946.

And 80 years later? No chips, cracks, crazing or color loss. Just a stunning piece of English china that has survived remarkably well.

Available now in the Etsy shop.

08/16/2026

From My Collection… 🏺

There are pieces I find to sell — and then there are the ones I just can’t let go.

This Copeland Spode Fleur-de-Lis celery boat definitely falls into the latter category.

I’ve always been drawn to unusual forms, particularly pieces that tell us something about how people lived, entertained and set their tables generations ago. A dedicated serving piece for celery certainly qualifies.

It’s quirky, beautifully made, unmistakably Spode — and exactly the kind of thing that makes collecting so much fun.

Another keeper. 🤎

Every Sunday, I’m sharing something from my own collection — unusual pieces, interesting patterns and a few things that simply aren’t for sale.

08/15/2026

A little early for Thanksgiving? Maybe. But not too early for a great Spode turkey. 🦃

This beautiful set of four vintage Spode Festival dinner plates combines two classics from the Spode archives—the wonderfully intricate Filigree border, a Copeland design with roots going back to the early 1800s, and the familiar Spode turkey, an image that would later appear in other favorites including Celebration and Woodland.

Done entirely in rich brown transferware, these have such a great old English look. And at 10 3/8” each, they’ll make quite a statement on a Thanksgiving table.

Even better, this set carries the older brown Spode backstamp and all four are in outstanding condition with no chips, cracks or crazing.

Available now in the Etsy shop.

08/14/2026

A stunning piece of antique English ironstone artistry…

This beautiful 19th-century Tillenberg ironstone plate by Joseph Clementson features an incredibly detailed blue transferware scene surrounded by an elaborate border of architectural vignettes, flowers and scrolling ornament.

There’s so much to look at here, but that wonderfully fanciful house in the center is what really caught my eye. Add in the softly shaped rim, deep blue transfer and more than a century of crazing and patina, and this is exactly the kind of antique ironstone I love finding. It’s beautiful on its own, and even better worked into a blue and white collection.

Available now in the Etsy shop — link in profile.

08/14/2026

This Copeland Spode Delft “Hurstmonceux Castle” plate dates to July 1896, with the original impressed U 96 date mark on the back.

The detail is stellar — the castle, the figures, horse and dogs in the foreground, and all of that wonderful pink, purple, yellow and blue against the brown transferware. And then there’s that classic scalloped gadroon edge rim.

At 10 3/8 inches, it’s a great display piece and a beautiful survivor from the Victorian era.

Now available in the Etsy shop — link in profile.

08/12/2026

You just never quite know what might show up in the shop next! Fun pieces arriving this week! We’ll be open in Amador City Fri-Sun, 11-4 each day.

08/11/2026

Layers. 😍

Four pieces. Four patterns. One color.

Can you name them all?

I’ll give you a hint: there’s some serious English transferware history hiding in this stack.

Drop your guesses below. 👇

08/10/2026

A little Thanksgiving in August… 🦃

This beautiful set of four Spode Thanksgiving dinner plates was made in England from 2000–2004 — a short-lived pattern that can be surprisingly hard to find today, especially as a matching set.

The turkey comes from Spode’s much older tradition of Game Birds designs, paired here with that wonderful brown Filigree-style border and colorful floral details. And the colors on these four are just gorgeous.

All four are in beautiful condition with no chips, cracks, crazing or color loss.

Available now in the Etsy shop — link in profile.

08/09/2026

08/09/2026

From My Collection…🏺

Starting something new today.

Every Sunday, I’m going to share something from my own collection — unusual forms, interesting patterns, and pieces I’ve decided to keep.

First up is this circa 1910 Copeland Late Spode inkwell and pen tray, Registered Design No. 664843.

At first glance, it’s not particularly obvious what it is — which is one of the reasons I like it. The inkwell is permanently attached to the tray, with only the lid removable, and the open areas provided space for pens.

More than a century later, it’s still doing its job. These days, though, its job is mostly just looking good. 😉

Definitely one of my keepers.