A Whole New Way to Collect China and Creamware

Credit: iStockphoto – Ailime

Mixing and matching collectibles is a great way to add visual interest to your china collection

A new, playful approach to collecting china has brought the practice back to life for a new generation of enthusiasts

Terms like creamware and china take us back to an earlier age when brides eagerly registered for silverware and full dinner sets, and gravy boats were used strictly for gravy. But in the last decade, the attitude toward traditional tableware has evolved into one of playfulness rather than one of formality and rules.

Creamware is historically defined as cream-coloured earthenware from 18th- and 19th-century England, but in current times, it has come to include china and modern imitations of historical designs.

Collecting: Then and Now

Kristen Oostindie, owner of Vancouver antique shop Echo’s Discontinued China and Silver, says people used to be prolific collectors, but these days they’re using china and creamware to supplement mixed collections.

“They would collect Royal Doulton figurines, and they would collect miniature salt and peppers and they would collect the creamware,” she says, adding that the trend has shifted to complementing existing sets rather than completing them. She is seeing more mixing and matching – the addition of solid-coloured creamware pieces gives a modern feel to inherited collections or heavily patterned pieces of china.

Mix and Match Your China

Many people – typically the younger generations – avoid china and creamware because of its associations with overly formal occasions and the giant display case one would need to house it all.

“I think they’re afraid that, ‘I don’t have the space for 12 place settings and I don’t want to entertain like that, so I’m just going to totally stay away from that,’ ” says Oostindie. “What they don’t realize is: Why don’t you just mix it up a bit? You don’t have to buy a whole set – be eclectic. Five of this and four of that.”

How to Use and Enjoy Your Collectibles

Because more families are opting for townhomes and condos, collecting creamware for purely decorative purposes can be an unrealistic hobby. Oostindie says something you display should be something that you use and enjoy on a regular basis. “You can put flowers in anything,” she says. “The gravy boat: put your vinaigrette for your salad in it. The soup bowl: take the lid off and put a salad in it or use it as a little punch bowl.” The emphasis should be on enjoying it with friends and family, not admiring it from afar.

If you’re starting a collection from scratch, the opportunities are endless. A good jumping-off point is considering what you would use the most and whether you want it for everyday use or special occasions. “There’s a lot of young girls buying fancy cups and saucers,” says Oostindie. “Tea parties are coming back in.” Be sure to enjoy your pieces and eschew the old habit of letting them collect dust while you wait for the perfect event.

There’s nothing wrong with coveting a few special-occasion items, but don’t keep them on permanent lockup. “Are you waiting for the Queen to come? Because she’s not coming,” jokes Oostindie.

Adding to a Collection

If you already have china in your cupboards, look at its pattern and find pieces that tie into the base colour. If someone comes into Oostindie’s store who has inherited an intensely patterned set of china, she recommends updating it with plain creamware. “They can mix that in,” she says. “The background colour is the same, but it’s plain, so it will just be the accents of the flower pattern.”

Don’t forget about shape and texture when you’re building a dynamic collection. Mixing together solid-coloured creamware pieces that have interesting cut-outs and raised flourishes can create an equally appealing table setting as a set of floral china with creamware accents.

Part of the delight of collecting creamware and china is the hunt to find those special pieces. Antique shops, thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales are all prime spots to find authentic creamware pieces, but don’t rule out your favourite local shops for modern versions of classic creamware. And most importantly: use everything you own. “I feel good when I do it,” says Oostindie. “Even if you’re just ordering in or it’s a potluck dinner.”

Originally published in BC Home & Garden magazine. For regular updates, subscribe to our free Home and Garden e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the magazine.